Introduction to Polperro
Polperro, a fishing village about 25 miles from Plymouth, is popular as a holiday destination because of its relaxed feeling and the many colourful, tightly packed fishermen’s houses that make up the village. It’s hard to believe that just a few centuries ago, the village consisted of two separate parts that belonged to entirely different parishes ‐ this has even been documented in the Domesday Book.
Unlike many other areas of Cornwall, the village is accessible by train via the nearby Looe Railway Station ‐ but this is just one of the reasons why the villages sees thousands of visitors each summer. In one summer day during the 1970s, as many as 25,000 visitors were counted!
Culture & attractions in Polperro
In spite of the high visitor numbers, Polperro has managed to keep its quiet charms. One of the reasons for this is that visitors are not longer allowed to bring their cars into the village ‐ the narrow streets would make navigation difficult, anyway. If you don’t feel like walking, you can choose between horse drawn carriages and milk floats that are disguised as trams instead.
Polperro is the perfect destination for anyone who is looking for long scenic walks: not only does the South West Coastal Path pass through the village, there are many other beautiful day and half day walks along the coastline. On the way west to Fowey, you will pass three beaches, which, thanks to many different activities, are almost as popular in the spring and autumn as in the summer.
For some milder walking, you can choose between different guided tours that focus on different parts of the village’s rich history. For a self-guided your, the Polperro Heritage Museum of Fishing and Smuggling is a good starting point.
If you prefer exploring the high seas, tranquil boat trips offer unrivalled views of the Cornish coast, and if you’re lucky, you can even get to see some seals or dolphins.
Since 1996, the annual Polperro Festival starts every 3rd Saturday in June and offers a week of live music and dance, street entertainment, theatre and many arts and craft stalls.
Must-do highlights in Polperro
Much competition in the area has also led to a great number of cafés, pubs and restaurant that all serve top notch food that wouldn’t be out of its place in a grand metropolis. Cornwall has a higher density of creative folks than probably any other place in the country, and so you can spend hours visiting and shopping in the many small boutiques, art galleries and craft shops.
The Eden Project, undoubtedly one of Cornwall’s biggest attractions, is just a 30 minute drive away and a great option to spend a rainy day. Under giant glass roofs, many exotic plant and animal species have found a home far away from home, and they are doing incredibly well, not only thanks to the jaw-dropping engineering and architectural skills that were poured into the project.
Just a short walk from Polperro, you can visit not only just, but three National Trust Mansions; Lanhydrock, Antony House and Cotehele as well as the lush Cornish gardens in nearby Polruan.
Eating & drinking in Polperro
The Kitchen is a firm favourite for both locals and visitors to Polperro. All food is locally sourced and freshly prepared. The restaurant is tiny, though, so make sure to make a reservation when you plan to visit for dinner.
The Noughts and Crosses is a hybrid of a pub, tapas bar and chippy, which is said to serve the best chips in all of Cornwall.
The Blue Peter Pub is Polperro’s most popular gastropub ‐ don’t worry, you won’t have to assemble your own meal here! For such a down to earth place, they offer an astounding number of healthy options (i.e. brown instead of white rice).
Accommodation in Polperro
There are no high rise hotel buildings or other reminders that you are actually staying in one of the area’s most visited villages. Instead of cars and hotels, Polperro offers quiet relaxation, fun and a wide choice of homes away from home.
Libbys Cottage for example is not just any holiday cottage, but plays an essential part in the history of the village. Built for the aristocratic Libby Family, it features its own private garden and sleeps up to four people.
If you are looking for something in the countryside, the Barn Owl Cottage is situated in the countryside, close to the beach and the village of Looe. The stone cottage offers space for up to four guests.
So that’s our round up of things to do on a weekend in Polperro. Have you ever been there? What would you recommend doing if someone went there for the weekend? Please share you experience with us…