Cornwall


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>Portscatho and Gerrans are a pair of villages in an absolute gem of a location along the south coast of Cornwall on the Roseland peninsular, overlooking Gerrans Bay. In Portscatho the whitewashed cottages sit picturesquely above azure seas and golden sands, and the village gives way to Gerrans just in land – the two are interconnected yet retain separate identities. </p>



<p>The community spirit runs high in the villages and the wider Roseland area, drawing many families who have either permanently relocated or who return year after year. While the pilchard fleets of the 17th and 18th century no longer operate in the same way, Portscatho is still an active fishing harbour due to the natural protection offered by its position sheltered from the prevailing winds. It&#8217;s also a lovely place for swimming and water sports such as kayaking. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/06/mackerel-on-the-grill-with-sea-behind-Hidden-Hut-Mackerel-Feast-Night-2023-RB-image-1000x667.jpg" alt="mackerel-on-the-grill-with-sea-behind-Hidden-Hut-Mackerel-Feast-Night-2023" class="wp-image-30870" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/06/mackerel-on-the-grill-with-sea-behind-Hidden-Hut-Mackerel-Feast-Night-2023-RB-image-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/06/mackerel-on-the-grill-with-sea-behind-Hidden-Hut-Mackerel-Feast-Night-2023-RB-image-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/06/mackerel-on-the-grill-with-sea-behind-Hidden-Hut-Mackerel-Feast-Night-2023-RB-image-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/06/mackerel-on-the-grill-with-sea-behind-Hidden-Hut-Mackerel-Feast-Night-2023-RB-image-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2023/06/mackerel-on-the-grill-with-sea-behind-Hidden-Hut-Mackerel-Feast-Night-2023-RB-image.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Hidden Hut</figcaption></figure>



<p>Local chefs Simon Stallard and Jemma Glass put the area on the foodie map with their beach café <a href="https://hiddenhut.co.uk/">The Hidden Hut</a>, just above Porthcurnick beach, a short walk from the village of Portscatho. Café by day, throughout the year tickets for their famed feast nights sell out quicker than Glasto. The duo followed this with a restaurant above the slipway in the village, and then a gorgeous pub reno up the road at Gerrans, <a href="https://www.standardinn.co.uk/">The Standard Inn</a>. The slipway restaurant is now <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tide_and_thyme_cornwall">Tide &amp; Thyme</a>, and in new hands, serving café drinks during the day and open for dinner Thu – Sat where take-away pizzas are also available. </p>



<p>Also in the village is The Boathouse and the Plume of Feathers pub. Just beyond The Hidden Hut is the Rosevine Hotel and restaurant, and beyond that The Driftwood (changing hands, so watch this space for more details). A short drive away is St Mawes where The Idle Rocks Reef Knot restaurant is under the care of new head chef Carla Jones, and there&#8217;s also the Watch House, and more bakeries and grocery shops. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<p>Curgurrell Farm and Farm&nbsp;Shop is just outside the village, and there&#8217;s also Portscatho Stores for groceries. We also like The Sea Garden on River Street for antiques and curiosities, and the village also has two ice cream shops. It&#8217;s a short drive to St Mawes, where there is a branch of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aspigacornwall/">Aspiga</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bridieandbert/">Bridie &amp; Bert</a>, or else for more big-name shops like The White Company, Joules, Seasalt, M&amp;S, and um, Primark, it&#8217;s over to Truro or across to Falmouth, where there are loads of lovely independents too.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/Towan-Roseland.jpg" alt="towan beach roseland" class="wp-image-23691" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/Towan-Roseland.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/Towan-Roseland-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/Towan-Roseland-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/06/Towan-Roseland-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Towan Beach</figcaption></figure>



<p>The south west coast path is on the doorstep, and the walks here are among the nicest in the Duchy &#8211; from St Anthony&#8217;s Head lighthouse past Towan beach up to Portloe is a particularly lovely stretch. Roseland Paddle &amp; Sail run RYA Junior sailing courses in the summer holidays, as well as adult dinghy sailing, windsurfing and power boat courses and SUP lessons. They also rent out everything from canoes to boats by the hour or day. Find yoga lessons in Gerrans Memorial Hall.</p>



<p>Nearby the newly created Philleigh Way Wood is proposed so that everyone can access the Roseland’s protected landscape. By using funding from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/england-woodland-creation-offer">England Woodland Creation Offer</a> 21,000 trees will be planted over the next year, extending the landowners current 60 acres of woodland. Five thousand trees have already been planted with help from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment/countryside/forest-for-cornwall-programme/">Forest for Cornwall</a>, creating new loops and pathways in the temperate woodland &#8211; where forest bathing will be encouraged.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/08/View-from-portscatho-1000x667.jpg" alt="view from portscatho" class="wp-image-27956" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/08/View-from-portscatho-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/08/View-from-portscatho-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/08/View-from-portscatho-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/08/View-from-portscatho-788x525.jpg 788w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/08/View-from-portscatho.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Portscatho</figcaption></figure>



