Harbour Village Of Polperro

OVERVIEW

Delight in the countless charms of Polperro, an authentic fishing village where life still revolves around the sea. After departing from the pier, you will drive west through the pastoral county of Cornwall to seaside Polperro, a traditional fishing village that lies in sheltered ravine. Being in a secluded cove, Polperro was once a favorite stop for smugglers who brought in contraband such as brandy, tea and tobacco to sell later in London. After exiting your coach, it’s a thirty minute walk alongside a small stream to the center of the compact town. Along the way, you’ll pass quaint cottages, pubs, shops and cafés. For those who don’t wish to make the walk, there is an inexpensive shuttle available to take you into the town center. Once you have arrived, you will enjoy approximately one hour of free time to explore at your own pace. You might begin at the Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing, a repository of memorabilia from Polperro’s two main enterprises in the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the highlights is a model of the “Lady Beatrice,” a gaff-rigged boat used to catch sardines. Indeed, every attraction seems to reflect Polperro’s strong connection to the sea. Fishing boats still head in and out of the harbor as they have since the 13th century. Fishermen’s cottages crowd the waterfront, and fresh seafood appears on every menu. If you decide to explore around the harbor, you will find it traffic free, as the only means of transportation allowed is walking or riding a horse-drawn carriage. Traditional pubs are plentiful throughout town and the shopping is inspired, especially for nautical merchandise. Following your exploration of Polperro, you will retrace your steps and return to the pier in Plymouth.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel across a rural Cornish landscape to spend time in a seafaring town with plenty of history, some of it not exactly legal.
• Reach the car-free town by walking in along a scenic stream or take an inexpensive town shuttle.
• Explore Polperro’s maze of narrow streets where horse-drawn carriages are the only real traffic.
• Stroll by quaint white-washed cottages that once held smuggler’s stashes, but now hold flower boxes.
• Visit a smuggling museum, graze nautical crafts at charming cellar shops or savor a Cornish pub lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.