English seaside village ‘forgotten by the 21st century’ that’s crowd-free – and great St Ives alternative
THE tiny village of Cadgwith has been named as a great alternative for tourists looking to avoid the crowds in Cornwall.
St Ives is one of the UK’s most desired holiday destinations, meaning it can get very busy during the summer months.
Luckily, there are plenty of other Cornish towns and villages that are deserving of a visit – including Cadgwith.
Located on the eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula, the tiny fishing village is home to a cluster of thatched cottages that line the sides of its harbour.
It even describes itself as being “forgotten by the 21st century” on its website.
Sykes Holiday Cottages said: “Cadgwith, a quaint village and fishing port in Cornwall, brings all the charm of St Ives with much less people.”
And travel website Cornish Secrets wrote: “Unmissable and un-commercialised, it is the quintessential stuff of picture postcards, where whitewashed ‘chocolate box’ cottages tumble down the narrow windy path to the harbour.”
Cadgwith’s beach is a small shingle beach lined with a fleet of tiny fishing boats, which are still said to be in use.
Meanwhile, The Cadgwith Cove Inn is known for holding singing renditions of Cornish songs on a Friday evening.
Holidaymakers looking to stay in one of the thatched-roof cottages can book an overnight stay at Louvain, a property managed by Sykes Holiday Cottages.
The five-bedroom property has sea views from almost every window, with guests able to take advantage of the coast with a kayak or canoe.
There’s also Cadgwith Camping, which describes itself as a “back to basics site on a working dairy farm”.
Its pitches can be found overlooking the Cornish coast from the nearby clifftops.
These views and its laid back attitude earned it top spot in a list of Nine top coastal campsites in the UK in The Times too.
They said: “You can watch ships pass in the night from this gloriously green, stripped-back site on a working farm on the lee side of the Lizard Peninsula.
“The hand-built showers are hot, the loos use sawdust rather than water, dogs and campfires are permitted, and breakfast is a bargain at £6.
“There are also sensational sunrises to admire and even the cows — blonde Jerseys — are gorgeous. Fifteen minutes’ walk across fields takes you to the harbourside Cadgwith Cove Inn.”
Other quaint fishing villages to visit
Set in north Devon, Clovelly is a privately owned fishing village that was largely unknown to the outside world until the mid-19th Century.
The small English village was originally owned by William the Conqueror who then gifted Clovelly to his wife.
But in 1884, Christine Hamlyn inherited the village and set about renovating the cottages.
The estate is now owned by Christine’s great grand-nephew The Hon. John Rous, and tourists are very much welcomed.
Holidaymakers need to pay to enter the village, with tickets costing £8.75 per adult during the summer months.
The ticket includes entry into the village, parking as well at the entrance into Clovelly Court Gardens, and the Fisherman’s Cottage.
What's it like to visit a small fishing village in Cornwall?
SUN’S Head of Travel – Digital, Caroline McGuire, recently visited Boscastle – another tiny seaside town in Cornwall, here’s what she thought about her trip.
Picture an English seaside town and it usually stirs up images of sandy shores, 99 cones with flakes, maybe even a pier.
But Boscastle on the north coast of Cornwall couldn’t be further from that.
The quaint harbour village with its steep narrow lanes, lined with the cutest of Cornish stone cottages, is a great snapshot of the wild northern edge of the county.
My favourite part is following the river that runs out into the sea though, and jumping from the harbour wall into the water at high tide.
Then, warming up with a coffee and a pastry from The Good Stuff cafe on Castle Harbour.
And in the evenings, there is no where better for a fantastic meal than the small, but lively seafood restaurant and bar that serves fish caught from their boat and meat from their farm. Oh, and some excellent cocktails.
Meanwhile, travel experts have revealed the best seaside town in England.
And this Victorian seaside town is tipped to be big in 2024.