Port Isaac (aka Port Wenn)

Everything we hoped it might be and then some ... another fantastic day in weather terms and even after a long drive to get there, the tranquility and beauty of the location on the day made it well and truly worthwhile. I found this interesting website searching for Port Wenn (which I already knew to be the TV name only) that contains much interesting information about the Doc Martin show and several others that have used the location as a set - most notably (to me anyway, Poldark). Those with a thirst for knowledge might find it worth an exploration.

The journey was largely uneventful, though we did need to stop in Launceston for quick break and stumbled into a quaint cramped car park with an excellent view of their Castle. You can see a school excursion at one of the entrances.

I included this because, for whatever reason, it reminded me of a similar group of very excited school kids canoeing on a pond adjacent to the tiered locks at Devizers. In turn, I started reflecting on MANY school excursions we have seen during this visit - all very experiential and terrific to see. Reason it struck me was the stark contrast this offered to the educational situation Jill and David shared with us during their time in India. I'm sure India has an equally varied and fascinating history for excursions ... but equally I'm sure very few school kids get the opportunity. Just "one of those moments" that flit across your mind for no particular reason ... 

The other peculiar thing about our drive to Port Isaac was coming across a whole series of two propeller wind turbines. It was not the wind turbines per se (they abound in many places over here), but that they only had two propellers and that they were not turning. Imagine driving down a relatively quiet winding and undulating road cutting across fields heading towards the coast ... you can tell it was relatively quiet because I was able to pull over and take the photos! You come around a bend and over an undulation and suddenly it seemed like these fighter planes were bearing down to strafe you ... scary, but quiet, so I figured we were safe to continue ... and, OK, you do need to use you imagination but it got mine going ... and we were heading to a TV/Movie set afterall :).

Then we made it ... first impression ... looking north over the fields and coast towards Tintagel

Hereafter I will write less and let the images speak for themselves as most people I'm sure will recognise a number of the locations (labelled in any case).

The school yard with cars not kids! Actually a restaurant B&B

The Doc's surgery centre; Bert's restaurant centre left
lower white building on the cliff face

A panorama of the harbour and village ... we walked up to the top of the cliff to the right of the houses

The harbour pub and fishing co-op and vehicles

Doc's surgery/residence (private residence chained off)

Doc's surgery/residence up close

At some point it was necessary to eat. We chose the very eclectic Krab Pot Cafe which served really excellent and generous servings ... thickest slice of bread I think I have ever been served. We sat looking out of the first floor window on the left as you look at the photo.

 

Once we headed up the walk on the side of Doc's cottage and tackled the Cliff walk, the rewards were well worth the effort. Spectacular views in the afternoon light on a very calm clear day ...

 

The cliff walk (south) we did on way back to the car

The view on our way back to explore the village some more

Here is a range of cottages from the village - just because they were some of the MANY quaint ones and the lady enjoying a read in the afternoon sun in her garden was more than happy for me to snap her (she was not the Doc's Aunt!) ... a special for our book club friends ... just wanted to sit down beside her and read a few chapters Reacher (but I did not have the kindle with me!).

 

 

A couple more from the show ... 

The pharmacy (actually a paper/gift shop)

Down the alley, across the fishing pots to the harbour & cliffs

 And to wrap this splendid day up, we walked around the southern cliff walk towards Port Gaverne. There were many resting gulls and jackdaws along the way so had to include a couple of samples, and another sight those familiar with the show will recognise, before a final shot across the fields surrounding a local farm as the day began to lose it's light, but not it's clarity. 

We found a place for a cuppa before our final walk back to the car, a quick call into Tintagel (too late to be walking there worse luck) and on the roads & motorway again back to Trym House and the bright lights of Bristol. Another one of those days you feel does justice to the myth created by TV and movies :).