Port Isaac Holiday Cottages

About Self-Catering Holidays in Port Isaac

Port Isaac is a small fishing village with a working harbour where fish are still landed, sold and bought on the quayside. A small collection of restaurants and pubs around the harbour serve up cod, baked plaice, lemon sole, lobster and various dishes using the freshest fish to visiting tourists who come to wander through the extremely narrow lanes of the village, visit Doc Martin's house overlooking the harbour, browse lamps, bowls and vases with fish designs and a seaside themes in the fine art gallery. Walkers arrive here whilst walking the coastal path. Almost all visitors end up at the harbour at some point to sit and talk, take photographs and laugh at the unfortunate drivers who allow their GPS systems to bring them into the narrow lanes where three cars together cause gridlock.

Port Isaac is a picturesque village with a few of the usual shops selling Cornish fudge, pasties, cream teas and ice cream. It is interesting to note that one ice cream shop is closed on Saturdays for Shabbat and proud to explain that in a notice in the shop window. There is not a place for a beach holiday, there is no beach here apart from the small area of grey sand in the harbour.  Many of the holidaymakers are accompanied by a dog or two, the coastal path and walks into the hills are ideal for dog walking and dogs welcome cottages in Cornwall abound.

All roads and footpaths lead up into the hills away from the harbour. It is worth the climb during the summer to see the pretty cottage gardens overspilling with colourful blooms. Parking is difficult in Port Isaac; it is possible to find free parking spaces in the residential areas above the harbour and drivers should remember not to park on the pavement because that may incur fines. There is a car park a little higher on the north side of town that charged £3 in 2011 but entailed a lengthy walk into town. A walk down the steep lanes to the harbour via the road signposted 'village hall' is a short cut and passes interesting cottages crammed into the tiny lanes. 

If you rent a cottage for a self-catering holiday in Port Isaac, make that that is has parking and that you have the nerve to navigate any narrow steep lanes.

This part of the Cornish coast is rocky with small coves and wonderful views. The nearest large town is Wadebridge, eight miles away. Rock for sailing and Polzeath beach for superb family surfing is a short drive away.

Take  a look at holiday cottages in Cornwall generally to see if there is the ideal cottage for your self catering holiday this year in this popular destination in the south west of England.

Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Port Isaac, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in Cornwall.