St Mawes
Guarding the Cornish town of Falmouth, St Mawes Castle sits opposite its neighbour, Pendennis Castle, at the mouth of the River Fal, the third largest natural harbour in the world. It can be reached by car ferry through pretty Cornish countryside, or passenger ferry, across from Falmouth.
Sitting above the pretty fishing village it was named after, and boasting fine views over the bay, St Mawes Castle may look picturesque, but it once packed a hefty punch. It was built in the 16th century as a defence against French attack by King Henry VIII, and its design features bastions shaped like clover leaves to cover every possible angle of attack. If you’re a fan of big guns, you’re sure to find interest amongst the impressive historic array here.
During World War II the castle was once more requisitioned by the military to monitor landing craft as they left embarkation points up-river to join the greatest convoy the world had ever seen, en route for the 1944 invasion of France. This is where D-Day started from. The castle is owned and maintained by English Heritage, and features domestic and military chambers, and an exhibition on its history.