Mousehole is a tiny harbour situated on the west side of Penzance Bay and on England's southwest coast, about 14 miles northwest of Lizard Point and 7 miles east of Land's End. Its drying harbour can accommodate medium or small boats that can dry out, while deeper-draught vessels can anchor outside in settled conditions.

Those who can enter and dry will find good protection except from the south or southeast, but the anchorage is only for settled offshore winds. Access should be attempted only at high water during daylight and requires attentive navigation as there is a rocky island.

Keyfacts for Mousehole

Position and approaches

Haven position

50° 4.972' N, 005° 32.268' W

This is the position of a metal mast 3 metres high at the head of the north pier, at the entrance. It exhibits lights that indicate if the harbour is open, 2 F.G. Vert, or closed, 3 F.R. Vert.

What is the initial fix?

This is about 300 metres offshore and a similar distance southwest of Saint Clement's Isle. It sets up a southern approach between the island and the harbour.

What are the key points of the approach?

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What's the story here?

Mousehole (pronounced ‘Mowzle’) is a tiny, oval-shaped drying boat harbour formed by two enclosing piers. Saint Clement's Isle, located 400 metres east by southeast, provides shelter, while the harbour entrance is sealed with huge oak baulks during the winter to protect against storms. The entrance may also occasionally be closed by strong east or southeasterlies. The harbour area is encircled by a tight tangle of slate-roofed cottages intersected by alleyways. Historically an important fishing port, it still has nine small fishing boats, from 5 to 7 metres, that pot, net and angle in the surrounding area. Alongside these, the harbour is fully occupied by the fore and aft moorings of small local craft belonging to village residents. The beauty of the village means it is a popular family holiday destination and it makes its living today almost entirely on tourist traffic.




The small harbour's entrance is 11 metres wide and it has a bottom of clean sand with some small boulders. A depth of 2.7 metres will be found at high-water springs and 1.8 metres at high-water neaps. The foot of the South Pier, where visitors typically come alongside, dries to 1.9 metres. Boats with a long keel may dry alongside the wall, but the harbour is more the domain of the bilge keeler or a boat equipped with legs.

Mousehole is a self-sustaining 'Trust Port' run for the benefit of the local community and stakeholders. Visiting yachts are welcome but are rare owing to the harbour drying out. The harbourmaster should be contacted before any visit so make arrangments in advance +44 1736 732544, +44 7767 651726, mousehole.harbour@hotmail.co.uk, www.mouseholeharbour.co.uk.

Visiting Yachts fees per night [2019] £10 Monohulls | £12 Multihulls | £15/week Overland Boats (Trailered). The anchorage outside provides good holding and some protection from the west, but only in the absence of swell, which tends swing around the peninsula. The anchorage is entirely open to the south and southeast.

How to get in?

Use southwestern England’s coastal overview from Lizard Point to Land's End for seaward approaches. Keep a sharp eye out for pot marker buoys around the island and along the shore. Two green vertical lights exhibited on the head of the north pier indicate that the harbour is open; three red lights exhibited from the same position indicate that the harbour is closed. On account of the local pots alone, night entry is strongly advised against for non-locals.




The key feature to identify is the 8 metre-high Saint Clement's Isle, located about ⅓ mile southward of Penlee Point and about ½ mile north by northeast of Carn Du. The low-lying black rocky outcrop can be difficult to identify as it tends to get lost against the land until much closer in. It has an obelisk daymark (unlit) on its southern highest point, but its 7 metres above MHWS includes the island itself, so it is little more than a rectangular block. Vessels approaching from the south will see it separate from the land.




The initial fix sets up the preferred southern approach to the harbour and anchoring area. There are no dangers outside of 300 metres from the mainland shore here, nor 100 metres from the western shore of Saint Clement's Isle. The southern approach is 250 metres wide and has at least 3 metres of water until the final approaches. It then dries out progressively to 1.3 metres off the head of the south pier and at the entrance.

Local fishing boats will be seen using an inshore passage to the north of the island. This is a more than serviceable northern cut, but best left to local knowledge and the adventurous as it is a very narrow channel with 1.5 metres LAT and rocky ledges on both sides.



From the initial fix, sound proceeding northward about midway between the island and the shore until the entrance to the harbour is abeam. Turn for the entrance when first it opens.




Anchor to the southeast of the head of the South Pier, between it and the island. As this is the approach channel it is important to carry a bright riding light as anything moderate will struggle to be seen against the background lights of the village.




It also makes a good tide-wait anchorage and a reasonable depth can be expected in the harbour at half-tide onwards. A good rule of thumb is that if only three horizontal concrete layers can be seen at the top of the northern wall, about 2.5 metres will be available inside the outer end of the South Pier.




The harbour entrance opens to the east by northeast and is 11 metres wide. Berth as directed by the harbourmaster (typically at the head of the South Pier, space allowing), to dry on a firm, sandy bottom. Keep clear of the stone steps as the inshore fishing boats use these to land their catch. Bilge-keelers intending to dry out elsewhere should do so only by arrangement with the harbourmaster, as local moorings fill the centre of the harbour.

