chickencam Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Anyone have any experience of how much is open by way of eateries and shops? I have never been to port Isaac so know little about it, but we are looking for a winter break for my OH's 50th in February. Thanks in anticipation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 We visited for a day in the midst of winter a couple of years ago. We actually stayed at Boscastle. Plenty of places were open. There was a fab pub with coal fires blazing away in the middle of town, & several shops too. It is VERY hilly & very exposed - you will need to wrap up! Boscastle is well worth a visit too. Nice pubs & an interesting exhibition on the flood, plus the witch museum. I think I prefer Boscastle to Port Isaac, as there is a bit more to do & I like walking out on the pier Check out Trip Advisor, which will give you more details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Thanks I will have a look at Boscastle too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 We holidayed in that area twice a year for about 15 years before we had the boys and loved it! Its wild and rugged and so beautiful! Port Isaac is amazing tho Boscastle is lovely too (we used to go to The Cobweb..very atmospheric ) The pottery at Boscastle is nice and we always stocked up for unusual presents there...nnot sure about winter opening but I'm sure that they will have a website. There is a blow hole in the cliff just along the quay at Boscastle which is amazing when the tide is right! Bude is just along the coast and thats a nice little town too with some great shops and the beach at Widemouth Bay is amazing....surfers paradise even in the winter! Worth going to to watch the wet suited surfers in the cold sea whilst clutching a mug of hot coffee/tea If you can find it Millook beach is worth a visit...wild and wonderful and the Waggon and Horses at Wainhouse Corner was a good locals pub. There was also a wind farm nearby (Delabole?!) which had a great little 'alternative technology' museum attached. You'd not be far from Tintagel...the castle is English Heritage so may be open over the winter and worth a visit if it is (again, should tell you on EH website) tho the village itself has been 'Arthurfied' in a fairly major and sometimes tacky way!!!! OOOh, I'm getting all nostalgic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Thanks I will have a look at Boscastle too I can recommend a very nice high end but mid price B&B if you like? http://orchardlodgeboscastle.co.uk/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 17, 2015 Author Share Posted January 17, 2015 Ooh thanks looks lovely Edited to say sadly only open april to October. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I have family in Boscastle, so I have spent lots of time there and can highly recommend it My Mum ran a lovely B&B there before she passed away. It had 180deg views over the sea and was just lovely. There are lots of places to stay in the area though and it's a shame to hear that Orchard House is shut during the winter months. I'll try and remember some of the places my Mum used to talk about! Some shops do shut during the winter months but there is still lots to see and a quite a few stay open. The walk out around the harbour to Profile Rock is lovely I haven't been to Port Isaac for quite a while but it's a lovely place to visit too. Since the Doc Martin effect, it's gone quite up market and expensive. It used to be one of our afternoon trips out, but we were charged a ridiculous amount for a pasty last time we were there and it put me off going back for a bit! Don't let that deter you though, plenty to see and do and beautiful too. It's a nice time to visit... everywhere is a bit quieter. Even if the weather is a bit iffy, you can always wrap yourselves up and go for a bracing walk or warm yourself up by the fire in a cosy pub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Very odd about Orchard Lodge, because we went there in January I think....but it was up for sale then so maybe there are new owners & a new regime? It was chocca when we went too - we struggled to get a reservation. Oh well Mousehole is another gorgeous seaside town well worth a visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Went to Mousehole last Easter and to St Ives on a beautiful bright day. We have also been looking at hotels around that area. We are thinking that we might do a couple of nights in two or three hotels instead of a cottage. It would be nice to find places that are accessible by public transport just in case the weather is a bit dodgy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I've just come back today from a lovely short break in St Just which is about 15 minutes away from Mousehole. There was a lot to do, lots of shops, restaurants and cafes still open but we felt as though we had a lot of the places we visited almost to ourselves which was lovely! I think it's a brilliant time of year to visit Cornwall, it is just a completely different atmosphere to the summer season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Thanks for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 22, 2015 Share Posted January 22, 2015 This is one of my favourite areas to visit. Have been to Port Isaac, Boscastle, Bude etc., at all times of year. Haven't been for a while. Now missing it. We have stayed at a wonderful B & B called Bears and Boxes a couple of times. Wonderful home made food, very welcoming and allow dogs. Heaven . Also stayed on a working farm for about 3 years running, fascinating and beautiful. Crackington Haven is another of my favourites Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
