Sometimes I like to tick off two boxes at once when I travel. When viewing wildlife it is also nice if the area you go to has a lovely view. If you are like me you may want to visit the area near Godrevy Lighthouse. Not only can you view seals, but you also have gorgeous views as well.
Godrevy Lighthouse is on Godrevy Island in the Atlantic Ocean off Cornwall, England. A stone reef stretches from Godrevy Island towards St. Ives. Many vessels shipwrecked it that area prior to the lighthouse being constructed in the 1850s.
Seal on Godrevy Island taken from the tour boat Little Mermaid.
Seals and Other Wildlife
There are a variety of animals to view in the area. Grey seals are around in the summer, however, the numbers increase in fall, and in winter you may see close to one hundred. The island and area boasts a variety of seabirds including pipits, oystercatchers, gulls, and cormorants. Occasionally a dolphin or basking shark may be viewed.
Seals swimming onto the rock. We were told the darker ones were young ones and the lighter ones were older ones.Enjoying the sunGodrevy Island and Lighthouse taken from the Little Mermaid tour boat.
Viewing
There is more than one way you can view the lighthouse. Godrevy Beach is run by the National Trust and they provide parking areas. Another way way you can view it is to board a tour boat from St. Ives. More than one company presently takes people around the island. I took the Little Mermaid from St. Ives and I also viewed the lighthouse from the National Trust property.
Close-up of the lighthouse from the tour boat.A third way to get to Godrevy? We saw some paddle boarders make their way over to Godrevy. This paddle boarder took his dog. You can see a seal popping his head out of the water on the right. With the rocks around the island I am not sure I would recommend this.
Literary Ties
View of Godrevy Island and Lighthouse from St. Ives
It is said Godrevy Lighthouse was the inspiration for “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf. Woolf spent many summers in St. Ives. You can see Godrevy Lighthouse from there.
Filming Location
Godrevy appears to have been used as a filming location or backdrop for TV and film. Blue Juice, a 1995 British surfer film staring Catherine Zeta Jones and Ewan McGregor was shot there. It also appears the lighthouse may have been used as a location for the TV show Doc Martin in series 9 Episode 1. Pictures of a boat in the Hayle area with the characters Doc and PC Penhale aboard appeared online in April 2019. My tour guide, a local, said the rumor was Martin Clunes was flown out by helicopter to the lighthouse island to shoot scenes.
The coast of Cornwall is stunning and you really can’t go wrong visiting its many seaside villages and hotspots. By boat or by land this area is worth a stop.
Are you planning to visit Cornwall, England? Would you like to go on a day tour with a knowledgeable local? If so, I highly recommend Cornwall Discovery.
Cornwall Discovery
Barry Pengelly owns and operates Cornwall Discovery. As his surname suggests, he was born and raised in Cornwall. His surname, Pengelly, comes from the Cornish language. According to Barry, Pen means top of the hill. Barry is a Cornish history buff.
Cornwall Discovery can pick you up for your tour anywhere in Cornwall. He drives a very comfortable Land Rover Discovery in which he is licensed to carry up to six passengers. According to Barry, he operates everyday and does his tours all year. Go by yourself or take along your friends.
Tours
Barry has a variety of tours listed on his website or he can cater the tour to what interests you. He can take you to filming locations in Cornwall. One tour he lists covers Doc Martin locations and towns in northern Cornwall. He lives outside of Port Isaac where Doc Martin is filmed. Barry was a driver for the actors on Poldark during filming, so he also is very knowledgeable about Poldark locations. He has one tour that covers Poldark filming locations. Visit his website to check out other tours he offers.
These are some of the mines on the Cornwall Coast used in the filming of the TV show, Poldark. This show aired in the U.S. on PBS.
I went along with Barry for two days. One day included some locations I asked specifically to see related to King Arthur and other locations worth seeing nearby. Another day, I just asked him to take me to some scenic Coastal towns. We went to St Ives, some Poldark locations, and a few other locations south of there along the coast that included the Minack Theatre and Mousehole. I was very happy with the locations he picked. Barry related some interesting historical information along the way. Cornish history is his passion.
St. Ives is one of many beautiful Cornish Coastal Towns. St. Ives is known as a haven for the arts. It has galleries including the Tate St Ives.
Will you be in Cornwall without a car? If you do have a car, would you just rather see all the best spots in Cornwall that only a local could show you? Then contact Barry at Cornwall Discovery.
Where did Mrs. Tishell on Doc Martin take James Henry after she abducted him? If you said Doyden Castle in Port Quinn, you would be correct. Doyden Castle is run by the National Trust and is a vacation/holiday rental. You can get there by car or you could walk from Port Isaac.