Why visit here?

First recorded as Musehole in 1284 and then Mosehole in its 1266 charter, the origin of Mousehole’s name is subject to some debate. Even its pronunciation is different to how it is spelt (‘Mowzel’ – never 'mouse hole'). Some say the name is the conjunction of the old English words mús and hol, literally 'mouse hole', which originally referred to a large hole or cavern in the cliffs to the south of the harbour. Others believe it is a comment on the small harbour itself. A local theory suggests that it is in fact derived from the small brook that runs through the town and the Cornish word Moeshayle, meaning 'at the mouth of the river of young women'. Others believe the name comes from Phoenician tin merchants that came here around 500 BC, and is derived from the Phoenician word for 'watering place'. Another theory has it that its proper pronunciation of 'Mowzel' is derived from an old Arabic word for water.

To further add to the confusion, it was also commonly known by its old Cornish name Port Ennis (first recorded as Portheness in 1267), meaning the 'port of the island'. This clearly refers to Saint Clement’s Island, situated close offshore, which was described in 1540 as “a lytle low island with a chapel yn yt”. Both names were used interchangeably in the past, while a document from 1309 names Porthenys juxta Mousehole, which means ‘Port Ennis next to Mousehole’ supporting the cavern theory in that they were two separate places. Whatever the case, either literal name perfectly encapsulates the bijou harbour, cradled in the arms of its granite breakwater and encircled by a compact huddle of cottages ashore.

At the time of the Norman Conquest, Mousehole, like Newlyn and Penzance, fell within the authority of the Manor of Alverton. All early charters, fairs, landing and buildings were associated with this manorial estate. In 1230, the Manor of Alverton was granted by Richard (first Earl of Cornwall and younger brother of King Henry III) to Henry de Tyes. In 1266, Edward I granted Henry de Tyes a charter for a market on Tuesdays at Mousehole, along with a three-day fair for the festival of St Barnabas. In 1313, Edward II confirmed the market to his sister, Alice de l’Isle.




Supported by this charter, Mousehole became the most important settlement in Mounts Bay. By the 14th century, it was referred to as a town and was one of the two main commercial centres of the bay area, the other being Marazion. Records show that as early as 1302 pilchards were exported to France and that Mousehole dominated this trade. Records of tax collections, based on the number of fishing boats, have Mousehole contributing £5, Marazion £1 6s 8d, Newlyn £1, Penzance 12s and Porthgwarra and Penberth 12s. Becoming a port of some importance, Mousehole had a new quay built in 1392 and became the earliest walled harbour in Cornwall. The town remained the centre of power until the end of the 16th century, when catastrophe struck.

Recoiling from the failed Armada, the Spanish landed a considerable force in Brittany in 1590. This was to assist the French Catholic League in expelling the English and French Protestant forces from the area and to establish an advanced base from which his navy could constantly threaten England and Ireland. The Spanish invasion of Brittany provided a convenient base for raids on Cornwall and, in 1595, two separate Spanish assault parties joined forces under Carlos de Amésquita to execute their first attack. Mousehole was the first port of call for the raiding party of four galleys and 400 men armed with muskets and pikes. A landing party came ashore on a rocky beach a few hundred yards to the west of Mousehole, while the Spanish galleys came in close to shore to bombard the defenceless town.

Hopelessly outgunned, the townspeople fled, save for the notable exception of a single resident – Jenkyn Keigwin. He stood defiantly outside his home and was shot dead at such close range that the musket ball passed through him and sank deep into the door behind. Perhaps as a mark of respect, his house was the only building to survive in the entire town. All the rest of the houses were burned and two other men were killed. The Spanish then progressed to the hamlet of Paul, then to Newlyn and Penzance, reputedly burning many more buildings.




With only Keigwin’s house remaining, Mousehole was by far the worst hit. Unlike its near neighbours Penzance and Newlyn, the town never fully recovered from the raid. Its market was discontinued after the incursion and the burgeoning Penzance, already the customs port for the whole Mount’s Bay area, gained the August fair in 1614. The village was subsequently rebuilt, but its size and status never again matched those of Penzance and Newlyn.




The village recovered only when fishermen and fish merchants moved their businesses to Newlyn and Mousehole in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. While parts of the old wharf date back to the 13th century, the North Quay was established to protect boats at this time. By the late 18th century, five pilchard seines and 55 boats were operating out of the harbour. However, it remained highly exposed, with the island providing little protection. This was exemplified during a bad storm in 1771, when a pig's sty with its stone trough was carried off into the sea by the force of the waves. A subsequent violent storm in 1817 cast the trough back onto shore, having been missing some 46 years.




The harbour needed further protection and so the South Quay was built in the 19th century. With the added protection, Mousehole finally became a bustling port, full with pilchard fishing boats. At that time it was a 'drift' pilchard fishery during the summer and early autumn, with around 60 boats fishing in the North Sea. When its fleet was in, it was possible to walk across the harbour from one moored lugger to the next.




