About St Mawes Castle

St Mawes Castle is among the best-preserved of Henry VIII's coastal artillery fortresses, and the most elaborately decorated of them all. One of the chain of forts built between 1539 and 1545 to counter an invasion threat from Catholic France and Spain, it guarded the important anchorage of Carrick Roads, sharing the task with Pendennis Castle on the other side of the Fal estuary. A charming clover-leaf shape originally surrounded by octagonal outer defences, St Mawes was designed to mount heavy 'ship-sinking' guns. But particular care was also taken with its embellishment, and it is still bedecked with carved Latin inscriptions in praise of King's Henry VIII and his son Edward VI. It owes its fine preservation to the fact that unlike Pendennis Castle, it was little developed after its completion. Easily falling to a landward attack by Civil War Parliamentarian forces in 1646, it remained neglected until partial re-arming during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Other coastal forts built by Henry VIII include Portland, Deal and Walmer Castles.
, St Mawes
Closest town: St Mawes

Places to stay near St Mawes Castle:

Tregwylan (Cottage) St Mawes (0.04 miles)
Spindrift (Cottage) St Mawes (0.21 miles)
Bay Cottage (Cottage) St Mawes (0.31 miles)
Upper Tresulian (Holiday Park) St Mawes (0.37 miles)
Dolphins (Cottage) St Mawes (0.40 miles)
Gibraltar House (Cottage) St Mawes (0.41 miles)
Summers View (Cottage) St Mawes (0.41 miles)
Chapel House West (Cottage) St Mawes (0.42 miles)
Pennygillam (Cottage) St Mawes (0.44 miles)
Charlies (Cottage) St Mawes (0.44 miles)
Want to see more? Click for Lots more St Mawes Castle accommodation nearby

More Attractions:

Lamorran House Gardens (0.24 miles) Mediterranean style garden with sea views. Open April - September On Wednesdays and Fridays....
Pendennis Castle (1.19 miles) For a great value family day out in Cornwall, take a trip to Pendennis Castle, Falmouth, one of the finest...
St Anthony Head (1.22 miles) National Trust protected coastal area + facilities...
National Maritime Museum (1.61 miles) Celebrating all things to do with the sea and offering all kinds of events throughout the year. Activities and engaging...
Falmouth Art Gallery (2.04 miles) Houses Cornwall's best art collections with a permanent collection of about 300 paintings. Situated on The Moor, on the upper...

Beaches Nearby:

Tavern Beach St Mawes (0.34 miles) Small beach lying close to St Mawes Castle (where you can park). No dogs in the summer - or lifeguards....
Summers Beach St Mawes (0.72 miles) The largest beach at St Mawes with pebbles and rock pools located to the east of the harbour wall. Close...
St Anthony Head (1.15 miles) There are 2 beaches here - Great Molunan and Little Molunan. Lovely sandy beaches, but no facilities available. Parking...
Castle Beach, Falmouth (1.31 miles) Sitting below Pendennis Castle this is a good beach to explore, but not best for swimming. No dogs and no...
Porthbeor (1.57 miles) Sandy beach on the Roseland Peninsula. Not easy to get to but therefore quiet! Good swimming. No facilities. Parking at...