Gorgeous fishing villages are thoroughly emblematic of Cornwall. When you conjure up such a place in your mind’s eye, chances are you’ll summon every aspect associated with the painterly vision of a Cornish fishing village.
Brightly coloured fishing vessels, turquoise nets and bobbins, gale-embattled seagulls, hardwearing stone harbour walls, old houses hewn from granite stacked up on the steep valley slopes above the water, patient cows and sheep on the green hills, the persuasive thrum-and-splash audio of sea against rock, enough blue in the sky to make a sailor’s shirt…
All of these elements draw us back to Cornwall again and again for unforgettable trips with family and friends.
Stay at one of our lovely fishermen’s cottages in a Cornish village by the sea. We have cosy properties all around the craggy Cornish coast, each in superb locations.
Cornwall is a delight all year round and, contrary to belief, the shutters don’t come down in the wintertime; more and more visitor attractions and places to eat remain open all year. Cornwall isn’t just a summer place; it reserves so many of its best natural spectacles for the off-season! So, come down to the ocean and watch the swells all year round!
Seek out a place by the ocean
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Mevagissey
Mevagissey is a large yet quaint Cornish fishing village bordering the Dodman on the south coast of the Duchy. The focal point is its twin harbour and its distinctive sea arm, Victoria Pier, with its small lighthouse beacon.
Rows of houses rise up atop of one another on both sides of the water and the villagers still operate a fishing fleet (of around 60 vessels), a summer ferry to Fowey and there are also pleasure boats.
Things to do:
- Mevagissey is home to quite a few handy shops and places to eat.
- Former fishermen’s cottages and pubs line the east side of the harbour as well as a small aquarium.
- Other local attractions include the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Mevagissey Model Railway.
Stay nearby: Mevagissey Quayside Cottage | Sleeps: 4 guests
Mevagissey cottages
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Charlestown
Charlestown is a Cornish fishing village at the edge of St Austell, and neighbour to the attractive Carlyon Bay. Charlestown embraces its marine history as it is home to a very interesting 18th-century stone harbour. The Georgian harbour is actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You may recognise the harbour from a few films and TV serials like The Brotherhood of the Wolf, Taboo, Saving Private Ryan and Doctor Who (to name a few).
Things to do:
- At least one tall ship is often moored up in its narrow dockyard - the Norwegian sailing vessel, The Kajsamoor.
- Walk around the harbour, look out over St Austell Bay and visit the Shipwreck and Heritage Centre.
- There’s also a marketplace and scattering of eateries for seaside dining.
Stay nearby: Customs House Roost | Sleeps: 4 guests plus 1 dog
Charlestown cottages
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Mousehole
Dylan Thomas described Mousehole as, "The most beautiful village in England". Nobody would argue with this fact. It is lovely; set along the coast south of Penzance and Newlyn, Mousehole is the quintessential Cornish fishing village.
Its compact harbour gives sanctuary from the harsh Cornish waves in the winter when the entrance is temporarily sealed up. It was once a crowded port where pilchards were landed by the thousands. The gorgeous houses around the harbour are made from Lamorna granite and it’s a wonderful place to take a short walk.
Things to do:
- Pick up the South West Coast Path to the Tater Du Lighthouse, built in the 1960s; the most recent beacon of its kind in the Duchy.
- Stop at one of the pubs and sample some stargazey pie.
- Visiting the lights at Christmas time is something of a local institution.
- Mousehole is close to The Minack Theatre at Porthcurno and Land’s End too!
Stay nearby: Mary’s Loft | Sleeps: 2 guests
Mousehole cottages
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Coverack
At the south-eastern end of The Lizard, Coverack is a Cornish fishing village at the head of the nice semi-circular bay. Its stone harbour is at one end and is dominated by its arch-roofed lifeboat station (which is also home to the village chippy!). Coverack sits on the South West Coast Path.
It’s one of the only coastal villages in Cornwall with a long, paved promenade to walk along with benches and lovely views across this delightful bay.
Coverack cottages
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Boscastle
Boscastle is a very famous fishing village in North Cornwall. Sitting at the bottom of a deep valley, a river - the Valency - courses through the middle of the village out to the Atlantic around a dog-leg-shaped channel.