<p>In the summer of 2022 The Roseland Centre charity successfully raised funds to buy the former Cornwall Council outdoor activity and education Centre in the neaby village of St. Just-in-Roseland. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/442103042591175/user/100067673394005/?__cft__[0]=AZXLtzHK8bWLe5_Hm8FoyHGFavpx0gxjh5O7HbXRLfgngOxw3nx0-_exhEZcEIZ7X9zxtg-SM2dhjomAoR0wBvM6fJKQEg9_4uLcSLl6s5e0d7s1IF9QmlHuGIjUlqq08GbDMqwJtMov643ZbNwGHjS5WnaW216ywb2oGPtmCX3NHiZOZ7Fv_NplFMCgwV8wk9ptlJcihRb9qYbivQbgQVmu1OvZyvsZcmtGj6OOjDjvMtUNHgKgmbHyPpQW-X8USfITOzsYqz7cCCpzqwt7MWgx&amp;__tn__=-UC%2CP-R"><strong>Gerrans Horticultural and Handicraft Show</strong></a> is held annually in September. Sailing is big round these parts, and the Portscatho Regatta is in August, where community events include the carnival procession and a raft race. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="720" height="480" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/08/st-mawes-castle-434300_1280-720x480.jpg" alt="St Mawes Castle Cornwall UK" class="wp-image-20016" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/08/st-mawes-castle-434300_1280-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/08/st-mawes-castle-434300_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/08/st-mawes-castle-434300_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2020/08/st-mawes-castle-434300_1280.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">St Mawes Castle</figcaption></figure>



<p>St Mawes Castle, pictured, marks the other side of Carrick Roads from Pendennis Castle at Falmouth. The whole coastline of the Roseland is just beautiful for beaches and walks. If National Trust gardens and houses are more your speed then there is <a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trelissick">Trelissick</a> just the other side of the King Harry ferry.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<p>Folk and jazz, history and art, films and photography, choirs and quartets, walks and talks&nbsp;make up the programme for the annual <a href="https://www.roselandfestival.co.uk/">Roseland Festival</a>, held in April / May each year.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>Properties in Portscatho sold for an average of £687,779 in 2023, which believe it or not was actually down 18% on the year before. The majority of sales were detached at a punchy £825,000, with terraces and semi-detached not far behind. Houses with the best locations and waterside views more often fetched north of £1m.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="561" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/portscatho-1000x561.png" alt="" class="wp-image-34961" style="aspect-ratio:1.7825311942959001;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/portscatho-1000x561.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/portscatho-800x448.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/portscatho-768x431.png 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/09/portscatho.png 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Living the dreaM, this 4-bed character mid-terrace cottage comes with sea views and a pretty garden. <a href="https://www.philip-martin.co.uk/property-details/32149583/cornwall/the-roseland/the-lugger">On the market for £795,000.</a>.</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>No early years specific options in Portscatho or Gerrans but Gerrans School is now accepting children for their nursery from 3 yrs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.gerrans.cornwall.sch.uk/web/">Gerrans School</a> in Portscatho is the local state primary, rated &#8216;good&#8217; by Ofsted. Slightly further afield are state primaries Veryan CE Primary School, St Mawes School and Tregony Community Primary, or Truro, where <a href="http://www.st-marys-truro.cornwall.sch.uk/web">St Mary’s C of E</a> is an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ primary. For secondary it&#8217;s up to <a href="https://www.theroseland.co.uk/web/home/635243">The Roseland Academy</a> (also at Tregony) or round to Truro where <a href="http://www.penair.cornwall.sch.uk/">Penair</a> and <a href="http://www.richardlander.co.uk/">Richard Lander</a>, are both rated ‘Good’.</p>



<p>Truro is also where the independent offering is strongest and includes <a href="https://www.truroschool.com/">Truro School</a>, <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/muddy-guide-to-the-best-schools-2-truro-high-school-for-girls/">Truro High School for Girls</a> , <a href="https://cornwall.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/truro-prep-school-review/">Truro Prep</a> and<a href="https://www.polwhelehouse.co.uk/"> Polwhele House School</a>, up to year 9.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>The&nbsp;<em>St Anthony Head</em> lighthouse just down the coast from Portscatho was made TV famous by 80s series <em>Fraggle Rock</em>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE </h2>



<p>Depends where you need to go! The draw of the Roseland in general is that it is unspoilt and quiet, but the isolated position is more of a downside if you want to work in Truro, Falmouth or further afield. That said, the <a href="https://www.falriver.co.uk/ferries/king-harry-ferry">King Harry ferry</a> runs daily across the Carrick Roads, connecting Feock (between Truro and Falmouth, near Trelissik) with Philleigh on the Roseland side (takes cars, as well as foot passengers) and the <a href="https://www.falriver.co.uk/ferries/st-mawes-ferry">foot ferry from St Mawes to Falmouth</a> runs 364 days a year with a journey time of 20 mins &#8211; both of which avoid the almost 30 mile drive round to the nearest mainline station at Falmouth. </p>



<p>If you do need to head up to Plymouth, Exeter or beyond, the quickest route is probably driving to Truro and then picking up the train there, from which it is a chunky 4 hrs 30 mins to London Paddington.</p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;<a class="" href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live">Top 300 Best Places to Live</a>.</em></p>


Portscatho & Gerrans, Roseland

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