SEE & DO

Getting here

Around Mousehole

Within 100 metres of Cobbles Loft, in the harbour, there are two lovely sandy beaches.  Outside the harbour walls, and a very short walk along the coast, there is a fantastic rock pool.  Why not take a boat trip right from the harbour with Cormorant Cruising – booking will be required, or take a coastal walk to Lamorna Cove using iWalk Cornwall app.

Places to eat in Mousehole
Places to eat further afield
Great Beaches

When the sun is shining, there can be few places in Europe with more beautiful beaches than Cornwall.

Mousehole harbour itself has two small sandy areas which are very popular with families who have young children; the little ones get sand and water, whilst the grown-ups have easy access to grab coffee and ice-creams close by.

Sennen Cove

Sennen Cove is a large, popular beach approximately 20 minutes from Mousehole. In high season, parking is extended to the field above the cove. The beach is served by a cafe and there’s a surf school. The RNLI patrol the beach and do set designated areas for surfing and swimming.

Porthcurno

Porthcurno‘s beach is much smaller than Sennen Cove. Its a beautiful spot but as a result can get very busy. It’s worth remembering that Porthcurnos beach shelves quite steeply so a couple of metres into the water it gets deeper. There was a single RNLI guard covering the beach when we have visited during high season. One interesting thing to consider as you sit on Portcurno’s beach, running up the beach, from the sea, a few feet below you is the first trans-Atlantic submarine telecoms cable linking the U.K. to America. You can learn more at the Museum of Global Communications which is located near the car park you walked down from.

Adjacent to Porthcurno’s beach is Pedn Vounder Beach beach. Whilst Pedn Vounder is unquestionably idyllic you need to be very careful getting to it. In our view, access is not suitable for the elderly or young children, you will be climbing down rocks whilst trying to hold your belongings. Also, the tide is an issue and, much to our surprise, there can be a few naturists proudly wandering around.

St.Ives

St.Ives has a number of beaches including Portmeor and Porthgwidden Beach. Both are great and perfect if you are staying in St.Ives itself but, parking is a big issue and something you need to think about before you arrive.

It goes without saying that, beaches can be dangerous places. The tide, ‘rip’ tides and water temperature can easily catch people out, especially those who aren’t familiar with local conditions. The RNLI does not always have lifeguards on-site at all beaches, all of the time. Familiarise yourself with what the RNLI flags mean and take note of their warnings.

Tip: Invest in a wetsuit! 

Places to visit nearby

If you don’t want to hit the beach, there are plenty of great places to visit nearby to Mousehole and beyond. Here are some suggestions, but there are lots of other places too:

Newlyn.  A working fishing port, with the cool Newlyn Filmhouse cinema and the Newlyn Art Gallery.

Penzance.  The Pirates of Penzance.  The end of the line for the Great West Railway.  Take the helicopter to the Scilly Isles or go by Sea on the Scillonian.  Book a great boat trip with Atlantic Adventures – we were lucky enough to see dolphins swimming off the coastline when we went.

St.Ives.  One of Cornwall’s most popular seaside towns.  Lot’s of gift shops, outdoor clothing stores, cafes and restaurants  Excellent beaches and of course Tate St.Ives.  Have a parking strategy before you arrive if going by car or take the train from St. Erth along the coastline.

The Minack Theatre.  An extraordinary clifftop outdoor theatre high above Porthcurno.

St. Michael’s Mount.  Depending on the tide, you get a boat from the village of Marazion or walk across the causeway.  The walk up to the Castle is quite steep and may not be suitable for the elderly but it’s well worth the effort. There’s a lovely cafe.

Places to visit further afield

The Eden Project. Really worth the trip. A brilliant concept, which creates a great day out for all the family.

There are plenty of great gardens, a vineyard, tin mines nearby to visit, just check out the Visit Cornwall web site.