Cadgwith


This titchy village is truly a postcard come to life. With its idyllic huddle of thatched houses and fisher’s cottages, set at the foot of a lung-bustingly steep hill, it's many people's ideal picture of what a Cornish fishing village should look like. But it's not just for show: fishing boats still run out from the cove in pursuit of local crabs and lobsters, and you’ll see their pots piled up beside the village beach.

There's a car park halfway down the hill, but spaces are limited, so it's best to arrive early. Whatever you do, don't head on blindly into the village in search of a space – there aren't any, and you'll probably end up scraping the side of your car on the fiendishly narrow lanes.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Devil's Frying Pan

0.14 MILES

Up on the cliffs above Cadgwith, a collapsed blowhole plunges 60m straight down into the broiling sea. It gets its devilish name from the way it spits out…

2. Housel Bay

1.68 MILES

A minuscule scrap of sand and boulders edged by tall cliffs, this tiny cove makes for a pretty picture – and if you're a confident swimmer, the submerged…

3. Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre

2.12 MILES

Rising above Lizard Point, the whitewashed lighthouse was built in 1751 and has protected ships from the treacherous rocks ever since. Although it's now…

4. Lizard Point

2.28 MILES

Trekking out to Lizard Point is a fine way to while away an hour or two. A trail leads here from the village, past the lighthouse to the point itself,…

5. Kynance Cove

2.29 MILES

A mile north of Lizard Point, this National Trust–owned inlet is an absolute showstopper, studded with craggy offshore islands rising out of searingly…

6. Predannack Wollas

2.93 MILES

Mullion's beaches are inevitably busy in summer, so if you're after a bit of solitude then you're best off hiking south along the coast path from Mullion…

7. Mullion Cove

4.03 MILES

Mullion's tiny fishing fleet operates out of this tiny harbour, a very Cornish cluster of boats, slipway and slate-topped cottages. There's precious…

8. Goonhilly Downs

4.24 MILES

Across the centre of the Lizard sprawls the barren Goonhilly Downs, a flat, grassy heathland which – rather improbably – also happens to be home to one of…