The Old Post Office
24201.1 miles S of Port Isaac | Sleeps 4 + cot*
7 Nights from £533
The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.
Nearby pub
Originally a ships chandlery, The Slipway was converted into a hotel in the mid twentieth century and now offers a galleried seafood restaurant, bar and terrace with views overlooking the harbour. Food is locally sourced and a varied creative wine list is on offer alongside Sharps local ales.
Nearby beach
This rocky inlet is just West of Port Isaac, the beach itself is not easy to reach and will involve a fair walk and scramble down over the rocks. It is unsuitable for swimming due to the rock formations and strong currents.
Nearby walk
A lovely stroll which takes you past some of the memorable features of the popular Doc Martin series including Bert's Cafe, the school and the Doc's house.
Nearby town
When you think of a Cornish seaside destination, images of Port Isaac will come to mind. A quintessential Cornish fishing village, it is a popular holiday destination so there are plenty of self catering cottages in Port Isaac to choose from. With fisherman’s cottages forming narrow winding streets leading steeply down to the stone walled harbour, dotted with colourful vessels of all shapes and sizes. In fact many of the streets here are so traditional and narrow, including the aptly-named ‘Squeezebelly Alley’, a car is not an option so leave it behind while you take to exploring the architecture by foot. Many of the old buildings are listed as being of historical importance and certainly add to the ambience. The fishing industry is still at work here, left over from its days as a busy coastal port in the mid-19th Century.
The inspiration for many a painting, there are plenty of photo opportunities to be had with the lobster cages and wooden rowing boats along the harbour wall. Set down on the seashore, the surrounding area is very hilly and steep, which allows for far reaching views, and several pretty streams wind their way down to the waterfront. Take a boat trip for a spot of sea fishing or just a scenic float-along during the holiday season or walk along the coastal path for panoramic sea views and dramatic cliffs.
The village of Port Isaac, is now most recognisable as Port Wenn, thanks to being chosen as the setting for the television series, Doc Martin. However, many other movies and tv programs have been filmed here such as ‘Saving Grace’ (again, starring Martin Clunes) and ‘Amy Foster’ with Sir Ian McKellen. It was also frequently used as a set for the Poldark series. The locals are very welcoming and are a tourist attraction in their own right with the formation of Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends - a group of Cornish shanty singers with a strong following.
A holiday in a Port Isaac cottage will be an excellent way to explore the north coast as there are many good beaches nearby such as the surfing beach of Polzeath and the family-friendly wide stretch of sand at Daymer Bay, which is also dog-friendly. It’s only a short drive to bigger towns such as Padstow, famed for its Rick Stein dominated restaurants, and Tintagel with the historic castle ruins. Being on the north coast, it is close to the Camel Trail which follows the River Camel to Padstow, an excellent cycling, walking or horse riding route.
October 2022
Quaint
Lovely little place, well worth the visit.
September 2022
Lovely village
Very interesting and lovely to see all the places from 'Doc Martin' TV series, and learn how it had helped the village with funding. Got quite busy and didn't find any nice tearoom for a coffee, the only one was full.
October 2021
Would recommend!
Coastal walk to Portquin is very strenuous but excellent on a clear day!
Would recommend Nicky Bs pasty shop rather than others!
Obviously is a tourist trap so can get very busy and parking is a significant walk from the harbour.
August 2021
Boaty speedboat
Excellent trip along the coastline
September 2012
Just like it is on the telly!!
Port Isaac is truey lovely to visit whether you are aware of the Doc Martin show or not, but if you love the show a visit here is a must!
June 2009
Doc Martin Filming in Port Isaac
They are presently filming a new series of Doc Martin in Port Isaac so keep your eyes open for Martin Clunes and the rest of the cast and crew. And when you get home it's great fun to spot the scenes you saw being filmed!
Also nearby
This 15th Century village pub was once home to the masons and craftsmen who constructed the nearby church of St James the Great. Today, you will find a welcoming bar and restaurant, with blazing fire in the winter, and a large beer garden for those balmy Cornish summer evenings. Look out for the resident ghost.
July 2023
Great Meal
Lovely quaint country pub with excellent menu, our food was excellent, great service and we would definitely go again.
September 2022
Trying to be something it's not
Lovely traditional pub but not serving traditional pub food.
Expensive and menu more suited to city restaurant.
July 2022
Hot day
Lovely sheltered garden under trees.
May 2022
Excellent pub
The food was very good and the staff friendly and efficient. It is in the middle of the country so you need a car to get there. You need to book to be sure to get a place.
October 2021
Fantastic Dinner
We went to the St Kew for dinner, and what a dinner! Lovely atmospheric rabbit warren of a building, warm and smokey (check the menu!). Food and drink were both excellent, and the staff friendly and helpful
June 2021
Sue
Due to COVID, we booked the St Kew Inn well in advance of our stay at the Carriage House.
