The Mousehole Cat

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After that, the use of the Cornish language faded out across the region, but it was rediscovered in the 20th century, with people across the Duchy relearning it. The lights are dimmed on the 19th December for an hour as a mark of respect. Practical tips for visiting Mousehole Cornwall You’ll be parking on the harbour walls – If the mainland car parks are busy or full in Mousehole, you’ll need to drive along the harbour to find a space. It’s okay getting in…not so fun trying to reverse getting out. I had serious anxiety reversing my car, I was sure I was going to go over the edge! But, all good, there is a barrier. So begins this lovely, sweet, cozy and thrilling tale of Mowzer, and her human Old Tom. Life was happy and sweet in Mousehole until the one winter when the great Storm-Cat came to play in the harbor, trying to catch mice-men whenever they tried to put out to sea and go fishing. One day, Old Tom decides that he must be the one to bring fish to the starving villagers, for he has no wife or parents to mourn for him if the storm catches him, and his children are all grown. Mowzer feels much the same and, in her love for old Tom, accompanies him. But Mowzer has tamed many a wild tom cat before, and perhaps she will have a way to calm the Storm-Cat, too. Penzance is very close to Mousehole – you can easily walk there in under an hour – and it is the furthest west major town in Cornwall. Although it’s not quite as touristy as charming Mousehole, it’s a nice place to soak in local life.

Cormorant Cruising run boat trips from Mousehole around Mount’s Bay. This is your chance to look at the gorgeous village from another perspective – the water! Jessie’s Dairyserves (as you may have guessed) ice cream but is also a popular place to grab a Cornish pasty! They also cater for dietary requirements, with vegan ice cream and vegetarian pasties available. It’s a gorgeous whitewashed house with a teal door and windows, potted plants and even has some mice that scurry on the walls (look out for them!).Mousehole is also famous for being one of the last bastions of the Cornish language. Dolly Pentreath, who was alleged to be the last monoglot speaker (more information about her below!), lived in the village and died in 1777. Mousehole harbour is owned by the Penzance Harbour Commissioners. The Commissioners are a trust set up under an Act of Parliament in 1837. They are responsible for the upkeep and running of the harbour. Is Mousehole Worth Visiting? Mousehole is a sweet little hilly village with cobblestones, narrow streets, and two fine pubs; it feels very safe; the winding road through it is so difficult that cars can only pass through it on their way to the next stop. What is the Mousehole on the way to Cornwall like? The town’s narrow streets have long been filled with small shops, galleries, and cafes, and the area retains much of its old-world charm. Along the inner edge of the harbor, a cluster of finely grained Lamorna granite cottages is seen huddled together. Why is mousehole famous? Mousehole is well-known for its fishing heritage, as it was previously known as Porth Enys, which translates as “port of the island.” Until the 16th century, Newlyn and Penzance were the dominant ports in Mounts Bay; it was the main port from the 13th century until the 16th century. Is Mousehole a good place to live? Mousehole, she told Cornwall Live, is still a vibrant community with a strong community, and it is busy all year long. There are a lot of opportunities in the area now that the school has a waiting list and a lot more people want to live here. Mousehole Cornwall History

It gets extremely busy in summer– Most beauty spots in Cornwall are extremely busy in the summer season. Mousehole is no different. If you want to bag a parking spot get there early or, better yet, plan your visit in the shoulder seasons of Spring and Autumn.Mousehole Harbour is a lovely place for a walk around, especially if it’s a sunny day! You’ll enjoy epic views of Mounts Bay, which encompasses Newlyn, Penzance, Marazion and the tidal island of St Michael’s Mount. Newlyn residents didn’t forget how Mousehole shut them out, and there was some tension between the two settlements for years after. Penlee lifeboat disaster A beautifully illustrated book, which mingles history and legend to tell a stirring story of heroism and storms at sea and a very special cat.

Another – and probably the most plausible – theory is that the name derives from the word Moeshayle, which means “young woman’s brook” in Cornish. There is a brook in town, so this probably makes the most sense! The Mousehole Harbour Lights festival started off in 1963 when a local artist called Joan Gillchrest installed a string of coloured lights across both quays. The main car park is on The Parade as you drive into the village from Penzance. Parking here means that you can avoid the narrow roads of Mousehole, which is a definite perk. Land’s End is a definite must-visit in West Cornwall – it’s the furthest southwest point in the country! It’s a meaningful place for anyone travelling around the UK or hiking the South West Coast Path, as you can stand on the end of the country and enjoy the fantastic sea views of crashing waves around you. In the graveyard, you’ll also see headstones from various naval disasters over the years, which hammers home how dangerous Mousehole’s sea can be.The Mousehole Cat has become a modern classic. It was a finalist for the Smarties Prize, the winner of Illustrated Book of the Year at the 1990 British Book Awards and commended for the Kate Greenaway medal. In 1994, the book was made into an animated short, and a stage adaptation in 2007 used puppets. I like the idea of myself as an actor or dancer... a painter would have been good too. Unfortunately I don't think I would have had enough talent for any of these. But really I love books, so if I couldn't write them, I think I would have a little bookshop in a small country town. The weaving streets are narrow and historical, and there are charming buildings to admire at literally every step. The Ship Inn is the only real pub in Mousehole and popular with locals and tourists alike. It’s an excellent place to learn about Mousehole’s culture, as the walls are adorned with images of the village, past and present. There are countless charming restaurants in Mousehole, perfect for grabbing a spot of lunch while you’re in town.

St Levan is a gorgeous rural parish that sits on the west coast of Cornwall and is really close to Porthcurno village and beach. Another thing to watch out for is banana plants, which genuinely grow in Mousehole – the weather is warm enough!

Mousehole Cornwall Cottages

I love the illustrations that accompany the text, as they would be appealing to all year groups. The colour scheme is a palette of soft blues, greens and silvers; capturing the tranquility of the Cornish sea. It’s a tidal island that you can walk over on foot! It’s a melting pot of myth’s, magic and mystery and has one of the most colourful histories from 495AD. They chose the village of Mousehole for their honeymoon on the harbour. He called it the “loveliest village in England”! In the 17th and 18th centuries, Mousehole was a hotbed for the smuggling trade. The most smuggled item in Cornwall was – would you believe it – salt, because it was heavily taxed, and regular people needed it to salt their pilchards to be able to preserve them for longer. Last outpost for the Cornish language