Morning skies filled with darkening clouds
did not bode well for our visit to the Cornish coast and Port Isaac, the
fishing village known as Portwenn on the hit British TV series, Doc Martin. If
you’re a fan of the series you’ll recognize locations from the show; if you’ve
never watched Doc Martin you may still appreciate the beauty of Cornwall.
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The Cornish Coast at Port Isaac |
I began my day at the peaceful Two Bridges Hotel in Dartmoor National Park with a traditional English breakfast: scrambled eggs, smoked back bacon, sausage, baked beans, sautéed potatoes, plum tomato, black pudding and hog pudding. I couldn't eat it all.
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Traditional English Breakfast |
Meanwhile the inn’s
resident geese gathered at the entrance and sheep grazed on a distant hillside.
I strolled to one of the two bridges that gave the inn its name and then
boarded our Back-Roads Touring motor coach to the Atlantic coast and Cornwall.
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Two Bridges Hotel |
We soon left behind the county of Devon and entered Cornwall. The narrow country lanes are hemmed in by lush hedgerows and barely wide enough for two vehicles to pass. It wasn't long before the rain fell.
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Cornwall, or Kernow in Cornish |
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Cornish Hedgerow |
With my umbrella in one hand and camera in the other, I began my tour of Doc Martin’s Port Isaac. (Please excuse the raindrops in the photos.)
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P.C. Joe Penhale's Police Station |
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The Coastal Path |
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The Platt or Slipway |
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Fern Cottage (second from left), Doc Martin's House and Surgery
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Louisa's House (blue door, centre) |
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Fern Cottage |
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View of the Village from Fern Cottage |
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The Buttermilk Shop, Mrs. Tishell's Pharmacy |
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Port Isaac Fish Market
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Harbour at Low Tide |
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Bert Large's Restaurant (lower left) |
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The Old School Hotel and Restaurant,
Portwenn School |
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The Golden Lion Pub, The Crab and Lobster |
I’m a big fan of Doc Martin so I was
thrilled to be walking through “Portwenn”. I almost expected the
grumpy doc to barrel past me in a huff!
Next to Fern Cottage on Roscarrock Hill is the
family-run Port Isaac Pottery. There were no birds to add to my collection
but I couldn’t resist a vase embellished with shimmering fish. The pottery is hand-thrown by Bill Hawkins and his wife Barbara paints each
piece in a lovely watercolour style.
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Port Isaac Pottery |
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Port Isaac Pottery Vase |
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Gallery Gift Shop |
I wish I
could’ve spent more time exploring the narrow streets of Port Isaac but a
special lunch awaited us at The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow. Famed
British chef Rick Stein owns several eateries, from his flagship restaurant in Padstow to
simpler takeaways across Cornwall.
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The Seafood Restaurant, Padstow |
I ordered Lobster and Fennel Risotto, Fillets of Cornish Sole, and Tiramisu for
dessert. I especially liked the creamy risotto, which rivalled the memorable
Seafood Risotto I’d had on my first visit to Venice. Platters of fresh vegetables
completed the meal and the delicate courgette flowers were a special treat.
Good food, good wine, and good conversation – what a perfect way to pass a
rainy afternoon in England!
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Lobster and Fennel Risotto with Lemon Oil
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Fillets of Cornish Sole with Pancetta and Beurre Noissette |
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Minted Cornish New Potatoes |
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Glazed Baby Carrots with Parsley and Tarragon
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Deep Fried Courgette Flower Tempura |
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Tiramisu with a Coffee Anglaise and Chocolate Crumb |
Well-fed
and happy, we travelled on to Merchants Manor in the port town
of Falmouth. After two large meals I wasn’t much interested in dinner so we
settled in the welcoming sitting room and shared a cheese board instead. I now
have another favourite cheese: Helford White, a soft white artisan cheese from Treveador Farm Dairy on the Helford River. If you ever visit Cornwall you must sample
this British Cheese Awards gold medal winner.
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Merchants Manor, Falmouth |
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Fragrant Stocks in the Corridors |
In the morning we would start exploring
more of the coastal villages of Cornwall, an open-air theatre built into the
cliffs, and a medieval castle on an island. I had to wonder, would rain once again interfere
with our plans?
Loved this post. Thanks for sharing.
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