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In the castle's shadow
Marazion

Marazion Holiday Cottages

Our Marazion holiday cottages are well placed for you to enjoy this quaint seaside village, with its meandering streets, epic St Michael’s Mount views and coastal footpaths. It may be small, but there are plenty of fantastic places to eat on the doorstep, as well as beautiful beaches, sub-tropical gardens, galleries and shops. The dramatic St Michael’s Mount commands the Marazion landscape, the causeway linking up with the village and the ferries that leave from the shores of the beach that sprawl out in front of Marazion. The town of Penzance, with its rich maritime history, is three miles away and a glorious, flat seafront walk connects it to the village, with Newlyn’s artist’s community lying just beyond. Staying in one of our Marazion holiday cottages will mean you’re also within easy reach of the wild Lizard Peninsula as well as the popular town of St Ives — it’s a great spot to explore the beauty and variety of west Cornwall.

View guide to Marazion
You could stay in

The marazion guide

A mosey around Marazion

For a small village, Marazion has an impressive collection of places to eat, things to do and places to visit, not forgetting its beautiful beach, which stretches for three sandy miles east towards Penzance. Hidden amongst the tangle of streets and lanes are some of Mount Bay’s loveliest art galleries, showcasing works by local Cornish artists. The Marazion Gallery, in the centre of the village, is run and manned by the artists themselves, whilst the Out of the Blue gallery exhibits the striking work of mixed media artist Glyn Macey. Another place worth popping into is Avalon Art, which is chocca with beautiful paintings, ceramics, jewellery and homewares, all by local artists, craftspeople and artisans.

If it’s retail therapy you’re after, Marazion has a number of lovely boutiques and gift shops, such as the little Morva boutique which houses a collection of beautiful gifts from local makers, from homewares and prints by local artists to texties, beauty and lifestyle products.

 

At the heart of Mount's Bay

The little village of Marazion makes a great base for exploring Mount’s Bay — the 12-mile sweep of coast between Porthleven in the east and Penzance in the west, with dramatic clifftops, beautiful sandy beaches, fantastic places to eat, unspoilt fishing villages, iconic engine houses, and, at its heart, the small village of Marazion, opposite Cornwall’s most famous landmark — the dramatic St Michael’s Mount.

To the east, a string of beautiful beaches dot the coastline, such as Perranuthnoe, Prussia Cove, Rinsey Cove and Praa Sands. In Porthleven, you’ll find a vibrant food scene with award-winning restaurants, cool cafes on the harbour and lots of places to pick up local produce. Head west to Penzance (it’s an easy drive or a lovely hour’s walk along the seafront) for art galleries, independent shopping and top notch places to eat, as well as the town’s art deco lido.

Gateway to the Mount

The village of Marazion lines the huge expanse of sand and causeway that leads to the dramatic St Michael’s Mount. Pitched into the sea just a few hundred metres from the shore, Cornwall’s most iconic landmark is an unmissable place of history and legends, sub-tropical gardens and wonder. The big tides here mean that when the cobbled pathway across the bay to the Mount is exposed, so are golden sands, rock pools and gentle waves.

Stroll over the causeway at low tide (or take the ferry at high tide) and discover subtropical gardens and steep terraces, the tale of Cormoran the Giant and the history of the castle, as well as the village on the Mount that a few families call home. Now owned by the National Trust, it makes an incredible day trip. There’s an art gallery to browse and several places to food, including a light lunch at the Island Cafe on the eastern side of the island and an afternoon tea at the Harbour Loft at the top of the Mount.

Beaches

Marazion and Long Rock

Together Marazion and Long Rock form the coastline spanning from St Michael’s Mount all the way to Penzance, a stretch of about three miles. When the tide recedes, the shallow waters are perfect for paddling; when the wind picks up, it becomes a popular spot for kitesurfers — head into the cafe above the beach to watch them perform tricks out at sea. There’s kitesurfing, paddleboarding, kayaking and yoga on offer at the brilliant Hoxton Special cafe. Lifeguards keep watch from mid-July to early September and dogs are allowed on the beach all year except July and August (10am-6pm).

Perranuthnoe beach in West Cornwall

Perranuthnoe

This large sandy beach in disappears completely at high tide. It’s a popular spot with locals as it manages to stay under the radar, but has some great surf in the right conditions. It’s close to the unspoilt village of Perranuthnoe, which has lots of places to eat, and you also get excellent views of St Michael’s Mount from the beach. Perched just above the sea is The Cabin Beach Cafe, an amazing little gem of a cafe, which is open all year round and serves up lots of tasty food, from delicious brunches to cream teas.

