Cadgwith is a tiny fishing village forgotten by the 21st Century, located on the eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, England. Fishermen still push their boats down the beach to catch shellfish and wet fish which are available; weather permitting; every day. The area offers the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in the world. To the summer visitor, arriving on a sunny day, Cadgwith seems everything that a Cornish fishing village should be. A stream winding down the valley and trickling over the sand and shingle beach, whitewashed cottages, mostly thatched, scattered on both slopes of the valley and fishing boats drawn up on the beach. A place for relaxing, enjoying the peace and quiet, sitting in the sun soaking the atmosphere.
But this is only a small part of the real charm of Cadgwith. This is a real working village that holds on to a way of life almost completely forgotten elsewhere. Fishing boats still go out every day, as they have done for hundreds of years, not for pilchards nowadays but for crab (several tons a week), lobster, mackerel, shark and mullet. The pub remains the social centre of the village, our natural venue for celebrations of all kinds as well for daily chat and gossip. There is folk music every Tuesday night and traditional Cornish singing on Fridays.
All around the cove are reminders of the past - old pilchard cellars, winches, the old lifeboat house that was used until 1963, memories of much-loved fishermen who lost their lives at sea. All are carefully preserved and yet still form part of everyday life.
If you are looking for a holiday of the old fashioned simplicity, surrounded by scenery of breathtaking beauty, then look no further. Do try and come out of peak season if you possibly can. Our winters are mild, frost is rare and snow almost unknown. Spring is always early. Daffodils are picked as a commercial crop in January and the potato harvest starts in early May. The cliffs, moors and hedgerows are ablaze with wild flowers from February to June. There are golden days in October and November as fine as any in Mid- summer. We hate to see our cove deserted on warm sunny days in Spring and Autumn.
So, why not come down, forget the modern world and share life as it was shared 500 years ago. Relax a while with an ice cream or a cream tea or enjoy a drink or two on the terrace outside the pub. There's an art of living here that has largely vanished from almost anywhere else. But beware, one visit and you may want to return time and time again. Many people do and become our good friends in the process. We look forward to hearing from you. |
