Things to do in Boscastle Harbour within an easy walk from 5 Valency Row
Valency Row
Step outside the Cottage onto the picturesque historic street surfacing of water-worn cobbles. The house to your right, The ship, is shown on a map of 1748 and used to be The Ship Inn and further down is its old Brewhouse (the pink house).
Robin Cottage, the cottage to your left also dates from the 18th Century and, although 5 Valency Row is made of the same painted rubble-stone walls, it was probably built as an extension to The Ship Inn in the reign of George III, early in the 1800s.
From 5 Valency Row, turn right, then immediately left to the River Valency. Turn right so that the river is to your left to walk down to the Harbour.
Walk along River Valency to The Harbour
Walking past the private gardens of Valency House you come to Things selling gifts and jewellery.
Next to it is The Rocket Store, which was originally built to house horse drawn rocket-firing equipment. is now a Michelin Guide listed small seafood bar/restaurant selling fresh fish from their boat and meat from their farm nearby.
Set back from the path when you reach the other end of Valency Row there is the small picturesque The Old Forge Gallery. Built in the 19th Century as a blacksmith’s shop, it is now the home to artist Helen Setterington, whose wonderful work is inspired by the area, and is well worth a visit.
Next to the National Trust’s second-hand bookshop is the Grade II listed remains of a limekiln built into the side of the sloping bank to facilitate the top loading of lime and culm.
The National Trust is the custodian of much of Boscastle’s Heritage and has a large and always popular shop and café with a courtyard garden as well as a visitor information centre housed in what use to be in the 19th Century a pilchard palace and then a town hall and even converted into the Apollo Cinema.
Next to the National Trust café is The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. In 2021 the museum celebrated its 70th birthday of exploring British magical practice, making comparisons with other systems of belief, from ancient times to the present day.
It is a well respected museum with a collection of over 3,000 objects and over 7,000 books making for a fascinating visit.
Next to the museum is the good stuff at Harbour Light. This former piggery is now a cafe serving wonderful coffee and delicious fresh salads and baked goods.
The South West Coast Path
The coastal path runs in front of the tea room. The path to the right goes past the Penally Terrace, which used to be fish cellars but now converted to holiday cottages, up to Penally Hill with good views back to the harbour and village. The path continues to the Boscastle Farm Shop, The Strangles and Crackington Haven.
To the left, the path goes over the bridge and up to Willapark then beyond to the Rocky Valley and on to Tintagel.
The Harbour Quay
Walk onto the bridge for a fantastic view of the harbour’s quay first built to the dimensions you can see now in 1584, in the reign of Elizabeth I, and then restored and repaired in 1740.
The outer, smaller more modern outer breakwater was built in 1840 at the peak of the harbour’s activity but was damaged in 1941 by a drifting mine and rebuilt in 1962.
The Youth Hostel that you can see behind the Pixie House used to be the palace stables for the work horses carrying cargo to and from the harbour.
The Blowhole
If you stand on or near the medieval quay, and the wave conditions are right, and it is about an hour to an hour and-a-half either side of low tide you may be lucky enough to see a spray of water spewing across the harbour’s mouth.
There is a cave running from one side of Penally Point to the other and the accompanying booming sound that can reverberate through the rocks when the sea is forced through has given it the name of The Devil’s Bellows.
Walk back along the North Bank of River Valency
The holiday cottages that you walk past all used to have some connection to the harbour. The first two white buildings you pass that are set on the path was the former Sun Dial Inn. The slate stone first floor of the next building, Harbour Cottage, used to be used as a net loft with a cellar below.
The large late 19th Century building at the base of the coast path used to be a warehouse and the low, long white building in front that is now the Harbour Light Clothing shop was originally a manganese mill. They also sell very good ice cream!
Back at the bridge you cannot miss The Wellington Hotel with its prominent tower. It has an AA 2 Rosettes for its food concentrating on supporting farmers and fishermen as well as using herbs and vegetables grown in their own kitchen garden by using fresh local produce served in a simple and enjoyable way. It is one of the oldest coaching inns in Cornwall dating back to the 16th Century and is also one of the most haunted.
Old Watermill and Smithy
Next to The Wellington Hotel is the old watermill with its old water wheel in situ. It houses two shops where you can buy craft gifts; Boho and the Leather Shop. The rambling old building that is home to The Otherworld shop used to be a Smithy.
Built around 1584 by Sir Richard Grenville, the famous Elizabethan sailor, the Riverside now has a lovely restaurant and tea garden overlooking the River Valency serving local sourced fish, farmed meats and fresh vegetables. And, for when you are not in Boscastle, it has a live webcam looking down the river towards the harbour.
Shops, Galleries and Cafés
On the opposite side of the road to The Riverside there is Cornish Rambler – an outdoor clothing shop, Landmark clothing store, Boscastle Rocks selling crystals and other gem and stone products, and the Bridge House Tea Room.
The parade of shops running up to the car park includes The Picture Parlour selling arts, crafts and gifts; Crafty selling West Country Gifts; the lovely Boscastle Bakery with award winning pasties; Long Dog Pet Supplies; The Toby Jug café; and The Cornish Stores selling a large range of wonderful local produce including meat, fish, dairy, alcohol and other tempting treats and who supply 5 Valency Row with a welcome pack and discount voucher when you stay with us.
The other side of the car park’s entrance is Boscastle’s Nisa Local shop that provides the local post office as well as all other essential items.
The Cobweb Inn is a lovely traditional pub with a wide range of beers, including from Tintagel Brewery, and serves quality traditional pub food. It was originally a warehouse built in the 18th Century and served alcohol before turning into an Inn in 1945. Its name comes from the fact that there were a lot of cobwebs in the ceiling beams as spiders were encouraged to keep flies away from the warehouse stock.
Boscastle Pottery
Housed in the Old Bakery next to The Cobweb since 1967 is the pottery. Established by Roger Irving Little and now run by his son, Tim, the pottery specialises in Mocha ware, a technique that produces a fern-like pattern.
The Old Manor House and Sharon’s Plaice
The Old Manor House is a coffee shop and next to it is Sharon’s Plaice, the place for plaice or any other fish & chips to takeaway or eat in their licensed garden.
And next to Sharon’s Plaice is the entrance to Valency Row from where 5 Valency Row can be seen.