Forever Cornwall Praa Sands Beach Blue Sea.jpg

Praa Sands

Praa Sands is a brilliant family-friendly beach with amazing waves, pristine white sands and plenty of facilities, such as the Boatshed Activity Centre, which provides various watersports, including coasteering, kayaking, surfing, and paddleboarding, and Global Boarders, which offers surf lessons and board hire. Access is easy thanks to the the large carpark just off the beach, and there are several good places to eat, too. Lifeguard services are provided from May to September, and dogs are welcome on the beach from September through June.

Food & drink

Cafes in and around Marazion 

Right on the beach with amazing views of the Mount, the Hoxton Special cafe serves great coffee in china cups (Marazion is plastic-free) as well as delicious iced teas, cakes and ice creams. Check out their burger nights in summer. The Copper Spoon, just off the highstreet, is a friendly place with delicious baked goods — grab a coffee and one of their legendary cinnamon rolls to eat on the harbour wall. Within the grounds of the beautiful sculpture gardens, Tremenheere Kitchen serves light lunches using homegrown produce. Slightly out of town in neighbouring Perrenuthnoe, The Cabin Beach Cafe is a delight, selling stone-baked pizzas, delicious puds and great cream teas — it makes a great refuelling stop for walkers treading the coast path.

Godolphin Portrait

Pubs, bars and restaurants in and around Marazion

For sweeping views across Mount’s Bay, the Godophin Hotel and Restaurant is hard to beat. There’s a daily-changing menu, with seafood coming straight from local dayboats. If you’re hankering after a lunchtime pint, a cosy fireside glass of wine or a nightcap, head up the hill to the Fire Engine Inn, an authentic pub with cobbled floors and beautiful views of the Mount. We also love Craby’s Beach Bar & Terrace (walk-ins only) tucked behind the seawall for its barbecue feasts and zingy cocktails. In Perranuthnoe, less than two miles away, the Victoria Inn is a 12th-century pub with a beautiful terrace for sunny days and roaring fires for winter, serving award-winning food and plenty of Cornish ales.

St Mount’s Bay Local Food Guide

With some of the county’s most vibrant, independent communities, Mount’s Bay is a great place to get your hands on local Cornish Produce, The town of Penzance is chock-full of places to stock up on local food, from delis and bakeries to farm shops and weekly markets, whilst neighbouring Newlyn, one of the UK’s largest fishing ports and home to the Newlyn fish market, is the place to go for fresh fish and seafood.

Take a look at our handy Cornish Food Guide to find out where you can buy local produce in the Marazion area.

Things to do

St Michael’s Mount

A trip to Marazion wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the epic St Michael’s Mount, a medieval castle with terraced gardens and church set on a tidal island pitched into the sea just off Marazion beach. During low tide, you can get across the island on foot via a causeway (take the ferry at high tide). Discover the legend of Cormoran the giant and delve into the castle’s rich history, explore the subtropical and terraced gardens surrounding the castle (seasonal opening times apply), wander through the harbour and art gallery, or enjoy an afternoon tea at the charming Harbour Loft located at the top.

Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens

If subtropical gardens are your bag, make sure you make the two-mile trip to the gorgeous Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens, halfway between Marazion and Penzance. With stunning exotic planting, intriguing instalments, such as the Sky Space, which allows you to view the sky and passing clouds from an elliptical dome, and sculptures dotted around the sprawling grounds, the 22 acres of gardens are a must-see if you’re visiting the area. There’s also an impressive art gallery, which runs a exciting programme of exhibitions and events throughout the year, and shop, plant nursery and restaurant and takeaway hut.

 

Starling Murmuration Over Marazion Marsh RSPB At Sunset, Cornwall, England, UK.

RSPB Marazion Marsh

This large reed bed, set back behind Longrock Beach, is a designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to a wide variety of animal, bird and plant life, many native to the area but some, such as the mink, more recent additions. There are guided walks of the marsh available from the nearby car park. The RSPB Reserve here is popular with birdwatchers; twice a year thousands of starlings roost there and their arrival, as the sun goes down, is pretty spectacular. It’s also an important site for wintering bitterns.