The pub is within walking distance from the Carriage house, down hill all the way, but consequently up hill all the way back!
The food was delicious, service extremely good, and a bonus for us was meeting our waitress, Faye, who happily gave us some suggestions as to what to do whilst visiting Cornwall. The first was to cycle the Camel trail from Wadebridge to Padstow. It was a truly stunning way to visit Padstow. And on our second visit to the pub Faye suggested we could visit Charlestown. Again, we are so grateful for that advice. We wouldn’t have experienced either had it not been for Faye.
The ‘fish of the day’ was well worth it too!
We felt very safe, and all the measures to ensure that guests met the government guidance were in place. Thank you to all at the St Kew Inn.
May 2021
Hidden Gem
We had two meals at St Kew Inn whilst on holiday in Cornwall and thoroughly enjoyed both meals. The service was attentive but not intrusive, the food was absolutely delicious and there is a good choice to choose from. Good beers and good prices too, if we go back to Cornwall we will definitely be booking a meal at St Kew Inn.
October 2020
St Kew Inn
Excellent food and friendly service to our party of six. Would recommend fish meal of the day.
October 2020
P Boorman
excellent food very friendly staff
January 2020
Very good food
Lovely food. Service was a little slow at lunchtime but they were aware of this, apologised and tried to resolve.
August 2019
So good we visited twice
Superb food, varied menu, good service. We were a group with 4 vegans and 2 carnivores and we all thought this Inn was top notch.
July 2019
A must visit
Fantastic pub, great menu for veggies, beautiful garden and loads of space
May 2019
Excellent Food
The St Kew Inn does excellent food. It is not cheap but very good value for money. My wife said that the hake she had one evening was the best fish she had tasted for many years - cooked to perfection. You need to book early to get a table in the restaurant, but can also take pot luck in the bar where the tables are not reserved. The staff are very friendly and helpful.
May 2017
Best pub in the arae
Excellent pub food. Best in the area. Good real ale and great pub food consistent performance and very popular so need to book in season.
September 2012
idyllic country pub
A warm welcome and helpful staff. The food was great - the haddock kedgeree was worth the trip alone.
June 2009
Great country pub
Great atmosphere and food. Nice seating inside and outdoor summer barbeque.
February 2009
Beautiful and Atmospheric
Picturesque 15th Century village pub serving beer from wooden barrels and excellent homecooked food prepared to order by hosts Paul Ripley and Sarah Allen. One of the most beautiful and atmospheric pubs in Cornwall.
- Mr and Mrs Whitten
Due to its sheltered nature this narrow cove is very safe for children offering a small sandy beach with rock pools to explore at low tide. In a peaceful beach-front village around the headland of Port Isaac, the beach is overlooked by high cliffs on either side with amenities close to hand.
May 2022
Lovely situation
Parking is very difficult as it is such a small village but there is a lot of character in the place and it has not been commercialised. A lovely little bay.
July 2021
Great for family members of all ages.
A relatively sheltered and safe bay with its own pub, restaurant and water sports centre. Great for Stand Up Paddleboarding and Coasteering, or just paddling with the kids or fishing off the rocks.
August 2019
Pretty
We loved this little bay. Lovely to explore the little beaches and caves when the tide is out. Great place to hire paddle boards and kayaks. Can get very busy.
June 2019
Lovely views
Port Gavern with Doyden Castle is a magic place. From here you can start your walk to Port Isaac or to Polzeath. Or just enjoy the surroundings and have a delicious sandwich from the salt pig.
June 2009
Pretty and safe beach for children
We spent a lovely day on the beach at Port Gaverne - exploring rockpools at high tide and paddling in the safe shallow sandy waters at low tide. Finished off with a beach barbeque and grilled some fresh mackerel landed from a friendly fisherman's boat. Perfect.
Made up of half a mile of soft, golden sand backed by rock and cliff, Trebarwith Strand is a National Trust-owned beach near Tintagel. Easily accessible, at low tide a huge expanse of sand is revealed whilst at high tide the sea covers nearly all the beach. Lifeguarded in summer, Trebarwith Strand is a popular spot amongst people of all ages.
August 2024
Great for rockpooling
The children love this beach for rockpooling but you have to check the tide times as it disappears when the tide comes in - but then is the time to climb the coastal path or retreat to the pub and watch the waves!
October 2023
Our favourite beach
A beautiful place to visit, we love it here.
June 2022
Great dog friendly beach
Fabulous sandy beach with life guards that is also dog friendly all year. Good facilities - toilets, pub and shop selling icecream and beach stuff - make it the complete package but mind the tide times!
