5 good reasons to check out Polperro Festival

The Polperro Festival is an annual event that takes place in the summer in the charming fishing village of Polperro in Cornwall. The festival celebrates the local culture and community through a variety of fun and interesting activities, performances, music and local food and drink. It makes a wonderful day out for all the family.

The festival spreads over 9 days will plenty of things to see and do in the village there need never be a dull moment. The event is entirely free to attend and there is car parking available outside the village as access via car is near impossible with many of the road no bigger than footpaths. The festival is a great reason to visit this wonderful picturesque village, make sure Polperro is on your list of destinations to see!

1. Polperro Museum

The Polperro Museum of Smuggling and Fishing overlooks the harbour at Polperro and is home to a fantastic collection of artefacts including old photographs from the 19th Century and many items of memorabilia from the 18th Century in the days where smuggling and fishing in Polperro was at its highest. The exhibits here detail the history of the small village and its people, of real interest are the tales of smuggling where huge quantities of contraband goods where smuggled across from Guernsey in the late 1700’s. The museum is open from March to October and there is a small admission fee.

2. Coastal Path

For those keen on seeing the beautiful coast on foot, the South West Coastal Path around Polperro and the surrounding villages is ideal for a little exploring! There are a number of routes you could take but how about trying the route from Looe Station which takes you past a sixth century monastery and offers the chance to see wonderful migrant birds. Alternatively you could take the easy going Talland Bay route, just 2.3 miles with mostly flat terrain, which provides good views of Looe Island. There are some nice places to stop for a break and refreshments along all the routes.

3. Model Village

The Polperro Model Village is a famous tourist attraction. Open daily from Easter to October, visitors can discover the whole village of Polperro in miniature form whilst learning about the myths and legends of the village. The Model Village is over 60 years old and kids will find it delightful as they wonder the site with giant-like footsteps! Admission is £3 for adults and £2 for children. After the model village, you could enjoy a short boat ride from Polperro Harbour where you have the chance to see dolphins and sharks in the water.

4. Looe

Just 4 miles north-east of Polperro is the small, coastal town of Looe. Here you’ll find some great ways to spend the afternoon such as the harbour quay which offers colourful and picturesque views of the sea surrounded by a number of ice cream shops. Enjoy a picnic with the family as you watch the boats sail gentle in and out of the harbour or perhaps do a little crab fishing on ‘Banjo’ Pier. Looe really is an ideal place to visit for a little tranquillity. If the kids tire of the peace and quiet then The Monkey Sanctuary is a great day out. See all kinds of monkey species as well as wildlife gardens, a children’s activity room, a picnic area and gift shop. Don’t miss the 10% discount on tickets when you book online.

5. Beaches

Although Polperro doesn’t have its own beach they are plenty of beaches just a few miles away that are definitely worth a visit. Lantic Bay is located 5 miles west of Polperro and is ideal if you are looking for undisturbed relaxation. This sand and shingle beach is quiet as access is via a very steep cliff path making it inaccessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parks and toilets are a 30 minute walk away in the village of Polruan so families with older children who do not mind a bit of walking will love exploring this hidden cove. You could also visit the beach at Talland which is great for swimming and snorkelling. This beach has an excellent café serving superb food and delicious ice-creams with an unbeatable view of the sea.

A visit to the Polperro Festival is highly recommended, not only to take part in all the fun activities and see great performances such as Morris dancers, parades and poetry readings that take place over the 9 day event, but also due to the fantastic attractions nearby. The charming village of Polperro has excellent places to eat and drink, unique shops and several galleries to visit showcasing the best of local artists’ talents. The pretty cottages, hillsides and picturesque harbour of Polperro will make you feel a million miles away and is an ideal location to visit as part of a family holiday with great camping locations nearby.