"An island alone....." Saint Michaels Mount by leics

...not that I actually managed to set foot on it!

St Michael's Mount is only about 500yards from Marazion on the mainland, and is accessible by causeway when the tide is low. But in early January the tide times simply weren't right: high tide around midday meant the island would only be accessible in the late afternoon, when the light was going, and rough, stormy seas meant the water would take longer to drop anyway. So I didn't manage to get across. In season boats make the crossing at high tide, but they don't run in the winter.

But I'd always wanted to at least see the island, being especially fascinated by the fact that it was not always an island. In1099, according to John of Worcester, the castle was five or six miles from the sea, in the midst of woodland. But Mount's Bay was flooded in November that year, causing many deaths and much destruction and leaving the Mount as an island.

Hopefully one day I will be able to go back and visit when tides are better timed and the castle is open. Until then, I'll make do with simply 'ticking the box': I've seen the island, I've already seen hundreds of Medieval castles and monasteries and churches..it is enough for now.

But if you are making what is likely to be your only visit to Cornwall, then a visit to the Mount has to be one of the 'musts'.

• Pros:Unique in the UK
• Cons:Not easy to access in winter
• In a nutshell:Unmissable if you will only be in Cornwall once.