The 'loveliest seaside village in England' that no one knows how to pronounce

The most celebrated poet in Wales, Dylan Thomas, described this picturesque fishing village in Cornwall as "the loveliest village in England" while on his honeymoon. You only have to walk down to the harbour to see that it really is impossibly pretty. In fact, its stunning scenery is pure poetry.

Dylan and his wife, Caitlin Thomas, spent their honeymoon in Mousehole (Pronounced Mow-zel, who knew?) in 1937, having married just a few miles west in Penzance. The village is also said to have been an inspiration for Thomas's most famous play, Under Milk Wood. The Ship Inn in Mousehole was a favourite pub of Dylan Thomas, who liked a drink or two, and part of the bar is still called "Dylan's Corner." The 2008 film Edge of Love, starring Matthew Rhys as Dylan, Sienna Miller as his wife and Keira Knightley as his childhood sweetheart, records his romantic inclinations, no doubt inspired by this Cornish bolthole.

Literary connections aside, Mousehole is home to potentially the oldest pier in Cornwall, dating back to as early as 1266. And, while a small patch of sand at the western end of the idyllic harbour is not an obvious beach destination by Cornish standards, it can be a great family spot when it's not too busy. The town and harbour wall shelters you from the wind, while the sea in the harbour is safe to swim in and warmer than beyond the wall. In early November of each year, timber beams are laid across the entrance to the harbour in order to protect the village from the worst of the winter storms. On a strong southerly wind, waves can still be seen breaking over the harbour wall at high tide.

Mousehole developed around the fishing trade, appearing in record books as a major fishing port way back in 1266. Legend has it the last fluent native speaker of the Cornish language lived in Mousehole. Some accounts say Dolly Pentreath was the last person who spoke only Cornish, while others say she learned English at the age of twenty. According to travel guides, as you walk towards the harbour from the car park, you will pass the house where Dolly lived. It's marked by a plaque.

For a tiny village, Mousehole has a pretty big history. It was attacked by Spaniard, Carlos de Amésquit, in July 1595 and apart from one house, the entire village was burnt to the ground. After burning the town of Mousehole, Amésquita and his men embarked on their galleys and sailed for two miles, after which they disembarked again, conquered and burned the fort of Penzance down, Newlyn, and Paul.

The epitome of Cornish culture, Mousehole is notorious for its historic roots. Mousehole was once very short of food in the 16th century after storms stopped the local fishing boats from leaving the small fishing harbour. This went on until the day before Christmas Eve, when Tom Bawcock decided to brave the stormy seas and take his boat out to fish. He landed a huge catch of fish despite the storm and battled his way back to the harbour, where the villagers of Mousehole warmly greeted him. The people were so hungry that they placed the fish they caught whole into a pie, with the heads and tails sticking out through the crust. This is the famous "Stargazy Pie". The people of Mousehole hold a special celebration on 23rd December every year with a special serving of Stargazy Pie in the Ship Inn and lantern processions.

Another Mousehole tradition is The Good Friday Walk, when the majority of the local population would walk to either St Michael's Mount or Lamorna in the hope of finding a husband or wife. After arriving in Lamorna, people would enjoy the scenery of the cove and have picnics. Some would also go with their friends to a local pub called the Lamorna Wink. If you find a pub in Cornwall called a "wink", this means it was once an unlicensed beer shop and often a place where people sold smuggled goods. The "wink" name comes from the fact that if you wanted some of the smuggled goods, perhaps brandy or tobacco, you would secretly wink at the landlord, who would then know what you wanted. People still take the walk every Good Friday, and the cliff pathway around the bay is still full of people enjoying the Easter holiday.

Mousehole's biennial Sea Salts and Sail Festival (next one is July 2026) also revives old traditions and celebrates the heritage of West Cornwall's most famous fishing village, providing a day out for all the family. From Friday afternoon, scores of historic and classic vessels start to appear on the horizon and then gradually assemble in and around the picturesque harbour, often rafted several deep. Local bands provide live music throughout the festival, and there is a well-stocked food and beverage tent. Sea Salts and sail is very much a family festival, so there's plenty of entertainment for the kids. There's poetry, storytelling, wood and stone-carving to keep the children entertained.