7 Pretty Harbour Towns In West Cornwall

St Ives Harbour is a picturesque beach (when the tide is out) and harbour located in the charming town of St Ives, Cornwall. It’s a bustling hub of activity, with a mix of traditional fishing boats and pleasure craft offering boat tours. The harbour is surrounded by traditional fisherman’s cottages restored to make luxury St  Ives holiday cottages and apartments, shops, galleries, bars and restaurants. This creates a vibrant atmosphere which is popular with day visitors to St Ives as well as those on their St Ives holidays.

While it’s still a fishing harbour, St Ives is also a very popular tourist destination. Here’s what you can do when visiting St Ives Harbour:

Mooch around Art galleries

St Ives is renowned for its art scene, and there are numerous galleries showcasing works by local and international artists.

Eat delicious locally-sourced food

Enjoy fresh seafood, Cornish pasties, and other local delicacies at the many restaurants and cafes lining the harbour.

Shop ’til you drop

Find unique souvenirs, jewellery, clothing, and gifts in the shops around the harbour.

Find your sea legs

Take a boat trip to explore the surrounding coastline and visit nearby beaches.

Sunbathe or take a dip

At low tide, there is a huge expanse of beach with the softest sand being closest to the harbour wall so perfect for sunbathing for a while. When the tide is in, the water is crystal clear and makes it a wonderful spot for taking a dip within a protected environment (you won’t find rip tides or huge waves here!)

Buy your supper

Time it right and you can often buy fresh fish directly from the harbour. Fishermen will sell their catch to locals and visitors.

Events at St Ives Harbour

St Ives Harbour and its surrounding areas host a variety of events throughout the year. Here are some popular ones:

St Ives Food Festival (May)

A popular event showcasing local food and drink producers, chefs, and live music. This normally takes place on Porthminster Beach but in its early years it was on St Ives Harbour.

St Ives Lifeboat Day (August)

An event raising funds for the local RNLI lifeboat station, featuring boat demonstrations, stalls, and entertainment.

St Ives September Festival (September)

This two week-long festival features a wide range of events, including art exhibitions, music performances, and cultural activities.

St Ives Winter Festival (December)

A festive celebration with Christmas markets, carol services, and New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Porthleven Harbour is another picturesque harbour located in Cornwall, known for its rugged beauty and working fishing community. Unlike St Ives, which has a more tourist-oriented feel, Porthleven retains its traditional character whilst still welcoming visitors.

This is what you can expect when you visit Porthleven Harbour:

Plenty of fishing activity

Observe the daily activities of the fishing fleet as they arrive and depart from the harbour.

Eat seafood from harbour restaurants

Enjoy fresh, locally caught seafood at the many restaurants and cafes lining the harbour.

Browse shops and retail therapy

Find unique souvenirs, jewellery, clothing, and local products in the shops around the harbour.

Take a boat trip

Take a boat trip to explore the surrounding coastline and visit nearby coves. Maybe try your hand at fishing?

Catch of the day

Porthleven is a great place to buy fresh fish. Fishermen often sell their catch directly from the harbor, offering a taste of the region’s freshest seafood.

Events at Porthleven Harbour

Porthleven Harbour hosts a variety of events throughout the year, attracting both locals and visitors. Here are some popular events:

Porthleven Food Festival (April)

A popular annual event featuring local food producers, chefs, and live music.

Porthleven Regatta (July)

A traditional Cornish regatta with boat races, live music, and family-friendly activities.

Porthleven Lifeboat Day (August)

An event raising funds for the local RNLI lifeboat station, featuring boat demonstrations, stalls, and entertainment.

Porthleven Christmas Market (December)

A festive market with local crafts, gifts, and food stalls.

Porthleven Harbour Lights (December)

A stunning light display illuminating the harbour and surrounding area.

Mousehole (pronounced Mowzul) Harbour is a charming and historic harbour located in the picturesque village of Mousehole, Cornwall. Known for its quaint holiday cottages, narrow streets, and stunning coastal scenery. Mousehole is a popular tourist destination (but not as busy as St Ives).

What’s best to do at Mousehole Harbour?

Our favourite thing to do when we visit Mousehole is mooch! There is a warren of narrow side streets with really quaint, independent shops selling jewellery, candles, fabrics, pottery and artwork. It’s a perfect place to pick up gifts for friends and family.

We also recommend getting a takeaway coffee and pasty from The Harbour Cafe and sitting on the benches overlooking the harbour and beach. On a warm sunny day, it’s a great place to stop and take in the beautiful scenery as well as make new friends.

Another great place to stop at and enjoy a pint of Cornish ale is at The Ship Inn which overlooks this gorgeous West Cornwall Harbour.

