Visiting Cornwall National Landscape

Port Isaac is a traditional fishing village, situated in Section 02 Pentire Point to Widemouth, North Cornwall. The location of the TV series Doc Martin starring Martin Clunes and home to the Fisherman’s Friends sea shanty singers.

Port Isaac is a quintessential Cornish fishing village, known for its narrow, winding streets lined with charming, whitewashed cottages that overlook a picturesque harbour, known as the Platt. Since 2004, it has gained fame as the fictional village of Port Wenn in the BBC series Doc Martin.

With a fishing heritage dating back to the early fourteenth century, Port Isaac has always been deeply connected to the sea, and fishing continues to play a significant role in the lives of its residents. The village’s name comes from the Cornish Porthysek, meaning ‘corn port’, a nod to its historic role in the grain trade.

Port Isaac boasts some excellent eateries, including Nathan Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, offering fresh, local seafood in an unforgettable setting.

In Autumn 2024, Toby Lobb, Fisherman’s Friends, created a sea shanty Bury My Bones for Cornwall National Landscape. The sea shanty tells the story of storm wash remains found along the South West Coast Path in Trevone. Local author, Gareth Rees, wrote a short story imagining the many lives the sailor might have had. You can buy a copy of Give Him a Little Earth here.

The South West Coast Path offers breathtaking scenery starting from Port Isaac. To the east, Port Gaverne provides a tranquil retreat with its sheltered beach, perfect for rockpooling and ideal for families seeking a quieter spot in Cornwall. To the west, you’ll find Port Quin, a small, serene cove with a poignant legend of a storm in the 1800s that claimed the lives of the village’s fishermen.

If you prefer exploring by bike, head to Wadebridge and cycle the Camel Trail to Padstow. Taking you briefly into Section 03 Camel Estuary, this scenic route takes you through beautiful landscapes, and once in Padstow, you can enjoy browsing its independent shops and savouring freshly caught fish and chips with a view of the bustling harbour. Nearby Rock stretches along the Camel Estuary, backed by impressive dunes and offers exceptionally scenic views.

Our collection of short stories, 12 Stories for 12 Sections Anthology, tells of a different perspective in Survival Tips, Jane Pugh situated in Section 02 and Trading Places, Polly Roberts which takes readers through Section 03 Camel Estuary. Read the full collection here.

Trampers are a type of mobility scooter which are specifically designed to access the countryside. Countryside Mobility is a not-for-profit hire scheme working to improve access. Operated by the charity Living Options Devon, this is a user-led organisation working to ensure that people with disabilities and Deaf people are empowered to lead the lives they choose. The team work with a variety of partners who host the trampers on their sites – or visitor attractions – to enable people with limited mobility to enjoy and access to the landscape. They undertake safety assessments and Access Audits at each site, aided by two access auditors who have first hand experience of living with a physical disability. They have also created films and podcasts about their trampers – and tramper locations so that all users can be confident of what to expect before arriving. These trampers do often need to be booked in advance.

Sustainably travelling by bus around Cornwall National Landscape is made easier using Go Cornwall Bus. With up-to-date information about bus travel, and routes, as well as activities and offers for some of Cornwall’s visitor attractions you can avoid taking the car. We advocate using public transport, where possible, as the best way to access the protected landscape in Cornwall. With the rural nature of the Sections of Cornwall National Landscape you might consider multiple modes of travel, for instance bicycle and bus or train and walk. Go Cornwall Bus can also advise on the accessibility of their transport to facilitate mobility requirements.

The Tin Coast is the area around St Just, Pendeen and Morvah in Section 07 West Penwith. It is an internationally significant World Heritage Site, part of Cornwall National Landscape and is interwoven with a resilient and exceptional natural beauty and incredible wildlife. The rugged beauty of this section of the protected landscape is fully captured and made easy to discover by the Tin Coast Partnership. You can find out all about the history, heritage, how to access the area and activities that you can do in this Section using their website.

From Penzance, on the main train line, there are a whole host of itineraries available to experience West Penwith. From exploring the coast, to feasting at local pubs, adventures by bicycle to learning about Cornish heritage, you can find all you need to know with Love Penzance. The team have curated a series of itineraries which include information on travel, access and what to expect in and out of season.

One of the best ways to see the protected landscape is on foot. You can plot your own route using OS Maps but if you are looking for a easy way to explore the 12 sections of Cornwall National Landscape we recommend trying iWalk Cornwall. They have over 300 walks across Cornwall ranging from 2 – 13 miles. The majority of these walks are circular and include lots of useful information about parking, public transport access and accessibility for different mobilities. The walks include local history, Cornish heritage and nature information. The work using GPS so a smartphone is usually required. However you can download a detailed, tested hand-written route plan to print and bring with you.