Sites Of Historic Significance

St. Michael's Mount - This magical island is the jewel in Cornwall's crown, a national treasure which is a must for every visitor to the far west. The great granite crag which rises from the waters of Mount's Bay is surmounted by an embattled medieval castle, home of the St. Aubyn family for over 300 years. The Mount's flanks are softened by lush sub-tropical vegetation and on the water's edge there is a picturesque harbour from where tin was shipped in ancient times and where today shops and restaurants can be found. The Mount is dedicated to the Archangel St. Michael who, according to Cornish legend, appeared to some fishermen in the year 495 on the western side of the Mount. St. Michaels Mount was given to the National Trust in 1954 by Lord St. Leven. National Trust members are admitted free except at weekends For more information call (01736) 710507

Blue Hills Tin Streams - Situated in a valley steeped in mining history close to the beautiful cove at Trevellas Porth. The company offer a tour of their establishment where you can see for yourself the way in which they remove the tin from the rock. They also sell smelted tin giftware which would make an unusual souvenir of Cornwall. For further information call : (01872) 55334.

The National Lighthouse Museum - Trinity House National Lighthouse Centre was established in 1990 and officially opened by HRH Prince Andrew on the 5th of June 1991. It has brought together probably the largest and finest collection of lighthouse equipment in the world. It is fitting that it should be housed on the site where 100 years ago the granite blocks, used in the construction the Wolf Rock Lighthouse, were cut. For more information call : (01736) 360077.

Porthcurno, Museum of Submarine Telegraphy - If you visit this museum you had better "prepare for a breathtaking sight, a hidden secret and a wealth of fascinating facts". Even in a county with wonderful settings, the backdrop to Porthcurno Secret Wartime Telegraph Museum is very special. Concealed in the cliffs above the golden sandy beach of Porthcurno Cove, this wartime communication centre was a secret base from which crucial contact was maintained with all parts of the British Empire and beyond. In its time Porthcurno was one of the world's largest international cable stations, built by Eastern Telegraph Co. (now Cable and Wireless). This display won the "Best museum of Industrial History in the National Heritage/NPI 1999 Museum of the Year Awards".

Levant in Steam - The oldest beam engine in the county, restored and driven once more by steam, at the famous cliff-edge Levant Mine - an unforgettable experience. Managed by the Trevithick Trust. For more details call : (01736) 786156.

Trerice Manor - A small Elizabethan manor house, Trerice is an architectural gem hidden away from the world and somehow still caught in the spirit of its age. Behind the Dutch-style gables facade are ornate fireplaces, elaborate plaster ceilings and a collection of English furniture of the highest quality. The summer-flowering garden is unusual in content and layout and there is an orchard planted with old varieties of fruit trees. A museum traces the history of the lawn mower. For further details call : (01637) 875404.

Cornish Mines and Engines - In the heart of Cornwall's richest mining district, here are two fine Cornish beam engines preserved in their imposing houses. One of them, a 30in. whim (winding) engine can be seen in action. The other is a 90in. pumping engine at Taylor's Shaft - a giant of an engine, the largest left in Cornwall - which was still working in 1954. Managed by the Trevithick Trust as part of the Industrial Discovery Centre. For more information Call : (01209) 315027