October 2021
Ms Harrison
Something for everyone.
October 2021
Ms Harrison
Something for everyone.
July 2021
rock pools galore
nice beach with life guards. Loved going there at high tide to watch the sea crashing against the rocks. Great place to go to watch the sun set. Tasty Cornish pasties from the beach cafe
May 2015
Trebarwith Strand
We walked along the cliff tops to discover this beautiful stretch of dog friendly beach. It is accessed by a rocky plateau but once on the beach there is a long stretch of golden sand with plenty of room for all to play. Lots of body boarding & surfing to be had with places to hire equipment. It's a lovely unspoilt area with a couple of cafes, tourist shops & a pub. Definitely worth a visit.
September 2014
Fantastic beach
We were recommended Trebarwith Strand as one of the nicest beaches along this stretch of coastline. It was beautiful. We visited at lowtide, so lots of sandy beach available. The entry onto the beach is past a few cafes (we had an amazing cream tea in one of them = yum) and over a rocky area, before you reach the sand. The rocks themselves are fascinating. The beach is a good size, with rock pools and caves and plenty for all to explore. Some of the roads approaching Trebarwith are steep and narrow - as is often in this part of Cornwall.
February 2014
Hidden Gem!
Found the beach by accident whilst staying at Port Isaac and visiting Tintagel.
Beautiful sandy beach,reached by clambering over rocks . Really nice Cafe serving burgers and chips etc. Wish we had time to return another day!
The Melia Family
January 2013
An absolute classic!
Trebarwith Strand lies at the end of a narrow lane that descends through a wooded valley to this beachside hamlet. A vast beach at Spring low tides, its only downside is at high tide it is reduced to a modest rocky plateau. Armed with a tide table, however, there is no excuse for at least 6 hours a day on this deeply charismatic beach. Surrounded by an impressive cliff-scape this beach offers caves, huge sand flats, streams and rock pools big enough for the kids to safely swim in. Great surf as well including surf hire and lessons.When the tide does gently nudge the family up onto the rocky plateau, lovely in its own right, there is always the Port William pub overlooking the beach or a variety of cafes and a couple of quirky gift shops to keep everyone entertained. This is also a great place to access the coastal path heading North East to Penhallic point and Tintagel castle or South West to Tregardock beach and Port Isaac. It can get busy in the high season but never on the Polzeath scale and out of season it is usually very peaceful.
In a stunning setting, this pub offers wonderful views over Trebarwith Strand, excellent food and fine Cornish ales. A popular place for walkers, there is also a surf school nearby.
July 2024
Wonderful views and great food!
The views from The Port William are fantastic. The staff are friendly and welcoming and it's also dog friendly. Their fish n chips are the best!! Been many times on our trips to North Cornwall.
October 2023
Fantastic food with a view
A fantastic place for food after a beach walk. Enjoyed our lunch watching the sea, excellent menu. We'll definitely eat here again.
September 2023
Proper pub
Good pub food, lovely staff, very accommodating to two large dogs.
June 2023
Fantastic pub
Fantastic views and great food
A lovely walk from Upton mill
February 2022
Stunning view
Fantastic view of the sea
Good food but not much choice on the menu
December 2020
Best place for watching the storm
Friendly and welcoming. Enjoyed a couple of winter sunsets.
August 2019
Mussels to die for
Superb meal here. Service was a little slow but the food was worth waiting for.
June 2019
Great food
Great food, warm welcome good choice of Ales
October 2013
A real gem.
We stumbled across the Port William at Trebarwith Strand one evening on our way back from Port Issac. When we arrived the sun was setting, the tide was high and the waves roaring! The pub sits on part of the cliff which looks over the bay of Trebarwith, offering stunning views of this part of the coastline. We had a drink whilst sat on one of the picnic benches outside and watched the sunset. Bliss! We then returned to the Port William for lunch later in our holiday and the food was very tasty 'pub grub'. The staff were very welcoming and the pub is child and dog friendly and our two sons enjoyed looking at the huge fish tank that resides in the main bar!
May 2013
An exceptional place to watch the sun set over Trebarwith Strand either with a pint of fine Cornish ale, glass of wine or a robust pub feast. Great food and a recently added contemporary extension to the dining area with outstanding sea views.
Feeling artistic? Try your hand at some pottery, still life or life drawing classes with potter Jon Whitten. Jon, whose work can be found in collections in Europe, Japan, New Zealand and the US, specialises in contemporary, wheel thrown pottery, a large collection of which is on display here, and is available to buy.
September 2017
If the weather is not so good!
I should have said whether the weather is good or bad an interesting couple of hours learning the art of pottery with your host Jon. Can even take your works of art (or otherwise!) back home with you. Thank you, Jon.
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