Boscastle Local Area Information

Boscastle village lies within the parish of Forrabury and Minster on the North Cornish Coast 14 miles south from Bude and approx 3 miles from Tintagel, a conservation area amongst some of the most beautiful countryside within the British Isles, and is one of the few remaining unspoilt harbour villages in Cornwall.

A designated area of outstanding beauty, the National Trust own and care for the beautiful medieval harbour and surrounding coastline.

An excellent base for touring the area of Cornwall and North Devon, including moorlands, sheltered wooden valleys and coastal footpaths offering magnificent views.

Boscastle is a typical Cornish fishing village with quaint old cottages and a picturesque Elizabethan harbour.  The village is located at the confluence of two wooded river valleys where the rivers Valency and Jordon meet on one of the most magnificent and dramatic parts of the rugged North Cornish coast. Boscastle's harbour, with stone hollow jetty, leads you to a long street that meanders up to woodland. The small port was used for loading slate from the quarries, the ships being pulled in by small boats and horses.

A blowhole in the cliff face, Devils Bellows, shows you the power of water, audible just after low water under certain sea conditions. In summer divers sometimes explore its depths, and seals can often be spotted swimming nearby.

The small harbour now hosts a number of little fishing boats but was once a hive of activity with trade taking place between Wales, Bristol and the south of England. Here too a lovely valley heads inland, a path follows a fast flowing burbling stream which leads to several hidden churches.


Famous Connections - A mile or so up the River Valency Valley is St Juliot Church. Worked on by the 19th Century novelist Thomas Hardy whilst he was a still a Practising Architect. Boscastle was where Hardy met his wife to be Emma. Much of his novel A Pair of Blue Eyes is based on places in and around the Boscastle Area.

Walks - There are great Cornish to be had both inland and along the rugged Atlantic Coast. Walk north along the Cornish Coastal Path, to High Cliff, the highest point on the Cornish coast and look down on the Strangles beautiful pebbly beach, or continue along to Crackington Haven with its sandy beach and stop for a coffee or an ice cream in one of the beach cafes.

Activities – There is a wide variety of outdoor activities to choose from locally such as surfing, coasteering, kayaking, mountain biking, trekking, horse riding, fishing and walking. North Cornwall is also home to many golf courses, such as the links of St Enodoc near Rock and Bowood near Camelford.

Beaches –The sandy beaches of Polzeath, Trebarwith Strand, Crackington Haven, and Widemouth Bay are all within easy driving distance of The Old Oil House. However, for the more energetic Bossiney and the pebbly Strangles can be reached by walking the coastal path.

Other Areas To Explore - Why not visit King Arthur's Castle which is just 3 miles away in Tintagel, visit the bustling fishing port of Padstow, or  wander through the narrow lanes of Port Isaac famous for Doc Martin.

The Old Oil House in Boscastle nestles at the heart of the North Cornish coastline, and is the perfect base to start exploring this beautiful part of the world.