Polperro
With its whitewashed cottages, smugglers' harbour and car-free charm, Polperro is the perfect Cornish escape — and a hassle-free coach tour lets you enjoy every moment without the drive.
Nestled in a steep, wooded valley along Cornwall's rugged south coast, Polperro is easily one of the most charming fishing villages in England. Located halfway between Looe and Fowey, it’s a place where narrow, winding lanes lead you down to a peaceful working harbour, with whitewashed cottages clinging to the hillsides and fishing boats bobbing in the water. For centuries, this tiny port thrived on pilchards and a cheeky side of smuggling—a colourful history you can dive into at the Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing. You can spend your time wandering the car-free streets, following the South West Coast Path along Chapel Cliff for breathtaking views, or simply watching the tide roll in from a cosy harbourside café.
Since parking can be a bit of a nightmare in this tucked-away corner of Cornwall, travelling by coach is the way to go. You can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery while someone else handles the winding country roads. Many coach tours pair Polperro with other Cornish gems, meaning you can explore smugglers' secrets, browse local galleries, and treat yourself to a proper Cornish cream tea all in one trip. Ready for an adventure? Compare coach holidays to Polperro right here to find the best dates and prices, then book your getaway in just a few clicks.
Coach tours visiting Polperro
Newquay and Cornish Treasures
by Shearings
From tales of pirates and smugglers to beautiful coastal towns, enjoy a combination of rich history and stunning scenery on this Cornish escape.
Where you’ll stay
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Kilbirnie Hotel ★★★
Escape to the Cornish coast with a stay at the Kilbirnie Hotel in Newquay, a warm and welcoming home-from-home just moments from the sea. Perfectly placed on Narrowcliff, this friendly hotel puts seven stunning beaches right on your doorstep, so you can swim, surf or simply soak up the sunshine. All 66 bedrooms have been beautifully refurbished with modern décor, upgraded bathrooms and thoughtful touches, and you can choose anything from a cosy Standard Room to a spacious Family Room or a breathtaking Sea View Room overlooking the ocean. Dive into the indoor and outdoor pools, unwind on the terrace, or enjoy a relaxing drink in the spacious bar.
When hunger calls, the Sunset View Restaurant serves wonderful homemade food made from locally sourced ingredients. Whether you're travelling solo, with friends or as part of a group, the Kilbirnie Hotel makes the ideal base for exploring everything Newquay has to offer. Book your coach tour today and discover why guests return year after year to this much-loved Cornish gem.
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🧳 Arrival
Local departure by coach or Home Connect service, then on to Newquay and our hotel for four nights.
Meals: Dinner
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📸 Excursion
St Ives and Penzance
Today, we enjoy included excursions to two of Cornwall's most popular towns. St Ives is considered the dazzling jewel in Cornwall’s crown with its picturesque fishing harbour, maze of narrow cobbled streets, independent shops and fisherman’s cottages. We then journey to Penzance, known for its majestic cliffs, rocky coves and sandy beaches.
Why not try the local food, such as a traditional Cornish Pasty, or browse the shops along Chapel Street?
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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📸 Excursion
Day at leisure or Looe and Polperro
Enjoy a day at leisure in vibrant Newquay.
Alternatively, join our optional excursion to visit two more of Cornwall's treasures – Looe and Polperro. Looe is a picturesque fishing harbour situated on the South East coast, and with one of the largest fishing fleets in Cornwall, it is an ideal place to enjoy fresh seafood.
From here, we’ll head to Polperro, a picture-postcard Cornish fishing town with whitewashed cottages and a pretty harbour dotted with cafés and gift shops.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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📸 Excursion
Bodmin Moor and Jail, Jamaica Inn and Port Isaac
Today, we explore Cornwall's myths and legends with an interesting visit to Bodmin Moor, where the beast is supposed to roam!
A stop at the imposing Bodmin Jail is next, where we’ll learn about life in the Georgian and Victorian penal system.
From here, we’ll continue to the Jamaica Inn, which is Cornwall's most famous smugglers haunt and the inspiration for Daphne du Maurier's best-selling novel.
Our final visit of the day is to pretty Port Isaac. Once a hang-out for the notorious Cornish pirate, it is now a fishing village with olde-world charm, and some may also recognise it from the well-known TV series Doc Martin, which is filmed here.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
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🏡 Departure
Return home.
Meals: Breakfast
Image Attribution
- Polperro — (Photo by Karen Cann on Unsplash )
- St Ives — (Photo by BEN ELLIOTT on Unsplash )
- Looe — (Photo by Nik on Unsplash )
- Bodmin — (Photo by Greg Willson on Unsplash )