Famed as the backdrop to “Doc Marten”, Port Isaac is a charming fishing village on the north coast of Cornwall. It was established as a thriving port before pilchard fishing took over in the 16th century and fishermen still haul in catches of fish, crab and lobsters today.
Spend a day relaxing on the pebbly shores of Port Gaverne Beach, which is located on the 1,014-kilometre-long South West Coast Path. There are magnificent views across the village from the Portwenn View, named after the fictitious Cornish fishing village in which the long-running TV series “Doc Martin” is set.
Port Isaac is clustered with charming old buildings that include the aptly-named White Cottage, as well as St. Peter’s Church and the Old School Hotel. One of its alleyways was recorded as the world’s narrowest thoroughfare in the 1978 “Guinness Book of Records” and is known locally as “Squeeze-ee-belly Alley.”
Getting there
Port Isaac is just over an hour’s drive from Plymouth and 45 minutes from Cornwall Airport Newquay, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Buses connect from Launceston and Wadebridge to Port Isaac and the village is small enough to explore on foot.