It remained a busy port crowded with local fishing boats until as late as 100 years ago. By the early 20th century, though, the pilchard shoals had disappeared and consumers had lost their taste for the oily fish. With this came the large-scale harbour development of Newlyn, which changed the dynamics of the area. This was the final blow for Mousehole, and the boats soon departed the small harbour for the better access, protection, deeper waters and superior infrastructure of Newlyn, which consequently expanded rapidly.




The fishing industry left behind a mesh of cottages and alleyways around the inner edge of the harbour. This and the picture perfect protective arms of its granite breakwaters left something that Dylan Thomas described as the “loveliest village in England”. It was no idle or passing comment; he frequented the Ship Inn and, in July 1937, celebrated his honeymoon in what was then the Lobster Pot pub – now converted to holiday homes. Seeing his perspective, Mousehole reinvented itself as a seaside town and totally gave itself over to tourism.




A handful of boats maintain the village’s fishing heritage today, with the majority moored fore and aft for leisure rather than work. Its tea shops and galleries are a world away from the fishing industry warehouses and cranes of Newlyn, and it is estimated that more than half of Mousehole’s houses are now used as holiday lets or second homes. This is very understandable as it is one of the jewels in the crown of Cornwall. Its stunning collection of yellow-lichened houses, draped with jasmine and fuchsia and built from the finely grained local Lamorna granite, are more than desirable.

These were all constructed after the 1595 Spanish invasion. Only Keigwin House, with its granite-pillared porch (now a private residence tucked away in the back streets) survives from the 14th century. A plaque outside reads: “Squire Jenkyn Keigwin was killed here 23rd July 1595 defending this house against the Spaniards.”

Another commemorative plaque can be found on the wall of a cottage in Brook Street and close by the harbour. This is dedicated to Dolly Pentreath, a native of Mousehole who died in 1777, she reputedly was the last living person to speak Cornish as her native language. Often cited as the last native speaker of Cornish before its revival in the 20th-century, her defiant last words were reported to be “Me ne vidn cewsel Sawznek!” – ‘I don't want to speak English!’

After Dolly Pentreath, 16th-century fisherman Tom Bawcock is probably the other most celebrated former resident of Mousehole. He achieved fame during a very stormy winter that kept all the fishing boats in the harbour. As Christmas approached, the villagers, who relied on fish as their primary source of food, were facing starvation.

On the day before Christmas Eve, and resorting to herculean efforts, Tom Bawcock set out in his boat to fish in what was a severe storm. Against all odds, he managed to catch enough fish to feed the hungry village and lifted the famine, reputedly landing seven types of fish. The entire catch was baked into a pie, which had the fish heads poking through in order to show that there were fish inside.

Ever since then, the fabled local fisherman is remembered in the Tom Bawcock’s Eve festival held on December 23. Every Christmas brings a celebration of lanterns and lights, with the traditional ceremonial – and symbolic – eating of the iconic Stargazy Pie on the eve. This is a mixed fish, egg and potato pie cooked with Cornish sardines, herring or mackerel, heads protruding and looking skywards in a star-gazy fashion.

Despite being a very popular tourist destination to which summer visitors flock in droves, Mousehole has retained its original character and charm. Made up of winding narrow streets and tiny granite cottages, it harks back to simpler times. Without doubt, its tight-packed knot of slate-roofed cottages and cob buildings make it one of the most picturesque hamlets in Cornwall. Likewise, its granite harbour walls somehow seem to embrace the sea, embodying fortitude and the tentative relationship between the town and the bay. It is truly a beautiful village to behold and an absolute joy to visit.




From a boating perspective, Mousehole is the final port for boat cruising westward along the South Coast of England. It is the type of place that truly makes the case for bilge keelers, which will be in their element here. In suitable conditions, an overnight stay anchored outside in deep water is also a total delight. Should an auspicious weather window occur, it is not a place that should be overlooked.

What facilities are available?

Fresh water at the inner end of the quay and a coin-operated shower are available at the South Quay, but there are no refuelling facilities or power points. The harbour has two public conveniences, one on the North Pier (with disabled facilities) and the other on the South Pier (Gurnick Street). The slipway is at the southern end of the harbour, leading to a car park.

A well-stocked village shop and a post office will be found in its narrow streets. Being a tourist-magnet, there is plenty of choice for eating ashore, including cafés, a very good fish and chip shop, a good pub (The Ship Inn) and hotel (The Old Coastguard), and several good local restaurants, all within walking distance of the harbour. The harbourmaster will advise on most things and can be visited at his office behind the clock tower.

Almost everything else you will find in Penzance, which can be reached via a regular bus service – the 6/6A from Penzance (20 minutes, half-hourly Monday to Saturday, every hour on Sunday), which leaves from the harbourside clock tower. The 345 (twice daily Monday to Friday, once on Saturday) travels via Newlyn, Mousehole and the Minack.

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