To see this filming location one could walk from Port Isaac to Port Quin on the Coastal Path. Walk up the hill past the the house that stands in for the Doc’s surgery on Roscarrock Hill in Port Isaac to the footpath and follow it three miles. It will take you right into Port Quin.
The weather looked promising near the beginning.
I do not recommend walking on the coastal path if you have health issues, knee, ankle, or foot issues. It is not an easy hike due to steep ascents and descents. If you are afraid of heights, this may be an issue as in spots you are walking along the side of a cliff with steep drop-offs. I also do not recommend walking the path in the rain or after it rains, as the rocks become very slippery when wet. I did not take my camera out on the steep sections hugging the coast. I was afraid of dropping my camera.
Not sure the pictures do it justice. The steps are steep. I believe the height was around 12 inches and they were spaced far apart. They had a hot dry spell before I got to Cornwall.This section was further away from the cliffs. I did not take any pictures when I was cliffside. I am clumsy at times and was afraid of dropping my camera.Doyden Castle from a distance
The day I undertook this it was not predicted to rain, but it started to drizzle when I got close to my halfway point outside of Port Quin. Luckily, a friend told me about an alternate foot path inland that passed through farms. I decided to do that for safety reasons after I got to Port Quin.
Arrived at Port Quin
Upon arrival I saw a food truck in the little village. I was told one is sometimes there. Fiona’s Cafe is in a vintage van. She advertises that she serves crab, lobster, and halloumi. I tried the halloumi and it hit the spot. It was delicious. There were a few picnic tables to sit at close by. I brought two bottles of water with me for the trip, but that did not seem enough, so I bought more for my return. Be safe, bring plenty of water and food with you.
I proceeded to Doyden Castle to walk around. It is a lovely location on the coast. It was raining harder at that point. I kept getting water on my lens.
Doyden Castle where Mrs. Tishell took James Henry to when she abducted him (Doc Martin). Since it is run by the National Trust you can walk around it, but not inside it. It is a holiday rental.
When I walked up to the road leaving Port Quin, I was able to find the sign for the inland path. The path at times was hard to follow. It is not marked well and it does not get as much foot traffic as the path that hugs the coast does. It is a good option though if it start to rain. It is easier trek than the coastal path. I was able to figure it out based on what a friend previously told me, however.
I am used to walking 5 miles or more, however, most of my walks are flat or gradual ascents and descents. This hike was taxing for me.
I do not recommend bringing your dog along with you on a hike. The trail is narrow at times and is occasionally cliffside. Your dog would need to be in excellent shape. I could easily see a dog getting distracted by a bird.
There are other filming locations in Port Quin. A site named Portwenn Online is a repository for all kinds of information on the TV show Doc Martin. Kate Kennedy, who runs the site, says the house Peter Cronk lived at in season 7 is in Port Quin. It is also the location of where Mark arrested Caroline in season 2 and where the loan sharks were at the market in season 5. Kate has lots of information on the show on her site categorized by Cast, Wardrobe, Episodes, Locations and links to other sites. It is worth a look if you are a fan of the show. You can view her website at: http://portwennonline.com .
If you are a fan of Doc Martin visit Port Quin by car or via the coastal path. Even is you are not a fan of the show, it is worth the trip to see a tiny castle and the gorgeous ocean views.
Have you ever viewed a TV show or movie and fallen in love with the location of where it was filmed? Have you ever wanted to plan a vacation around visiting that location, possibly getting a chance to see scenes filmed? Many people do just that with a TV show called Doc Martin.
Doc Martin is a British TV show that is filmed in Cornwall, England. In the United States the show airs on Acorn TV online and on some PBS stations. It airs in many other countries. Doc Martin is set in the fictional village of Portwenn. The actual village where many scenes are filmed is Port Isaac. Many fans of the show make the trip from the United States, Canada, Europe, as far away as Australia, and other places to visit the village, some in hopes to catch some filming of the series.
Doc Martin (Martin Clunes) exiting Mrs. Tishell’s Chemist shop during the filming of Season 8.
Doc Martin is starting its ninth season of filming in 2019. It has been filmed every other year in odd years. Filming takes place between the end of March up until around the third week of July. If one travels in Port Isaac during the time period filming takes place there is no guarantee they will see filming. They do not film on weekends or U.K. school holiday periods. In 2017 there was a three week period in June they did not film in the village. They also film indoors nearby and in other villages in Cornwall. I was fortunate to see a few scenes of season 8 filmed in 2017.
