14 Dec Cornwall to Dorset Road Trip – Mevagissey, Polperro and West Bay
Cornwall to Dorset Road Trip – Mevagissey, Polperro, West Bay and Portland Bill
Truth be told, I felt a bit sad leaving Cornwall.
I had a wonderful time there and I knew for sure that I had missed many beautiful places. Still, my next accommodation was already booked and with a full tank of gas I started driving towards Weymouth.
As always happens during my trips though, curiosity got the better of me.
Instead of driving directly to my destination, I stopped several times along the way. I rested, admired the scenery, took photos and simply slowed down.
Mevagissey – A Quiet Harbor in Cornwall
After about 70 kilometers I made my first short stop in a small place called Mevagissey.
I walked around the village for a bit and eventually made my way towards the harbor to enjoy the view.
Mevagissey Harbor
One thing I will always love is places that have harbors and boats — places where the sea meets the land.
Many of the locations I enjoy visiting the most are port towns. They have a unique atmosphere and each time I arrive in a place like this I feel excited to explore it.
I did not spend a lot of time in Mevagissey, but if you are in the area it is definitely worth a short visit.
I enjoyed the harbor, the boats and simply sitting down watching the village slowly wake up.
It was early morning and most of the shops were still closed. In a way it felt as if the whole place belonged only to me.
Just a couple of fishermen and another couple taking pictures.
A quiet morning in a beautiful little harbor.
Parking was reasonable — around £2.5 for two hours — which is more than enough time to explore the area.
Polperro – One of My Favorite Villages in Cornwall
Another 50 kilometers later I reached Polperro.
Outside the village there is a large parking area where all vehicles must stop. After paying at the machines you walk about 600–700 meters into town.
And then… Polperro appears.
Small streets.
Colorful houses.
Flowers everywhere.
And a charming harbor full of boats.
Polperro Harbor
Even though I visited many coastal towns during my trip through the UK, Polperro remains one of my favorites.
There is something special about this place.
I spent some time walking through the narrow streets, admiring the harbor and taking photos.
Eventually I sat down on a bench and simply watched the place.
Those are often the best moments during my trips — when I know I do not need to rush anywhere.
When I can simply relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Around noon I decided to find something to eat. The restaurant I chose will be reviewed in a separate article.
Why I Let Photos Speak More Than Words
There is a reason why I do not always write long descriptions about every place I visit.
Sometimes pictures tell the story better.
Maybe you do not have time to read pages of text about every location. Maybe you are only interested in a few of them.
And maybe it is difficult to understand the excitement of a place unless you have actually been there.
That is why I spend so much time improving my photography.
Because many times a single photo can say more than a thousand words.
Still, if you visit this part of Cornwall, I strongly recommend stopping in Polperro. It is a special place.
West Bay – First Encounter with the Jurassic Coast
About 185 kilometers later I reached West Bay.
This was my first encounter with the famous Jurassic Coast.
And it was even better than I expected.
Before visiting the UK I had spent quite a lot of time researching interesting locations and looking at photos online.
Still, nothing truly prepares you for seeing these landscapes in person.
I parked near the cliffs, walked about 200 meters and simply stopped.
West Bay cliffs
There are two types of things that always amaze me when I travel:
- Man-made wonders
- The beauty of nature
The Jurassic Coast in Dorset definitely belongs to the second category.
Here you can walk along the beach with the sea on one side and dramatic cliffs rising on the other.
After driving more than 300 kilometers that day, I was happy to sit on a rock and simply relax.
The hard part of the day was behind me.
Only about 30 kilometers remained until Weymouth.
Portland Bill and Pulpit Rock – Sunset on the Jurassic Coast
I will not speak too much about Weymouth here. While it is a pleasant seaside town, I personally found it a bit too touristy.
After checking into my accommodation (review coming soon), I took a shower and then drove to my final destination for the day.
Portland Bill.
Located about 11–13 kilometers from Weymouth, this area includes two main sights:
Portland Bill Lighthouse
Pulpit Rock
The best time to visit this place is sunset.
You can park your car in the large parking area near the lighthouse and explore the cliffs on foot.
Truth be told, the entire area can be explored in about 30 minutes.
Still, the scenery makes it absolutely worth the stop.
Pulpit Rock
I spent around 30–40 minutes there simply leaning on a rock and watching the sun slowly disappear over the sea.
Small fishing harbors, the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast, a long scenic drive and a sunset at Portland Bill — all in a single day.
Yes, it was a long day.
But it was also a beautiful one.
What Comes Next
My next articles will focus on:
eating in St Ives
another small Cornish restaurant
my accommodation in Weymouth
and my route through Dorset on the following day
As my journey through England continues, there will be many more places to explore.
Until then, you can always check my Instagram account for more photos from my travels.
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