Polperro is a picturesque fishing village in Cornwall, UK, with lots of things to see and do. It is between the Cornish towns of Looe and Fowey. Polperro village is accessible by one road surrounded by the tree-lined River Pol valley. The small stream like River Pol runs into the tidal harbour alongside The Combe. They limit this road to traffic.
The village is quaint and well worth visiting for its fishing village vibe. Polperro also has an interesting history, mostly relating to smuggling and fishing. The village is suitable for either a day trip, if local to the area or for a relaxing UK staycation.
Things to Do in Polperro
There are options for things to do in the Cornish fishing village. The pretty village is an attraction in its own right, with a history dating back to 1303. This is a fantastic place to mooch around. It is in a tree-lined valley which adds to its beauty. Towards the sea, the valley opens up to show you the rugged cliffs on either side of the harbour. There are plenty of things to do while visiting this area of Cornwall.
Have Fun on the Sandy Beach
Polperro has a small beach just outside of the harbour walls. To access this, you need to climb down the steps of the seawall. The beach is a mixture of sand and shale, with cliffs, a cave and rock pools to explore. Polperro beach disappears on high tide, but as the water subsides, this appears accessible by paddling after climbing the steps.
The beach is dog-friendly somewhat, with some restrictions on lead usage before 6 pm in the summer months. The water was very calm on my visit and was safe to swim, but being mindful of boats towards the harbour entrance.
Relax in The Harbour
This is the jewel in the crown of Polperro. The area is gorgeous and fascinating to watch from all angles, including from the cliffs above. The harbour is a working fishing port with many local fishing boats working from here and a small market to sell their catch.
This is fascinating to watch them at work. You could always drop a crab line off the harbour wall and watch the world go by.
Enjoy An Excoursion or Fishing Trip
One of my favourite things to do in Cornwall is to enjoy a boat trip in the sea. There are boards alongside the harbour advertising mackerel and shark fishing trips for people of all abilities. A coastline tour boat also operates in the local area, which is a 30-minute ride to see the nearby coast.
For those wishing on a longer trip, there are trips to the nearby towns of Fowey and Looe along the coast.
Go for a paddle at Chapel Pool
A fun thing to do in Polperro is to visit Chapel Pool. Chapel Pool is one of the nature’s own swimming pools. This is a pool that gets filed up by the sea, and after half tide, it becomes a swimming pool separate from the sea. It’s a popular spot for people swimming or sitting and enjoying the spectacular views.
There are a few rock pools to explore near the booger pool. These sometimes have small fish, crabs, shellfish and other sea life to see. This is a fun thing to do for those interested in nature. I usually carry goggles to have a good look underwater in the larger pools.
Hike sections of the South-West Coast Path
A popular thing to do while in this area of Cornwall is to walk a section of the South-West Coast Path. Polperro fishing village is on the on this long-distance walking path and is well worth a stroll or hike in either direction. Both ways have a rugged coastline, secluded bays and stunning scenery.
Heading east from the village, you can reach the town of Looe or Talland Bay, a nice dog-friendly beach with a cafe and restaurant. This walk is challenging in places in terms of steepness up and down, but is pretty. The warren is the first part of the walk overlooking the harbour, and well worth the climb to see the village from above. Lekerock Cove is a small and remote beach accessible this way and well worth the walk if you enjoy a bit of a challenge.
Heading west takes you towards some stunning bays, again this is quite a hard walk with lots of ascents and descents. You can reach eventually the village of Polruan, which has a passenger ferry to Looe. On the route is Parsons cove a quiet secluded beach off the main path and quite a climb down to reach this mini-paradise.
The next stunner is Lansallos Bay, another dog-friendly beach that is popular but has no facilities. Meadows frame this beach to the rear, cliffs on either side, and even has a small waterfall running into it. The waterfall supposedly gets more spectacular after a good rain.
Onwards from here towards Fowey is the National Trust Beach of Lantic Bay, a real beauty from above and to sit on. To summarise, it is a great base camp for those the like a good coastal walk or a stopover for long-distance hikers.
Visit Polperro Model Village & Land of Legend
Polperro Model Village has existed in the village for over 60 years and has survived many disasters, including floods and fires. The attraction is in the village’s heart and is pretty easy to find. The entrance fee for my visit was £3 and spent about an hour onsite.
There is a miniature version of Polperro and is pretty fantastic to see and pretty accurate. Visitors can walk along a path through the model stopping to admire the mini-versions of buildings, people and boats.
At the end of the garden is a seating area which has a 15-minute video on a loop about the history of the village. This was fascinating, especially watching the hardships during historical floods. The video also introduced the ghost of the tunnel on the beach called Willy Wilcox Cave. Willy was an 18th-century smuggler who lived in a cottage on the cliff above the cave. There was reputedly a secret passage between the two. Wilcox apparently drowned in the cave while hiding from customs officers, and they say his ghost haunts it.