This high river pass has provided shelter for fishing boats for hundreds of years; you can see the thick harbour wall at the end of a walkway to the coast from the heart of Boscastle. Only one or two registered fishing vessels set out from this port nowadays but it's still a lively spot to visit if you are in the area.
Things to do:
- There is a National Trust café and exhibition displaying photographs from the 16th August 2004, when the village (along with Crackington Haven) was devastated during a massive flood. Today, there is no discernible trace of the storm and you can visit the village’s many pubs, shops and cafes.
- Visit the Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, which is a unique collection of occult items from the UK and beyond.
Stay nearby: Rivers Brink | Sleeps: 4 guests plus 1 dog
Boscastle cottages
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Gorran Haven
Mevagissey’s quiet neighbour is a real gem for those of you looking to truly escape the crowds. Centring around a gently sloping, sandy beach, Gorran Haven has a large stone harbour wall along its southern edge, providing shelter for the tiny handful of fishing boats.
Gorran is very sleepy and beautiful and we’d recommend it to anybody that loves the quiet life, but still hankers for a holiday in a Cornish fishing village. This place only gets ‘vaguely’ busy at the height of the summer holidays.
Things to do:
- Over the top of the lesser-visited National Trust-managed Dodman Point (the highest headland on Cornwall’s south coast) is the secret beach of Hemmick. Park your car at the hamlet of Penare as the road down is very, very narrow and very, very steep.
- The village is home to a village shop where you can even enjoy a cooked breakfast. It’s a strange yet good experience to eat your brekkie at a table amongst the magazine racks! Tasty too!
Stay nearby: Mermaid Cottage | Sleeps: 6 guests
Gorran Haven cottages
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Port Isaac
One of the best-known and best-loved Cornish fishing villages is Port Isaac. Home to a lovely working harbour, with lifeboat station, there’s plenty to see and do here. Fine dining prospects are de rigueur, so you can choose from superb dishes at Restaurant Nathan Outlaw and The Mote. There are also some great pubs.
It would be remiss to recommend a trip to Port Isaac without mentioning that it’s been the set location for TV’s popular Doc Martin and that it’s also the focal point of the world-famous band, The Fisherman’s Friends. Their life story was dramatized in a 2019 film of the same name.
Things to do:
- Port Isaac is close to the surfing hotspot, Polzeath.
- Visit Sharpe’s Brewery (in Rock) for a tour if you like Doombar.
- Padstow is a short ferry ride over the Camel River.
- The immensely popular Tintagel Castle is a short drive up the coast too!
Stay nearby: Helstone Sunnyside | Sleeps: 4 guests plus 2 dogs
Port Isaac cottages
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More lovely Cornish fishing villages
We’d also recommend day trips out to these quaint fishing ports up and down the Cornish coast.
Padstow: This large fishing village is popular with day-trippers with its busy harbour, great places to eat, the ferry to Rock, its beaches and the Camel River Trail.
Porthallow: A curious fishing village at the half-way point of the South West Coast Path. Great views over to Falmouth and the Roseland Peninsula, and a lovely pub. Seek out Fat Apples café for the best lunch in Cornwall.
Portreath: A historical town with a lovely small sandy beach, superb clifftop views, mining heritage all around, and it's a surfers’ delight too!
Cadgwith: This gorgeous fishing village on the Lizard has wonderful views and access to the South West Coast Path. Visit the spooky seaside ruins of Poltesco too.
Looking for more inspiration for places to stay? Then visit our collection of holiday coastal cottages in Cornwall.
10 best places to stay
We have properties all along the Cornwall coast for you to choose from. Whether you are a solo adventurer or you’re planning a romantic break for you and the love of your life, we have the place for you.
Perhaps you are planning a family holiday or hope to spring a surprise party on a friend or relative, we have large farmhouses and party properties too. For even more ideas on where to stay in Cornwall, visit our guide to coastal cottages.
Browse cottages
Please be mindful that it is always necessary to plan your trip carefully. Whilst accurate at the time of writing, please be aware that the availability of amenities such as lifeguard cover, shops, cafes, toilets and car parks at UK beaches may vary from time to time, especially in current circumstances. Make sure you check carefully before leaving home to avoid disappointment. For an up-to-date list of beaches which are lifeguarded, visit the RNLI lifeguard patrol website before making your journey.