Port Isaac Beach

  • Port Isaac harbour beach
    © Cornwall Beaches
  • port_isaac-boat
  • port_isaac
  • Port Isaac Harbour
    © Cornwall Beaches
  • Last updated:

    Port Isaac's popularity has exploded over recent years largely due to its association with the TV series, Doc Martin where it is known as 'Port Wenn'. This attractive village is built around the equally attractive historic harbour which also serves as the beach. Once a busy port, shipping slates from nearby Delabole and importing coal from Wales, the harbour itself is much quieter these days. There is still some fishing from Port Isaac and the crab pots littered around the harbourside are testament to this.


    The beach at Port Isaac stretches out to the twin piers at low tide revealing an expanse of sand. As this is also the harbour you will have to share it with the small fishing fleet which is left stranded with the tide. There is a small stream and plenty of rockpools which provide endless entertainment for children. Port Isaac is sheltered from the prevailing winds by high cliffs to the west.

    Type of beach

    Sandy

    Lifeguard service

    No lifeguard cover

    Dogs friendly beach?

    Dogs allowed all year

    dog friendly beaches »

    Postcode

    PL29 3SG

    OS grid ref.

    SW 9973 8083

    Facilities

    The beach and harbour are the centre of the village. This gives easy access to all the facilities including public toilets on the harbourside. There are some good places to eat overlooking the beach and plenty of shops on Fore Street.

    Parking

    The town's main car park is some distance from the harbour and beach, situated up the hill on the edge of the village around 10 minutes walk away. There are parking spaces on the beach itself. However, it is advisable to park above the high water mark or to keep a very close eye on the tide!

    Port Isaac Beach Reviews (1)

    Line, Rope and general rubbish on Harbour beach

    May 28th 2023

    I visited Port Isaac recently for a few days. During this time I would sit on the stone seating by the Harbour. The beach itself is lovely, however what I noticed, that is not lovely is the amount of rubbish, mostly fishing lines, rope, twine and then other plastic items that are on the beach, to the right side,  undereath the studio and pub area. It looked dreadful as is the risk to birds and fish.
    I collected quite a lot of the rubbish, and took it home with me, as there was nowhere to deposit it.
    Hopefully the beach does have people who clean the litter up like a lot of other Cornish Beaches do.