The village of Mousehole is a busy tourist destination in the summer, but in the winter, you get to explore without the crowds.
You could wander through the characterful streets, pausing to pop into the delis and restaurants. You could book a tour with a local expert to hear more about the history of the village. If you’re coming to Cornwall in December, make sure you visit Mousehole when the harbour lights are switched on for that instant festive feeling.
You can mix and match from the suggested activities to create a great day out during your stay. If you were to do all the activities on this itinerary, the estimated duration is given above.
Please note: You will need to contact the venue or experience provider directly to book.
Click on each individual experience and find out more about its accessibility and public transport connections, along with an eco tip.
If you would like to build your own itinerary, head to the Experience page. You can add your favourite experiences to a bespoke itinerary, which can be downloaded or sent to your email address. Please note: This is for inspiration purposes only and does not create a booking. You will need to contact the venue or provider directly to book.
Spend the morning or afternoon exploring the charming village of Mousehole and learning about its history. Mousehole local Elaine will show you around, guiding you through the key landmarks in the village and sharing stories and folklore. If you’re keen to learn more about this quaint Cornish village, book your tour here.
There’s nothing quite like a harbour filled with colourful lights to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside at Christmas. Crowds flock to see Mousehole’s magical Christmas lights, which illuminate the harbour from mid-December. If you’re planning to snuggle up in a quaint fishing village this winter, you can look forward to warming mulled wine and a warm welcome at the local pubs and restaurants.
From its bustling fish market to the traditional granite cottages and the brightly coloured boats bobbing around in the harbour, there’s so much about Newlyn that feels quintessentially Cornish. Over the years, the town has also attracted artists and creators, so there are galleries and unique shops to explore too. See the Newlyn Harbour website for more inspiration.
Nothing says, ‘Welcome to Cornwall!’ quite like a wander through the narrow streets of a historic fishing village. This 3.6-mile route follows the coast from Penzance, through the working harbour of Newlyn, past the busy fish market and into Mousehole – with plenty of cosy pubs to duck into along the way. An easy route that will take around an hour each way. See the route here.
In December, the longer nights create the perfect backdrop for Cornish legends – and Tom Bawcock’s Eve is not to be missed. Held in Mousehole on December 23rd, it celebrates the story of Tom Bawcock, a legendary fisherman who saved the town from famine. It’s a vibrant evening, filled with fairy lights, folk songs and a lantern procession. While you’re here, seek out the Stargazy Pie– a local delicacy that involves baking pilchard heads into a pie crust, so that they’re looking up at the stars.
Explore the historic harbours that surround Penzance. The MOUS bus route takes you from Penzance station to Newlyn and Mousehole. You could spend the morning discovering Newlyn’s art galleries before heading to Mousehole and hopping off the bus for lunch at the Old Coastguard. See this timetable and more here.
2 Fore Street is a classic bistro restaurant in the heart of Mousehole. Join Kerry (front of house) and Joe (chef) for fresh seafood, local ingredients and the perfect harbourfront location. Be sure to pop into their deli, ‘No.1 Millpool”, which is just around the corner. Find out more and book your table here.
Retreat to a cosy self-catering cottage or book a stylish hotel in the heart of town. Discover the perfect seaside stay for your winter in Cornwall.
Visit out of season and step into an adventure. Explore our entire collection of inspiring itineraries and plan a great day out.
Many of the activities in our itineraries are accessible. Click on each individual experience to find out more about its accessibility. We advise that you contact the venue or experience provider in advance to confirm. You can also find information about accessible venues through Access Cornwall.
Enjoy updates from local experts and find information about upcoming events.
Discover the many ways you can get out there and explore without relying on your car.
We’re hoping to make every stay as sustainable as possible. Find out more here.
This listing has been curated by the EXPERIENCE West Cornwall team and was correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We advise that you contact the venue or provider directly to confirm any seasonal opening details and to book the experience.
