Luxury self-catering accommodation in Port Isaac

Known for being the filming location for ITV's Doc Martin, Port Isaac is made up of a collection of quaint granite cottages and narrow winding streets that all seem to lead down to the piercing blue of its harbour. Cutting a cute figure at the foot of soaring cliffs, there is more to this seaside settlement than meets the eye: aside from being a traditional working fishing village, it is also a vibrant centre where galleries, craft shops, and Michelin star eateries come together. And if the belt’s not too tight after feasting, skip along to one of the narrowest passages in the country: Squeeze Belly Alley.

Hints of Poldark are never far off in this county: many a dramatic horse galloping scene were filmed along the hauntingly beautiful cliffs around the wilds of Chapel Porth. A ramble around the headlands and down the footpath towards this exposed beach is the best way to revisit the scenes, taking in banks of vibrant heather, verdant ferns, and sprigs of golden gorse along the way. The original World Belly Board Championships first surfaced in Chapel Porth, so grab a board and perfect your technique. Meanwhile, the little café serves up scoops of local ice cream, just in time for the return march home.