Boscastle is a magical village and fishing port located on Cornwall’s north coast.
It is well-known for its quaint, white-washed Cornish houses that line a narrow river down to the natural harbour, and famously for being victim to a serious flood event back in 2004. That summer had incredibly heavy rainfall, with over 75mm of rain recorded in one day, which led to the two rivers on the outskirts of the village overflowing, sending a mass of water down into Boscastle. Cars and walls were washed away, and it was definitely one of the UK’s more dramatic flood scenes.
17 years on and the village has fully recovered, and the only remaining signs of this major event are the large storm drains that line the edges of the river down to the harbour.
But Boscastle is also renowned for being a place of mystery and magic, being home to the Museum of Witchcraft, and seems to be surrounded by fairytales. So I thought I’d share some top things to do in the area…
Have a beer at the Cobweb Inn
Enter this pub from the 1700s and relax with a drink, keeping an eye out for ‘creepy crawlies’ in the decor! I love how this place fits in so well with the overall witchy theme of Boscastle.
Visit the Museum of Witchcraft & Magic
One of the UK’s most unique and well-loved independent museums, the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic is open to all ages interested in spooky happenings and artefacts. Learn about folklore and spells, but don’t forget to pre-book to avoid disappointment!
Take the coast walk to Tintagel castle
Take the mystery further with an epic walk along the coast (I’m told the views are incredible, although we didn’t have time to do this ourselves on our visit!) to Tintagel Castle, famed for its link to the legend of King Arthur. Stumble down to Merlin’s cave while you’re there!
Browse the shops of magical knick-knacks
There are plenty of independent craft and gift shops lining the main street of Boscastle village, selling anything you might want as a souvenir to remember your visit. My friend Liv and I relived our childhoods by purchasing a pair of mood rings from one particularly mystical shop that also sold crystals and wands too!
Jump in off the harbour cliffs
When we went for a stroll around the harbour to take in the amazing views of the unique cliff formations, we saw a group of people jumping into the water (just outside of the harbour) from the cliffs and it looked like a lot of fun! Obviously please be safe if you do this, but the rocks here are formed like steps and seem to make it easy to climb in and out too.
Stop for a cream tea at Pixie house (Harbour Light Tea Garden)
This 300 year old cottage is famous for its funny crooked roof, and being called ‘Pixie House’ is obviously a must-visit too! Nowadays it’s run as ‘Harbour Light Tea Garden’, where you’re able to enjoy a Cornish cream tea by the harbour.
Visit St. Nectan’s Glen
Known for being home to faeries and spirits, St. Nectan’s Glen is a short drive from Boscastle, and features beautiful woodlands and waterfalls to be explored!
Grab some local produce for Boscastle Farm Shop
We didn’t end up stopping here ourselves but I had lots of people on Instagram recommend a stop here for a cream tea, cake or light snack, and to stock up on some local grocery essentials. They also have an online shop too if you want to support the locals from afar!
Is Boscastle on your Cornish bucket list?
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