We wanted to get a break in 2021 and decided to stay within the UK again and Cornwall was the chosen destination. We have been visiting for the past few years and always waited until September when the school holidays had ended.
The drive to Cornwall is around 6 hours from home and stayed in a small village near Penzance called Mousehole.
Mousehole (pronounced ‘Mowzle’) is a tiny, oval-shaped harbour formed by two piers. The harbour area is surrounded by a number of slate-roofed cottages, winding through alleyways and each full of individual character.
Historically, it has always been an important fishing port, it still has small fishing boats and local boats which add to the charm and give picturesque views. The history, beauty and character of the village means it is a popular holiday destination and it makes its living almost entirely on tourist traffic.
We opted for a beautiful little cottage, booked via Airbnb called Skippers.
The host was fantastic, gave clear details on parking, location and the local area and the standards were high in terms of cleanliness and facilities. I would recommend this place to anyone wishing to visit Cornwall but would advise that it has low ceilings and narrow stair case so needs to be taken into account and the bathroom had low beams which wasn’t ideal but didn’t take away from the charm.
The location was great and close to the restaurants, pubs and the harbour and Mousehole is close to Penzance and there are regular buses if not driving. Penzance has good bus and rail connections around Cornwall and there are local taxi companies if required. Car parking in the village fills up fairly quickly and the roads are very narrow. It would be best to park on the outskirts of the village and to walk in. We parked up by the Rock Pool Cafe to avoid the one way streets and it’s not much of a walk into the heart of the village.
Mousehole Harbour during our September mini heatwave gave some beautiful sunset and sunrises and allowed me to see the village at its best, bathed in the autumn sunshine. The photos include some early morning captures as well as the evening calm as the tourists left the harbour and the lights around the bay are switched on.
Mousehole is a small village but there are always people out enjoying the scenery.
I enjoyed a morning run to the neighbouring village Newlyn , It was worth rising early to see the bustling Fish market and is a hive of activity. Some of the fish are destined for local restaurants and if visiting in the summer then the Newlyn fish festival is held on August Bank Holiday Monday each year, when stalls and cafés take over the quays for the day and locals celebrate the fishing trade .
Somewhere I didn’t get to eat at but was intrigued to try as there was always a huge line outside the restaurant each day that we drove past as it was on the route in and at of Mousehole was the Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar, set in the heart of Newlyn. They do not take bookings so it’s a turn up and wait set up but the tapas style plates of local produce are on the wish list for the next visit and have heard many great reviews and recommendations for the Mackerel Sky.
Mousehole was a great location for visiting the Minack theatre, we booked tickets for an evening comedy performance and was only 25 minutes drive, although the roads are narrow and so caution is advised especially on the return journey. I would say that after the last 18months of lockdowns, being in the theatre setting and the stunning views across the bay and seeing the sunset make the drive worthwhile and is definitely good to see live performances again.
It did rain during our visit so pack your rain coat and a blanket to keep warm , they perform in all weathers and so it’s best to be prepared. If you don’t want to see a performance then you can visit the Minack during the day and look around the theatre and enjoy the views over along the coast and the history of the Minack.
Mousehole was a great Cornish location to be based at for the week and was beautifully peaceful in the mornings for a run or walk around the harbour and winding streets. Swimming from the “beach” out onto the harbour was a popular choice of exercise for many people and although wasn’t brave enough for that, it was great to see the harbour being enjoyed by everyone.
Consider Mousehole for your Cornish break or at the very least make sure you plan a stop and enjoy a dip in the water, an amazing ice cream from Jessie’s or lunch at 2 Fore Street Restaurant…. Dylan Thomas described Mousehole as the “loveliest village in England”. It is definitely one of my favourite in Cornwall and when bathed in the sunshine you can feel the magic of this Cornish village.