Sigorney Weaver (Season 8 filming)
Getting to Port Isaac From Heathrow by Train
Before you leave, get in touch with a local taxi company. Tell them what day you expect to need a ride. If you are going by plane, many fly into Heathrow in London. There are other options though that are closer, but may take additional flights. Within Heathrow you can take the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Station. From there you buy a train ticket to Bodmin Parkway. If you buy a ticket for a train with no changes, the trip takes less than 4 hours. Once on the train, email the taxi driver to let them know which train you are on, so they can be there waiting for you at Bodmin station. From there they can get you to Port Isaac. All taxis waiting at Bodmin are usually pre-arranged rides.
The Village
The streets are very narrow and steep. It would be a challenge for people with health or walking issues. If you plan to visit, wear comfortable shoes.
Know ahead of time that cell service is spotty at best. You can get a signal /wifi inside some of the restaurants such as the Slipway down near the harbor/platt. I found you could get a signal near the Co-Op. Oddly, when I climbed the sea wall, I was able to get service.
Port Isaac from the Coastal Path
Where to Stay
Since a large percentage of the houses are rentals, there are many options in the village. During filming there may be less options. On the lower price end inside the village is The Gallery. If you will have a vehicle with you, there are many options outside the village in other towns and villages. Path’s End is also an option on the lower end as well as a hostel in Tintagel. I reserved accommodations through Booking.com, however, I have friends who reserved cottages through John Bray Cornish Holidays and were quite happy with their experience.
Parking
I recommend parking in one of the lots. There is larger lot at the top of the hill at the edge of the village before you reach the Co-Op and one further down the hill after you turn to go towards Port Gaverne. It is on the left side of the road (sea side). The streets within the village are narrow and not wide enough for two-way traffic in spots. Some accommodations may provide parking such as the Old School House, however, if they are filming exterior scenes for the school you may be asked to park elsewhere. Interior school shots are filmed in another town.
Where to Eat
Port Isaac is a small village, but it has some nice food options. I was happy with every meal I ate during my stay. Since Port Isaac is a fishing village, some restaurants carry fresh catch of the day. There is a Co-Op at the top of the hill. It is a small convenience grocer with a cash machine/ ATM inside. You can find ATMs in larger villages/towns nearby such as Wadebridge, Bodmin, and St. Ives. If you visit between June-August you may need a reservation at some places for dinner. I found some were booked for the night in July. Many restaurants have vegan or vegetarian and gluten-free options. Some establishments that include gluten-free options are: Angry Anchovy (pizza), Nicky B’s Pasty Shop, The Chapel Cafe, the Golden Lion, the Old School Hotel, and the Mote. I ate at all of these locations and can vouch for them. In addition the Krab Pot advertises that they have gluten-free options. There is also a pub in Port Gaverne a short walk from Port Isaac.
Recreation from Port Isaac
There are a few recreational options from Port Isaac. Besides just enjoying the gorgeous views, exploring the tidal pools and swimming, another option is hiking the coastal path which cuts through Port Isaac. However, I do not recommend hiking the coastal path if you have health issues or knee, ankle, or foot issues. It is a strenuous hike. I will mention more about this in another post.
Another option is the walking tour inside Port Isaac. It covers some of the filming locations within the village. You can buy tickets for it at May Contain Nuts. The tour also leaves from there.
Additionally, check out the dates Fishermen’s Friends will perform in Port Isaac. If you are lucky, they will have a concert date in Port Isaac while you are there. If it is not raining, they perform on the platt.
Fishermen’s Friends performing on the platt
Filming Etiquette
If you are lucky enough to visit when they are filming in the village, be sure to follow directions. They crew tells you where you can stand so you are out of the shot. They let you stand closer when they are rehearsing, but may ask you to move back when they are actually filming. They also ask you not to make noise or take photos when they are rolling as most people’s cameras make noise when taking photos. Listen quietly, otherwise you may interfere with their work.
This was when they were filming at the Chemists. On the right people are sitting under the awning of the Slipway as crowds in the middle left watch on the street.
When they are filming at Mrs. Tishell’s Chemist shop, you may be allowed to watch from the outdoor seating area of The Slipway restaurant if that is not in the background of the shot. Keep in mind, the Slipway is a business. If you are going to sit there, order food and drinks. If you are going to stay a while, keep ordering, otherwise you are hurting their business by taking up spots paying customers could occupy. You may hear tipping is not the same in England as it is in the U.S. I would advise tipping at the Slipway, if you are taking up space.
Whether you travel to Port Isaac during Doc Martin filming or not, it is a great little seaside village to visit.
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