Train rides, a dreary walk and a fascinating castle on a mount

Monday 2nd October 2017
Today started bright and sunny and we packed our bags to head off by train to Penzance and then a walk to Marazion, to visit St Michael’s Mount.
The little train to St Erth was on-time and quick, as was the second one on to Penzance. Getting off the train, we struggled a bit to find the point where we could join the coastal path because we ignored the sign and decided to walk outside the sea wall, it being less grim that walking between two concrete walls. Mistake – the path was closed about 400 yards along and we had to retrace our steps.
The path to Marazion is not very interesting, apart from the hazy views across to St Michael’s Mount – it was too hazy to see much beyond Penzance, so could only just make out the shapes of the Lizard and Land’s End. It was a bit of a trudge, at the end of which, we bought warm, quite good pasties. On to the village to catch a little ferry across to the island – the causeway being closed. All the ferries seem to be manned by young surfing types.
Straight into the castle grounds, where Ian and I were quite surprised that we didn’t find the climb up too hard. It is rough underfoot. The castle was very interesting – a mixture of old and Victorian, with some modern touches. Lovely views down onto the gardens which were closed – they keep the visitor numbers down because of the risk of erosion. The dining hall was quite stunning – pretending to be a medieval banqueting hall, but on a smaller scale. The church was simple and lovely. There is not a lot of rooms open to the public, it feels, considering the size of the castle.
Cream tea in the Sail Loft restaurant – shared because the scones were huge. Quick mooch round the shop and I bought a succulent. Back on the ferry, this time covered as the sea was getting rougher and there was much more spray.
Then the route-march back to Penzance, to try to catch an earlier train than originally planned, Ian watch-watching all the way, and always a few steps ahead. Suffice to say that it bore a strong resemblance to our unsuccessful attempt to catch the ferry back to Skye from Raasay, although it was not as picturesque and this time we were successful.  
Quick train again to St Erth and then to St Ives. By now, it had started to rain, so we went straight up to the flat. We’d decided to have fish and chips and chose a restaurant that people had recommended on the Internet. It was pouring with rain and very dark. Although my meal was very well-cooked, there wasn’t much of it, and Ian’s was a disappointment.
Walking back up to the flat, the rain had eased but we were quite tired.

19,983 steps

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