The Summit

From the village by the harbour, make your way to the gun batteries near the summit of the island, where you can enjoy spectacular views across to the mainland and out to sea. On your way, keep an eye out for:

• The Dairy: for 25 years until 1909, a small herd of Jersey cows were kept on the Mount to provide for the needs of the island.
• The Pilgrim Steps: rediscovered in the 1950s, these steps are believed to have been used by medieval pilgrims.
• The Cornish Cross Garden: up a modern stairway, at the top of the Pilgrim Steps, you’ll find camellias circling cobbles in the shape of a Cornish cross.
• The Giant’s Well; the main source of water for the castle for hundreds of years and also where legend tells that the boy Jack trapped the giant, Cormoran.
• The Giant’s Heart: all that remains of Cormoran is his small and dark heart hidden among the cobbles on the path some 40 metres above the Well.
• The Murdering Hole: as you look at the defensive wall from the watchtower side, there is hole designed for firing a musket as the enemy tried to force their way past.
• The Cannons: installed here in the 18th century, mainly for ceremonial purposes, but effective enough to drive a French frigate onto Marazion beach during the Napoleonic Wars.

When visiting, look out for the online island tour created by Lord St Levan. It's simple! Just scan the QR code at the Pilgrim Steps with the camera on your smart phone to get information on the summit, the castle rooms, artefacts and family life within the castle walls.