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Port Isaac Beach

Cornwall, England


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Port Isaac Beach is a picturesque and historic fishing village located in North Cornwall, offering a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, and modern amenities.

Port Isaac is a very picturesque and still working Cornish fishing village with whitewashed cottages and steep narrow streets leading down to an ancient sheltered harbour. The beach is protected by an ancient breakwater, and the village was once famed as a smugglers haunt. Visitors can enjoy great local pubs and a locally renowned fish restaurant near the harbourside.

The sand and shingle beach in Port Isaac is flanked on either side by high headlands and backed by one of Cornwall's prettiest little fishing villages. The village practically spills onto the beach and there are plenty of facilities to cater for everyone's needs close at hand. These include pubs, cafes, and a handful of bucket and spade shops. Being a harbour, the water is pretty sheltered here, making it ideal for a paddle.

Port Isaac is perhaps best known as the location for the TV series Doc Martin starring Martin Clunes. It is easy to see why the village was chosen as a filming location with its jumble of whitewashed cottages and maze of narrow streets. The village is also famous for being the location for a number of other TV series and films, including the Poldark and Doc Martin series, Nightmare Man, and the film, Saving Grace.

After a long day sightseeing, visitors can stop in at one of the many excellent seafood restaurants. There are also a range of accommodation options available, including the stunning Old School Hotel, located high on the cliff top overlooking the harbour and beach, and The Slipway, a 4-star hotel with a long history dating back to 1527.

This beach is dog friendly all year round, making it an ideal destination for pet owners.

Port Isaac Beach is on the Pentire Point - Widemouth Heritage Coast, and adjacent to the South West Coast Path.

Harbour Sand Shingle

Weather and tides for Tuesday 8 July

Tonight
Chance of rain 6%
Min temp. 13°C
(feels like 14°C)
Wind 4mph
Tomorrow (Wednesday)
Chance of rain 6%
Max temp. 20°C
(feels like 20°C)
Wind 9mph
Max UV Index

The tide at Port Isaac Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 11:00 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 5:03 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   17.6°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Shops
  • Popular Activities

    Boating Fishing Sunbathing Walking
  • Parking

    Limited parking. There are two car parks at the top of the village. A short walk down the hill will take you to the harbour.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Water Quality

    Water quality not measured here

    Water quality not measured here

Recommended holiday cottages near Port Isaac Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Harbour, Port Isaac, Cornwall (0.1 miles)
Port Isaac and Portwenn, Walk & Talk Guided Tours (0.1 miles)
Cornish Rock Tors Ltd (0.4 miles)
St. Enodoc Church (4.6 miles)
The Camel Trail (5.4 miles)
Padstow Sealife Safaris (5.7 miles)

Places to eat near Port Isaac Beach

Fresh From The Sea (360 yards)
Restaurant Nathan Outlaw (260 yards)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Port Gaverne

Location type: Town

OS Grid: SW995808

Country: England

Local Authority: Cornwall

Parish: St. Endellion

Nearest postcode: PL29 3RG

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for Port Isaac Beach, Cornwall, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.9.173 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:37:40 +0100