Family In:site into Marazion

One of the first things to learn is how to pronounce Marazion - Ma - ra - zion (rhymes with lion) then at least you won't sound so silly with the locals! This site, not far from Marazion is tucked away in the far south west, a few miles from Penzance; it is in the perfect location to explore much of what this part of the country has to offer and there is plenty to do.

The wardens reminded us on arrival that there was no toilet block, which is something that does not particularly phase us, but as they went on to point out it does not attract many families. We arrived during their busiest period; the site had very few spaces in contrast to the summer holiday months when it is almost empty because it is not popular with families.

We treat our caravan as a base and the lack of toilet block or playground did not detract from our stay in the slightest. We made the most of every day, often setting off early to get to our chosen destination. We had eight days packed full of interesting places.

 

Places to see and things to do:

 

These two sandy beaches are within easy access and a pleasant place to spend a few hours on a sunny day. Overlooking St Michaels' Mount and Mount's bay, they provide a relaxing viewpoint as well as a spot of entertainment watching kite surfers and windsurfers. Both have cafes nearby and toilet facilities as well as options for hiring watersports and having a go with the locals.

 

St Michael's Mount is a tidal island in Mount's bay, opposite Marazion. At low tide a constant flow of people can be seen crossing the causeway to visit this popular island. For those not able to wait for low tide, boat trips travel to and from the island. Once on the island, take a tour to find out about island life, climb the cobble path to the castle and wander around the gardens. Parts of the island are owned by the National Trust therefore an admission fee will apply. Also check opening times and, of course, tide times. 

We walked to St Michael's Mount from the Caravan site; it's a 5 and a half mile walk along country lanes, through Marazion to the island and back.

 

This iconic landmark at the most south-western point of Great Britain, is a popular tourist attraction, which unfortunately taints what is a great day out. After forking out for car parking you are presented with shops, cafes and entertainment, all attempting to claim more money from your pocket. We went for the views so after avoiding the commercial gimmicks we wandered along the cliffs to gaze out over the sea. A free mini museum gives a brief history of some of the many people that have travelled the length of Britain from John O'Groats to Land's End in their many different forms of transport. There is of course the famous signpost which you can be photographed standing beside - another cost - but you sneak a selfie in front of it for free. There are a couple of walks along the cliff and the RSPB are stationed on the cliff providing information about all the seabirds in the area. Well worth a visit, although be prepared for the commercialism.

 

The Minnack theatre is an impressive outdoor theatre perched on the cliffs over the Atlantic Ocean. It was the work of a dedicated lady called Rowena Cade who had the ambition and determination to overcome whatever faced her to build this unique and beautiful Romanesque amphitheatre. Shows are performed regularly at the theatre throughout most of the year, competing with the pods of dolphins or basking sharks that might pass by in the background.

We went on a Saturday morning when the amazing story of Rowena Cade is told by a story teller, taking on the role of her gardener, who also dedicated  much of his life to building and repairing the theatre. The story-telling lasts about an hour and half; you can leave at various intervals, should you wish or need to but it is well worth staying and listening to the wonderful performance - it really brings the history to life.

Before you go, head down to the award-winning Porthcurno beach, a beautiful sandy beach sheltered by the cliffs. There is a lifeguard station on the beach for those wanting to swim or surf. 

 

Although an hour's drive away, Falmouth is worth a visit. Several people recommended the National Maritime museum to us so we dutifully went along and were not disappointed. There is currently a Viking exhibition within the museum which we did not have time to visit because we focussed on the maritime section, wandering amongst boats (including THE boat that was sailed by gold medallist Ben Ainslie in the 2012 Olympics), attempting to sail radio-controlled sail boats around a small course; reading historical stories about the epic adventures of Shackleton on his voyage to the Antarctic and learning how to survive at sea through the terrifying tales of Tony Bullmore, whose yacht capsized in the 1996 Vendee Globe single-handed around the world race and the Robertson family who had to survive 38 days at sea after their yacht started to leak after being attacked by Orca., learning about how boats are made. There are also problem solving tasks based on boat design and a series of interactive activities that test understanding of buoyancy. Computer simulations also teach navigational skills and a whole floor of the building is dedicated to reading the weather and the history of weather forecasting.

 

St Mawes is a small, quaint coastal town on the Roseland Peninsula opposite Falmouth. If visiting Falmouth, you can catch a ferry over to St Mawes to visit the English heritage caste, wander the streets and eat fish and chips before returning back. 

 

This was on our To Do list when we first set off on our ed-venture around the UK. Amy particularly wanted to see the islands that appear in a few of Michael Morpurgo stories so whilst in the South West of the country we booked a trip over for the day. The ferry takes two and three quarters of an hour each way and allows about four hours to explore the island, which isn't long! We were lucky enough to go on a glorious sunny day and were able to appreciate fantastic views of the idyllic islands, wandering along sandy beaches and coves. The place is beautiful and definitely worth revisiting to explore further. One highlight was seeing pods of dolphins leaping out of the water near the ferry.