St. Michael's Mount
This is a monastery on an island on the way to the Cornish coast, and was inspired by Mont St. Michel in France. See France Road Ways. We were there toward the end of the afternoon, misty. It has retained more of its old character because it can only be reached by boat or walking. No causeway. They stop the walkers when the tide is coming in. We were among the last allowed to start, and we were already up to our ankles and going to the knees when we finally got across. You walk on a cobble walk that becomes fully submerged. Check the tides if you want the luxury of choosing to walk or not.
Coming back, the tides gave no choice but to hop on the little motor launches. The island is not full of shops and tourists, some, but quite quiet. See www.castlexplorer.co.uk/england/st-michaels-mount/smm.php.
Jack the Giant Killer.
Jack is supposed to have defeated the Giant Cormoran here, after making him fall into a pit. Great Cornish legends. See www.gandolf.com/cornwall/places/mountstmichael.
The full tale is worth reading, if you have your glasses because the print is small - visit Andres Lang's Fairy Books, "The History of Jack the Giant Killer", at http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/291.htmSee also Migratory Patterns of Tales, Jack the Giant Killer>
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