Port Isaac Village

The historic village of Port Isaac is situated in a particularly beautiful area of the North Cornwall coast in the Parish of St, Endellion approximately eight miles from the market town of Wadebridge. From the middle ages until the 1800' s Port Isaac was a busy trading port, handling a wide variety of cargo's but with improved road systems and the advent of the railways, fishing and fish processing became the prime activity followed by tourism. As time has passed, tourism has grown to be a major force in the areas economic growth, opening up, as it has, to the holiday trade, which to-day provides the discerning traveller with bed and breakfast accommodation or a wide choice of unique cottages to rent. There are also a number of excellent hotels both in Port Isaac and Port Gaverne to chose from, plus an interesting and varied number of restaurants catering for all tastes. Over the past two to three years a number of art galleries have sprung up around the village and there is a working pottery to-clay situated in the old Methodist Chapel overlooking the harbour.

Fishing is still carried out and the charming and picturesque little harbour is always a busy scene with the local fishing boats and boatmen at work. On a fine day it provides a sheltered suntrap, and the village itself is unspoilt with if s stone and slate capped cottages, many bearing names, associated with the sea and past mariners. These pretty cottages tumble down higgledy-piggledy along the narrow winding paths and lanes, some along the course of a bubbling stream, it is one of these paths that passes "down a long" Dolphin Street, the haunt of many a sea Captain and Mariner from the past, to the legendary Temple Bar (Squeezy Belly Alley) which then leads out directly to the welcoming "Golden Lion Inn" and the harbour itself.

The little cottages echo their owners pride with bright paintwork and pretty window boxes and there is a vibrance within the village as it goes about if s daily business. It is this that lures visitors to linger a while to savour the atmosphere and perhaps dine on freshly caught crab or even lobster caught by the local fishermen and landed only a step or two away from the Inn and restaurants clustering around the harbour edge, perhaps even to catch a glimpse of the rowing Pilot Gig setting out to sea.

It is possible at low water to actually park in the harbour, but be prepared for the narrow congested lanes leading dowqn which can prove to be a trap for the un-prepared motorist.

Port Gaveme is a tiny undeveloped, deep sun trap cove, only a quarter mile to the East of Port Isaac poroviding for safe swimming, fishing and a treasure land of rock pools for children to explore as the tide recedes. The remains of the impressive stone cut quay can still be seen with ifs granite cut mooring bollards, harking back to the days when trading ketches, manned by intrepid mariners, would sail into this little harbour to deliver their cargo and load with Delabole slate brought down by horse and cart from the open cast mine some five miles distant, here they would remain aground for a tide or two then haul out, often being towed by local rowing boats to clear the Castle Point headland and so fetch a favouring wind for their next port of call. Snuggled into the head of the cove may be found the pretty and welcoming Port Gaverne Hotel, dating back to the 17th.century. Tastefully restored it provides an excellent menu and wine cellar for those who wish to sample the relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant or tasty bar food where one can take time to view the ever popular and ever changing exhibitions of local artists work.

Port Isaac and Port Gaverne are excellent locations for setting out to explore the beautiful North Cornwall coastal walk both to the East and West, protected as they are by the National Trust. The views along the rugged coast and out to the Atlantic must surely rate as some of the finest in the country if not in Europe.