The Mousehole Cat

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A magical puppet and live-action production is performed annually in the heart of Mousehole alongside the village’s famous Christmas light display.

You’ll be parking on the harbour walls – If the mainland car parks are busy or full in Mousehole, you’ll need to drive along the harbour to find a space. It’s okay getting in…not so fun trying to reverse getting out. I had serious anxiety reversing my car, I was sure I was going to go over the edge! But, all good, there is a barrier. The Land’s End Landmark attraction is FREE although many of the things inside it do come with a charge and you will pay out the nose for parking. Unfortunately, it was not always such a harmonious place and lots of villagers faced starvation from the wild seas. Mousehole is also known as “Porth Enys” from the Latin of Portus Insuale which means “The Island Haven”.Just over the horizon from the harbour, you can see the tiny St Clement’s Isle where the name comes from. Most famously, the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas married his wife Caitlin Macnamara in the Penzance registry office.If you’re looking for quaint fishing villages to visit in Cornwall, Mousehole Harbour is a perfect choice. You couldn’t get more quintessentially Cornish if you tried. History lovers, photographers, holidaymakers and those that simply love the beach. It has plenty to do if you know where to look! It gets extremely busy in summer– Most beauty spots in Cornwall are extremely busy in the summer season. Mousehole is no different. If you want to bag a parking spot get there early or, better yet, plan your visit in the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn. a b c d Cohn, Amy (10 March 1991). "Childrens Books: The Mousehole Cat". NY Times . Retrieved 7 January 2011.

I loved seeing some of the positive windows around here with displays of rainbows, cats, mice and positive messages. Plus, you can find an old village barometer.It became famous in 1967 after the Torrey Canyon oil tanker disaster. Over 8,000 seabirds were admitted to the hospital when they were injured or nearly killed with their feathers covered in the oil. Those that saw the hole commented on it looking like a Mouse’s hole and that’s why they named it so. I guess the real origins will forever remain a mystery! To access the village you’ll need to take the A30 heading south all the way until you reach the B3315 road towards the village. Many say that the name Mousehole comes from the Cornish word “Moeshayle”, meaning “young woman’s brook”.

If you were after a more traditional pub lunch or dinner here after the sun goes down, there are plenty of historic Mousehole pubs to choose from.The Mousehole Christmas event starts in December and is completely FREE to visit although donations are welcome (watch out for fraudsters trying to charge you). You can visit anytime between 5 pm and 11 pm to see thousands of festive lights twinkling against the night skies! Why are the Mousehole harbour lights dimmed?

Something you must prepare for before you head to Cornwall is that fact that the spelling of place names are rarely pronounced how they look. You’ll find boats bobbing at high tide and you can find the smallmouth to the haven which many believe is how the place got its strange name.Nearby is the stunning Porthcurno Beach which is not only one of Cornwall’s best beauty spots but also a Poldark location! You may be familiar with the tale from the children’s storybook of The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber There really is something for everyone here and it can be as cheap or as expensive as you like. Or, head on over to the history of Sennen Cove which is a popular beach and surf spot. Mousehole is now a picturesque sleepy harbour village on the coast and has seen literary giants like Dylan Thomas call it the “loveliest village in England”. You can find it on Quay Street just above the Mousehole Harbour Beach. If you were searching for souvenirs on your holiday, you’ll be glad to know that this cute cottage is as pretty on the inside as it is out.