Mousehole is still a fishing harbour, and you can often buy fresh fish directly from the fishermen at the harbour.

Events at Mousehole Harbour

Sea, Salts and Sails Festival (July, held every 2 years – last held 2024)

A family-friendly festival with live music, food stalls, and traditional tall boat displays.

Penlee Lifeboat Day (August)

Enjoy stalls and a BBQ on the old Quay. The Lifeboats make an appearance during the afternoon and then leave Mousehole to return once again in the early evening for the Annual Blessing service of the Boats and the Crew.

Punt Race (August)

A bonkers day with lots of laughs organised by The Ship Inn. Enjoy bands, a BBQ and most of all the punt race around Mousehole’s island. See incredible fancy dresses and unbelievable punts…will it float let alone race??

Mousehole Christmas Lights (December)

One of the most renowned events in Cornwall, this spectacular display of Christmas lights transforms the village into a magical winter wonderland.

Tom Bawcock Eve (December)

An annual event which takes place on the 23rd December each year. Tom Bawcock is the legendary fisherman who braved wild seas in order to catch fish to feed a hungry village. He brought home seven different types of fish, a feast for the hungry villagers of Mousehole. The Ship Inn recreates the pie called Stargazey Pie, so book yourself a table and experience it for yourself!

Hayle Harbour has a rich history dating back to the Bronze Age. While the area has been inhabited for centuries, the modern town of Hayle primarily developed during the 18th century industrial revolution.

What is its historical timeline?

Early History

There is evidence that an Iron Age settlement exists at the fort on the hill above Carnsew Pool. The Romans also had a presence in the Hayle Estuary, and evidence of this can be seen in the finds of imported pottery. The harbour served as a safe haven for seagoing vessels, and the area was involved in the tin trade.

Industrial Revolution

The construction of a modern quay by John “Merchant” Curnow in the 1740s facilitated the growth of the mining industry. This attracted the Cornish Copper Company, which established a copper smelter at Ventonleague (Copperhouse Creek).

Hayle became a major centre of heavy industry, with two iron foundries (Harvey’s of Hayle and the Cornish Copper Company) and numerous other industries. The town gained worldwide recognition for its engineering expertise, producing some of the largest steam pumping engines in the world.

Decline and Regeneration

The decline of the mining industry led to a decline in the port’s importance. The foundries closed, and much of the industrial infrastructure was demolished.

Efforts to regenerate the harbour area began in the 1980s, but faced challenges due to economic conditions and planning issues.

In recent years, there have been renewed efforts to revitalise the harbour area, including residential development, tourism, and leisure facilities. The area has also been designated a World Heritage Site as part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape.

Today, Hayle Harbour is visited by tourists for its mix of history, natural beauty, and great watersport activities. While its industrial past is evident, the town is embracing its heritage and working towards a sustainable future.

Why do we visit?

Along the harbour walls stretching as far back to the viaduct, there is a peaceful walk along the grassy banks where you can see fishing boats moored. There are street food vendors along the way as well as Philps Pasties! As you move along the harbour towards the beaches, you can see the new development taking place showcasing how it’s a positive move for the town. You can spot families crab potting off the walls of the harbour as well as those just sitting and taking in the wonderful scenery or taking part in water sports such as kayaking or SUP boarding.

St Michael’s Mount Harbour is a quaint tidal harbour located on an island, just off the coast of Marazion. This iconic tidal island, St Michael’s Mount, is connected to the mainland by a cobbled causeway that is submerged during high tide and walkable during low tide.

Like a Disney film

The island is crowned by a medieval castle and chapel, offering stunning views of the surrounding area. It’s a popular tourist destination with a rich history and religious significance. The unique access to the island via a causeway adds to its charm and Disney-esque magic. St Michael’s Mount at twilight is lit up and looks fantastical.

The harbour itself is a sheltered haven for boats and it’s where the water taxis drop off visitors during high tides. When the tide is half in and half out, the huge amphibious boat is used to transport visitors to and from the island.

I found this YouTube clip that perfectly shows the experience of getting to St Michael’s Mount by boat.

Residents of St Michael’s Mount are all employed by St Aubyn Estate who own the island, the castle and much of Marazion. Their beautiful cottages all face the harbour so try not to be too nosey through the windows!

There is a souvenir shop on the island as well as a cafe and it’s a very tranquil place to visit despite the numbers of tourists that walk the causeway (and some even get stranded by the tide!). Remember to check the tides carefully before attempting the walk to or from the island. Dogs are allowed in the harbour area and the small hamlet of St Michael’s Mount but not in the castle or the grounds.

What can you see at Penzance Harbour?