After the video, I popped into the building where there was a model railway with a few trains travelling around the tracks. Finally, was the land of legends room, featuring King Arthur, witches and parts of Cornish industrial history to see a show about.
Watch The Sunrise, Sunset or Stars
One of the great pleasures of the area is finding somewhere suitable to enjoy the sunrise or sunset. You might be lucky to stay in a place with a splendid view of either of these. However, within waking distance, you can find somewhere quiet and special to enjoy the spiritual moment.
Kellow hill where I stayed, was great for watching both the sunrise and sunset. Star gazing is amazing and in the county there is less light pollution than elsewhere. If you head away from settlements and look up to the sky anywhere locally to see the amazing sights.
Dine Out in the eateries of South East Cornwall
There are loads of options to eat out or have a drink in the village to suit all tastes. We enjoyed visiting many of the dog friendly pubs and restaurants in Polperro. Many of these served fresh local seafood, which was nice. My favourite place for food in the village was the Three Pilchards, where the food was excellent.
Visit Polperro Heritage Museum
If you’re interested in history, an interesting thing to do is to visit the Polperro Heritage Museum. The heritage museum is located near the harbour and has lots of interesting exhibits about the area, including fishing and smuggling. Inside you can see lots of photographs, including some from as far back as 1860. The museum also has model ships.
Enjoy A Cornish Pasty
There are many places to enjoy a Cornish pasty in the village. These are ideal for a lunch on the beach or while hiking. The Pasy Makers is a great bakery that sells regular versions and some other tasty options.
See The Net Loft
On the cliffs overlooking Polperro harbour is the net loft, a grade II listed building. They built this in the early 19th century. Before that, they believe the site was a 14th century chapel. Anyway, its and interesting building to see when hiking west along the coast.
Climb Up To the Warren
The Warren is part of the Polperro coast path and is a wonderful viewpoint. You can see the village and harbour from above and the views are wonderful. As a bonus, they have lots of benches to relax and enjoy the scenery. It’s a bit of a heat trap too, so make sure to take a drink with you if planning on staying a while.
Polperro Parish Memorial Cross
Another nice place to find on the coast path is the Polperro Parish Memorial Cross. The views from here along the coastline and out to sea are splendid.
The cross is a Grade II listed building and was originally a memorial for World War 1, however later conflicts have been added subsequently.
Browse The Craft & Gft Shops
Another pleasant feature of Polperro and other fishing villages in Cornwall is the craft and gift shops. These have lots of nice things to see and buy, including art, jewellery, things made from shells and postcards. You can also find handmade things to take home as souvenirs. These sometimes have refreshments and lovely food produce including honey.
Enjoy A Day Trip
If you are staying for a holiday, there are lots of options for day trips in this part of Cornwall. Some of the top attractions in the area include the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project.
Looe is a nearby town with many options for things to do, including interesting museums and various options for boat trips. The town has a nice beach, stunning coastline and lots of options to enjoy seafood. There is also a nice vineyard that offers tours and tasting.
Fowey is another town with great options for things to do, including water sports and beach activities. The town also has museums and galleries to mooch around. A short walk along the coast is a castle with views of the coast and river.
Where to Stay?
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There are many options for you to stay in the village, from hotels, guest houses, holiday parks and glamping sites. Personally, I camped out on a remote campsite, Great Kellow Farm.
Booking.com has many options for places to stay with availability throughout the year.
Getting to Polperro in the UK
Driving is a popular choice when visiting Polperro, this is drivable via Looe. If you are coming from out of County the M5 Motorway, then A38 into Cornwall is the preferred route. Cars and other vehicles must park up because of restrictions at the car park. This is near to the Crumplehorn Pub before entering the village by foot.
If coming to the area by train, the nearest railway station is Looe. The section of track from Liskeard to Looe is stunning from start to finish. Transportation method changes from here to either bus or taxi to reach the village. The village is on a few bus routes, including the 72 and 73. These buses link Polperro with Plymouth via Looe. The other Transport for Cornwall route is the infrequent 481 route that links Looe with Polruan for the Fowey ferry. Hiking is also a viable route into Polperro.
Is Polperro in Cornwall Worth Visiting?
Polperro is a great base camp for a UK staycation or family holiday in the South East of Cornwall. There are lots of things to do, from hiking to having fun on the beach. The coastline here is breathtaking and a stroll or longer hike will help you experience it. There are also lots of nice places to visit as a day trip locally. Thus, it is well worth visiting for a day out or a longer holiday.
Such a lovely coastal village! I’m pretty sure my kid would love the miniature village and the spooky legend of Willy Wilcox.
Hey 👋
We were in Polperro a little over a year ago – really loved it! We had lunch at The Three Pilchards. Really loved climbing the stairs to eat on the roof with a view over the harbor and watching the town and seagulls!! Next time we’ll probably check the tides though!
~ Christine