Marazion - St Michael's Mount Views

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Treasure Hunt around Marazion and St Michael's Mount views, with Explorers helping the Exploration Society solve the clues and unearth the monks' long-lost treasure, linked to the siege of St Michael's Mount in 1473.

The quest covers approximately 1 mile and should take around 1.5 hours to complete. You'll start at St Michael's Mount & Long Stay Marazion Coach and Car Park, then follow twists and turns through the ancient streets of Marazion before returning past the slipway, car park and along the seafront.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The route includes narrow roads, often with little or no pavements, narrow pavements, steps, slippery surfaces when wet and stretches beside unfenced water.

Take extra care around traffic on narrow roads, the busy road with narrow pavements, unfenced water and steep drops. The beach section is only possible if the tide is out, and the quarter-mile cobbled causeway to St Michael's Mount is only visible at low tide.

Getting There

By car: Start your treasure quest at St Michael's Mount & Long Stay Marazion Coach and Car Park (TR17 0EP), on the outskirts of Marazion, opposite Godolphin Drive. Park in the corner of the car park closest to St Michael's Mount, near the sea wall.

By public transport: Make your way to St Michael's Mount & Long Stay Marazion Coach and Car Park on the outskirts of Marazion, opposite Godolphin Drive, then head for the corner closest to St Michael's Mount, near the sea wall, to begin the adventure.

Need the Loo?

Useful comfort stops are available between Clues 01 / 02 and in the town, so plan your pit stops before the treasure hunt leads you deeper into Marazion's ancient streets.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Explorers can join the quest, but keep them closely supervised throughout. 🐾

The route includes unfenced water, steep drops, traffic on narrow roads, narrow pavements and slippery surfaces when wet, so scout dogs closely and do not let them run ahead. If the tide is out, the beach detour is only possible then.

Food & Drink Stops

Treasure hunting beside the sea calls for good supplies. There are chances to grab refreshments after Clue 12, and at the end of the Trail Chapel Rock cafe is on the return route.

If the weather is kind, you can enjoy a picnic on the beach at the end. If the tide is out, you can also slip down to the beach and leave an X using stones or lines in the sand.

Want to Make a Day of It?

Marazion's Ancient Streets

The Trail weaves through Marazion's ancient streets, giving Explorers plenty to enjoy beyond the clues. The town claims to be the oldest town in Britain and was called 'Ictis' by the Romans, while its modern name derives from the markets that used to be held here.

St Michael's Mount

Known locally as the Mount, St Michael's Mount gives this quest its treasure-filled backdrop. It has been a monastery, an abbey priory and an important port for tin. Its Cornish name is 'Karrek Loes y'n Koes', meaning 'grey rock in the woods', and at its peak the island housed 221 persons and was a flourishing seaport.

The Cobbled Causeway

The quarter-mile cobbled causeway links St Michael's Mount with the mainland and is only visible at low tide. Legend says it was walked by pilgrims in honour of the alleged appearance of St. Michael, and also by a giant lured to his death by a local lad.

Mount's Bay

Marazion sits on Mount's Bay, which stretches from the Lizard Peninsula to Land's End and is considered to be within the top 10 most scenic bays in the world. The beaches are popular for windsurfing, sailing and kite surfing, and Marazion Marsh to the west is a popular RSPB reserve.