Penzance Harbour is primarily a commercial harbour. The largest ship that can typically navigate the harbour is around 150 metres in length so there is more to see in this West Cornwall Harbour than just small fishing boats.

Penzance Harbour is where The Scillonian III passenger ferry operates between Penzance and the Isles of Scilly. You may also see tall ships that visit Penzance Harbour, including the Phoenix and the Matthew Flinders. Occasionally, cargo ships visit Penzance Harbour to deliver goods to the local area. These vessels are typically larger than passenger ships, with some reaching a length of over 100 metres.

You can walk along the pier and look down onto the harbour and the boats moored. It’s a working harbour so sitting on the harbour wall with a coffee means you will see a hive of activity whether it’s commercial vessels or fishing boats.

What’s nearby worth seeing?

Jubilee Pool

The pool is an open air seawater lido that has a sauna, geothermal pool and cafe. It’s a few minutes walk from Penzance Harbour.

Chapel Street

A few minutes walk from the harbour via Abbey slipway (a very pretty cobbled lane) is Chapel Street. It has antique shops, galleries, independent jewellers and clothes retail shops as well as cafes and restaurants.

Penlee House Museum and Gardens

Walk from Chapel Street onto Penlee House. Known to many as the artistic heart of West Cornwall’s history. Penlee House was originally built in 1895 and now it is a first-class gallery and museum in the heart of Penzance, located in Penlee Park. The Orangery Cafe serves delicious lunches, coffee and a great choice of homemade cakes!

Events at Penzance Harbour

Golowan and Mazey Day (June) 

Mazey Day is the centrepiece of the Golowan festival, a week-long midsummer celebration in Penzance, Cornwall that takes place in late June. The festival’s origins date back to the 19th century Feast of St John and includes many traditional practices. The festival encompasses the entire town including the harbour.

Off-shore Model Racing (October)

Offshore model racing is a radio-controlled (RC) powerboat racing event where boats race against the clock around an offshore circuit at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

Montol Festival (December)

The Montol Festival is an annual celebration held on the eve of the Winter Solstice, which in Cornish is “Montol”. Much like the Golowan Festival, the traditions take place over a week long programme of community events (mostly free). The main event is on Montol Eve itself with lantern parades and a beacon at Lescudjack Castle and the night lighting of the Mock (Cornish yule log) ceremony in Penzance Town Centre attended by the Penzance Obby Oss Penglaz.

Can you buy fresh fish from Penzance Harbour?

Yes! Keep your eyes peeled for local fisherman bringing their catch ashore and see if they are happy to sell you a fish for supper.

This harbour town is one of the largest fishing ports in the UK. Newlyn Harbour’s location means it can offer round-the-clock refuge to vessels that fish the southwest coast.

Newlyn harbour has existed since the 15th century. Huers positioned above the harbour on the cliffs once cried ‘hevva, hevva’ as they spotted shoals of pilchards, this alerted the townsfolk to launch the fleet and land their catch.

Fresh seafood from Newlyn Harbour

Newlyn Harbour is the place to go when you want to buy fresh seafood. Being the epicentre of fishing vessels landing fish, there are fishmongers galore in Newlyn. You won’t buy fish any fresher!

Is it worth a visit?

Yes, definitely. Be prepared for the smell of fish occasionally as catches are unloaded though! Also, there are areas that are for authorised personnel only and always remember it’s a busy fishing port. Look out for the return of the Newlyn Fish Festival too. It has been ‘fallowed’ during harbour developments but it is one of the largest fish festivals in Cornwall and will return bigger and better. Normally held on the last bank holiday of August. Keep your eyes peeled!

What else is in Newlyn?

Newlyn Filmhouse

Newlyn Filmhouse is an amazing independent cinema, converted from an 1876 built granite old Fish Cellar & Smokery. The cinema has a wonderful bar and restaurant for pre-film dining.

Newlyn School of Art and Newlyn Gallery

The Newlyn School of Art was a prominent art movement that flourished in the Cornish fishing village of Newlyn in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It now runs art classes that can be a day’s course or over a week. The School of Art is well known for its emphasis on realism and its focus on capturing the local landscape and people. The gallery hosts exhibitions and events, including workshops, talks, and artist demonstrations. It’s a wonderful place to discover new talent and appreciate the diversity of contemporary art.

Fish Restaurants

You must try Argoe on Newlyn Harbour, Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar and The Tolcarne Inn for delicious fresh fish lunches or dinners out.

Jelbert’s Ice-cream parlour

Jelberts is now over 40 years old. It’s a local family business and is famous for only serving one flavour – vanilla! They produce enough for the day so once it’s all been scooped, it’s gone for that day. The queue stretches into Newlyn on warm, sunny days and there’s optional clotted cream and a flake to go on top.