One of my favourite spots in Cornwall was the idyllic fishing village of Mousehole, home to the Mousehole Cat and the Stargazy Pie. If you're planning to be in Cornwall, it's the perfect dreamy cornish village nestled around a stunning harbour with a few gorgeous little gift shops, restaurants, tea shops, where you can easily while away an afternoon. Records from as early as 1266 show it was once an important fishing harbour with a pier that is said to be the oldest in England.
I had a wonderful crab sandwich, a crisp well dressed salad and refreshing elderflower presse whilst Matilda had an off the menu cheese sandwich. We ate in their gorgeous, secluded courtyard garden filled with bright flowers contrasting with the provence grey of the wooden furniture and slate pebbles. Everything is bright, clean and impeccably served in this restaurant. The staff were adorable with the over excited Matilda and couldn't do enough for us. A word of warning they don't add service charge to your bill so take plenty of coins or remember to put the extra on to your card, unlike me. They do deserve it!
It is by accounts a tourist hot spot, though thankfully on the morning I decided to visit it wasn't too crowded. The husband wasn't feeling too great so Matilda and I headed off for a girlie day out. The streets were blissfully empty allowing us to have a good nose around the village, peering into cottage windows whilst smelling the sweet flowers that fill the small narrow cobbled streets. We had a good look around the shops then hunger began to take over so we found the delightfully chic 2 Fore Street, as recommended in Time Out.
I had a wonderful crab sandwich, a crisp well dressed salad and refreshing elderflower presse whilst Matilda had an off the menu cheese sandwich. We ate in their gorgeous, secluded courtyard garden filled with bright flowers contrasting with the provence grey of the wooden furniture and slate pebbles. Everything is bright, clean and impeccably served in this restaurant. The staff were adorable with the over excited Matilda and couldn't do enough for us. A word of warning they don't add service charge to your bill so take plenty of coins or remember to put the extra on to your card, unlike me. They do deserve it!
Matilda looking very Cote D'Azur in her big floppy hat. Though one could have easily mistaken Mousehole for a village on the Cote.
A great little gift shop, the aptly named Stargazey, filled with locally made products, I couldn't resist the white driftwood candle holder which now sits on my kitchen table reminding each morning of our perfect week in Cornwall.
Clearly this village has a strong dedicated community who take great pride in celebrating the beauty and traditions of their village. The Diamond Jubilee decorations were still up on the beach and a permanent collection box is displayed at the harbour for their annual Christmas lights which draws visitors from all over the country. Around about the same time, The Stargazy Pie is consumed on the festival of Tom Bawcock's Eve. Tom was a fisherman who against all odds during one very tempestuous Winter, managed to bring in a much needed catch for the starving residents which was turned into a huge pie for the entire village. The tradition continues to this day.
After a good nose round the village, we headed out along the pier to find the natural pool which was surrounded by rocks. A quiet haven awaited us as we turned the corner away from the harbour. Had I been alone, I could easily have sat for hours with my book and a icy cold drink gazing out to sea. Alas, the toddler was having none of that so off we went to our next port of call for more sandcastles, collecting pebbles and big ice creams.
I loved this sign outside one of the local pubs, and you know what? It continued until the last day of our holiday. How unbelievably lucky were we? Very.
For a great Stargazy Pie recipe check out Ruby Farmhouses' blog:
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