Polperro

Polperro brings together maritime history, miniature worlds, Cornish folklore and coastal activities. The Polperro Harbour Museum explores fishing and smuggling; the South West Coast Path runs through the village and provides access to beaches to the east and west. The boat trips also vary in focus and duration. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider the village’s history, model attractions, coastal path and boat trips as distinct options.

Fishing history and the character of the village

The Polperro Harbour Museum focuses on the history of fishing and smuggling from the late 18th century to the present day. The museum is housed in former fish cellars that were later used for storage by the fishing industry. The collection also includes a photographic record dating back to around 1860. The museum’s themes thus meet a long visual history of the village.

Polperro was designated a Conservation Area in 1969 because of its history and distinctive character. The museum’s focus on fishing and smuggling and this designation offer two different starting points for anyone interested in the village’s historical development and character.

Miniature worlds and Cornish tales

The Polperro Model Village features a scale replica of the actual village. Its history as a visitor attraction began in the late 1940s. The Polperro Model Railway offers a different focus: the 00-gauge layout features continuously running trains and scenes of village life, farms, a river, a station and a depot. Visitors interested in miniature worlds will find both a replica of the village and a model railway depicting several different settings.

Land of Legend adds another theme: the attraction presents seven stories about Cornish legends and superstitions. Light, sound and animation bring the show to life. This makes it clearly distinct from the historical themes of the Harbour Museum and the scale depictions at the Model Village and Railway.

Compare coastal trips and paths

Polperro Boat Trips offers two-hour mackerel fishing trips that run year-round, subject to operational conditions. They are suitable for families and all experience levels, including complete beginners. There is also a half-hour trip along Cornwall’s rugged coastline, which is weather-dependent. The two trips differ in duration by an hour and a half, as well as in focus: mackerel fishing on one, a coastal cruise on the other.

The South West Coast Path runs through Polperro and provides access from the village to beaches in both directions. The difference between east and west matters when choosing a route: the coastal path west of Polperro is challenging, with significant ups and downs and many steps. Path conditions can change, so check the latest conditions before setting out on a walk.

Another waterside destination is a small tidal swimming pool on the sea-facing side of Chapel Cliff, west of the entrance to Polperro Harbour. It is accessed via cliff steps; access and swimming conditions may vary. Its specific location sets the pool apart from both the beaches reached by the coastal path and the boat trips along the coast.

Plan the walk to the harbour

The village’s only car park is at the top of the village. From there, it is a 15- to 20-minute walk downhill to the harbour. Factor this walk into your arrival plans and check the latest information about parking before you travel.

Discover more destinations: Feock, Pendeen, Rock, Bodinnick, Edmonton, Saint Just in Roseland, Pentewan, Saint Gennys

For the main travel overview: Cornwall.