If you’re looking for a quaint and traditional Cornish fishing village, away from the crowds then Mousehole is the place to go. Not too frequently visited by tourists, this tiny and peaceful harbour village holds so much charm and authenticity, it’s the perfect weekend getaway.
Mousehole is a small working fishing village which sits about a 15 minute drive from Penzance (trains run daily from London to Penzance). Walking around Mousehole it feels as if you are discovering this old-world village for yourselves rather than a tourist destination to visit. Walk around the pretty laneways and stop in the small cafes and art galleries along the way. Or stroll along the harbour where the local fishermen’s cottages are neatly placed, with a prime view of the beautiful harbour.
You will see couples sitting on the benches lining the harbour, children playing in the water, someone reading a good book and local fishermen attending to their boats. For such a small and unassuming village, a lot goes on if you stop and take the time to look.
As you walk around the cobbled lanes, you may come across small stalls outside peoples homes, selling handmade crafty things or old books. All complete with honesty boxes in which you pay- it works with trust here. I found this quite charming.
Explore the several gift shops close to the harbour, each with handmade items, inspired by the sea and ocean. I found a really interesting shop just off from the harbour called The Ark. Inside were quirky witchcraft type items like vintage mini potion bottles and lucky charms. Great for unique gifts and original items for the home.
Just opposite this shop is a small public footway which heads up a hill and through the grass and bushes. After we pushed our way to the top we came out at a private road so walked along and then back down to the harbour. You are rewarded by beautiful views back down over the village.
For places to eat in Mousehole there’s a choice of pubs, restaurants and cafes. We stopped at a pretty little cafe for brunch and sat outside in the garden, surrounded by white walls and green palms. Hard to believe we were still in the UK!
Places nearby Mousehole…
There are also many walks you can do in the surrounding area, as well as some stunning beaches close by too. One of which is Porthcurno beach which on a sunny day wouldn’t look out of place in the Mediterranean. Mousehole is also close to St Michael’s Mount and Lands End. A perfect little base to explore this pretty section of Cornwall.
So if you want a place to just relax or take in the Cornish way of life then come to Mousehole! This authentic village is situated away from the hustle and bustle of neighbouring villages and still holds so much of its natural charm and beauty.
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20 Comments
First of all, what a really pretty place to visit. Second of all, my husband would LOVE this location. He is an avid fisherman, so this would definitely be right up his alley.
Yes you should recommend, its not touristy- just a simple fishing village ๐
I love reading about places I’ve never heard of. This village looks super quaint and quiet, I love the narrow laneways and little shops. That Porthcurno beach looks amazing! Wouldn’t think that was the UK.
Oh how the sun can change everything! They generally get nice weather down there in summer I think ๐
This seems exactly like my type of town (I especially love the name!) The honest boxes are amazing. In the world we currently live in, itโs hard to believe that anyone would really abide by an โhonor systemโ and I love that this little town is still pure enough to have that.
I agree, you’d never get that in London though!
Oooh lovely! It’s funny how a teeny bit of sun can make the UK look lush and continental! Until you see that plate of cooked breakfast, then you know you’re in the UK! ๐
Mousehole looks so charming, I especially love all those handmade goods for sale in the lanes. I can imagine I would have loved that if we visited there as children! The name is really cute too!
Haha I’ve always gotta have a full English! and yes the weather was a treat ๐
I love fishing villages! They are one of my favorite places to visit. Not only are they beautiful, they just have a peaceful quality about them. Mousehole is a spectacular name for a village. Even if it weren’t as gorgeous as it is, I’d be intrigued by its name ๐
haha it’s actually pronounced ‘mous all’ not ‘mouse hole’ which was how I said it ๐
I have to admit this is the first time I heard about Mousehole and it’s such a pretty little town. Buildings along the small laneways are just cute and pretty. it looks like life in Mousehole is like in the English background novels.
most definitely ๐
This looks like such a quaint place to visit! I love visiting off-the-beaten-path places like this! The little shops look so cute and that plate of food looks so delicious!!
They have such cute lil souvenir shops but still it wasn’t that touristy ๐
I love quaint towns and so this Mousehole Cornwall fishing village looks very appealing to me. Wandering around the narrow streets of this village and exploring the lives of local people must be an interesting thing to do here. Even the nearby places have stunning beaches. A very relaxed and peaceful town.
Yes I’m the same- some of the beaches didnt loo out of place in the med!
It looks a lot like St. Ives! I only had one day in Cornwall when I visited, and chose to see St. Ives and St. Michaels Mount. They are beautiful places for sure!
Yes its similer but much smaller! Can’t go wrong really all these town are so pretty!
This looks like so many of the towns described in books Iโve read come alive. Looks like a lovely to walk through, though I hadnโt heard of Mousehole before today.
Amazing view of the harbour and beach! With the pictures you’ve shown, it seems like Mousehole residents are really crafty people. I would love to have those crafts on my wall!