This quaint little fishing village is one of the prettiest and probably the most photographed in Cornwall. Dating back to the 13th century, Polperro is a jumble of pastel coloured cottages and narrow streets, once a haven for the smuggling of brandy and tobacco. Although it is still a working fishing village, the main source of income is now tourism, with virtually traffic free streets, and horse drawn carriages for the tourists.

Polperro Harbour - Polperro visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Polperro Harbour' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Cornwall.

Polperro is one of the prettiest villages in Cornwall, and one of the most popular places for visitors. Situated on the south coast of Cornwall, a little to the west of Plymouth, Polperro has a long fishing history. The village is built into the sides of the steep valley formed on either side of the River Pol as it descends into the sea. This steep ravine is clearly visible extending back into Cornwall in the satellite view of the Google Map of Cornwall.

Today the most important source of income for Polperro is tourism. In addition to the colourful cottages built into the hillside, the village has Saxon and Roman bridges that are hidden amongst the winding cobbled streets. Some of the main sights and attractions include the famous House on Props, the old Watch House, the Fish Quay, and the 16th century house where Dr. Jonathan Couch lived.

This panoramic picture was taken from Polperro harbour and shows the village built into the steep cliffs. Pleasure boats and yachts are moored here, it is possible to get a tourist boat for a tour along the surrounding shoreline to explore some of the coves and caves. The roads are free of cars.

Many artists come and paint this village and the surrounding coastline, which has only helped Polperro become world famous. The coastline here is part of the Heritage Coast, the South West Coast Path runs along here, and many visitors come to explore the numerous coastal walks to the surrounding bays, beaches and inlets.

Both Talland to the east and Lansallos in the west have sandy beaches and ancient churches. The coastline is also peppered with hidden numerous coves and inlets, often used for smuggling in past times. One of the local attractions is the Smuggling and Fishing museum. Polperro has held a couple of successful Arts Festivals, which may become a regular feature.

Other nearby tourist attractions to Polperro include The Land of Legoland and Model Village. Just past Looe is the Monkey Sanctuary and also nearby ar Kilminorth Woods and Hall Rings, and ancient stone monument. There are numerous hotels within Polperro itself, and various camp and caravan sites on the surrounding countryside. Much of the coastline surrounding Polperro is owned and managed by the National Trust.

Car: Polperro about 7km from Looe. Take the A387 from Looe, turning left onto Scerder lane at Trelaske and follow the country lanes through Killigarth to Polperro.