Penny Cottage

Port Isaac, Cornwall

Along with its neighbour Port Isaac, Port Gaverne is best known as the filming location of the fictional village Portwenn in the TV series Doc Martin. There’s plenty of history in these streets, and the cottage itself forms part of the old Rashleigh Cellars where fishermen would have once stored gear and processed their hauls of pilchards. Today it makes a comfortable place to stay with plenty to explore locally, while still feeling you’re away from the crowds.

Inside the cottage is all on one level, with three steps from the garden up to the front door. Entering via the back door leads you into the kitchen, with a door into a small sitting room complete with a woodburning stove. Next comes a hallway which opens first onto the double bedroom followed by the dining/reading room and shower room/WC, before completing the circuit back at the kitchen. Outside you’ll find a secluded garden at the front of the cottage, and an open car port at the back with room for one vehicle.

This is the ideal base for walkers as the South West Coast Path runs through the village, offering stunning walks in either direction. It’s also only a 500-yard stroll to Port Gaverne beach: a sheltered little cove with plenty of rockpools and sand at low-tide, and a beach-side café. Port Gaverne also has a pub, or you can stroll half a mile up the hill to Port Isaac with its pub and art galleries. Don’t forget to explore the ‘platt’ (harbour) which has often hosted gigs by local shanty singers Fisherman’s Friends.

The nearest town is Wadebridge about nine miles away, offering supermarkets and eclectic independent shops. The towns of Rock and Padstow are also within easy reach – the latter is a haven for foodies. Keen surfers can catch a wave at Polzeath beach 5 miles from the cottage, while nearby Pentireglaze offers stunning cliff-top walks around the iron age fortress of Rumps. Also worth a visit is Boscastle about 12 miles up the coast – a picturesque fishing village with scenic riverside walks and a National Trust café and shop.