- Port Isaac is in Cornwall, England.
- Featured in Doc Martin (as 'Port Wenn')
- Check access, weather and local guidance before travelling.
About Port Isaac
Port Isaac is a tight-clustered Cornish fishing village tucked into a sheltered valley on the north coast, its whitewashed slate-hung cottages spilling down to a small harbour. Known to millions as the fictional 'Port Wenn' from the ITV series Doc Martin, it remains a working port landing crab and lobster and is the home of the Fisherman's Friends sea-shanty singers.
The story of Port Isaac
Port Isaac has been a fishing harbour since at least the Tudor period, when it was recorded as a landing place for the Cornish pilchard fleet, and its narrow lanes were laid out so boats could be hauled above the high-water mark. The Fisherman's Friends, a group of local fishermen and villagers, began singing sea shanties on the harbour plato in the 1990s and signed a major record deal in 2010, becoming the first group to reach the UK Top 10 with a sea-shanty album. Since 2004 the village has doubled as 'Port Wenn' for Doc Martin, drawing large visitor numbers to what remains a tiny, seasonal community.
Visiting with care
Park at the top of the village and walk down, as the lanes to the harbour are narrow and largely closed to visitors' cars. Take the cliff path to Port Gaverne for a quieter cove, and try to catch a Fisherman's Friends performance in season.
Interesting facts
- Doc Martin has been filmed in Port Isaac since 2004, with the village standing in for the fictional 'Port Wenn'.
- The Fisherman's Friends signed a £1 million record deal in 2010 and reached the UK Top 10 with a sea-shanty album.
- The harbour dates from the Tudor period and was a landing place for the pilchard fleet.
- The village's slate-hung cottages line steep alleys that follow the original medieval field boundaries.
Getting there
Parking and access details — check locally for the latest information.