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This breathtaking abandoned village in North Cornwall is one of the most magical spots in the county, a real hidden gem with unmatched coastal views and a rich history.

A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fishing village in North Cornwall, now better described as a tiny hamlet, boasts some of the most spectacular vistas Cornwall can offer – and that’s quite the claim given a third of the county holds designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status.

Nestled comfortably between its better-known neighbours – Port Isaac and Polzeath – this diminutive hamlet now falls largely under National Trust ownership. A peaceful ambience, stunning coastal panoramas, and abundant natural splendour – that’s how you’d characterise this small Cornish settlement.

Despite its modest proportions, it possesses a remarkably colourful history encompassing fishing, smuggling, mining, a devastating maritime tragedy, a wealthy man’s architectural whim, and even a stint as a filming location for the television adaptation of Winston Graham’s celebrated Poldark novels.

The now-abandoned hamlet of Port Quin derives its name from the Cornish words ‘porth’ meaning cove, and ‘gwynn’ meaning white – literally White Cove.

Tucked between imposing headlands, this compact hamlet forms a protected inlet with a substantial fishing heritage. Indeed, the scale of the old fish cellars (which remain visible in Port Quin today) suggests it was once a flourishing and prosperous fishing community on the Cornish coastline, reports Cornwall Live.

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Today, Port Quin boasts just a handful of holiday lets, all under the stewardship of the National Trust. The hamlet has seen virtually no modern construction over the centuries, remaining remarkably preserved from the march of time and urban sprawl.

Three local farms – Scarrabine, Trevigo, and Roscarrock – encircle Port Quin’s harbour, each managed by families from the area. The National Trust also maintains the fields surrounding this now-abandoned village.

Situated approximately two miles west of the busier Port Isaac, Port Quin is an enchanting, uninhabited cove blessed with untamed natural splendour and a dramatic, craggy coastline.

The village’s tragic legend

Port Quin has earned its reputation as the ‘village that died’, hiding a heartbreaking history.

Local folklore tells of a catastrophic Sunday night during the 19th century when, according to legend, all the village’s menfolk defied the Sabbath to go fishing, only to be caught in a ferocious storm that claimed every one of their lives.

Left without breadwinners, the village women found themselves unable to feed their families, compelling them to desert their homes and seek refuge with their children in nearby communities where they might find better opportunities.

This poignant story lives on in Frank Bramley’s 1888 painting ‘The Hopeless Dawn’, which is displayed at Tate Britain in London. A compact National Trust car park sits at Port Quin, typically visited by a mobile vintage café throughout the summer season.

Things to do in Port Quin

Port Quin’s protected inlet is celebrated as one of Cornwall’s finest locations for rock pooling, kayaking or angling, or simply taking a refreshing plunge in the Atlantic.

The cove is beloved by families, ideal for youngsters to safely paddle without the hassle of tourist hordes. Winter brings ferocious storms, however, making swimming at Port Quin inadvisable during those months.

Port Quin enjoys the advantage of being close to Port Isaac, Cornwall’s renowned fishing village, which brims with restaurants, welcoming pubs, and remarkably two Michelin-starred establishments within its compact confines – Outlaw’s New Road and Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen.

Run by chef Nathan Outlaw, the Outlaw venues are cherished by locals and tourists alike, all of whom rave about the delectable cuisine.

Nathan’s acclaimed flagship venue, Outlaw’s New Road, is nevertheless scheduled to close its doors on March 28 this year.

The shuttering will be swiftly followed by the launch of a fresh venture from the Michelin-starred chef – Outlaw’s Bistro, operating from the well-loved Outlaw’s Guest House located directly opposite.

The South West Coast Path runs straight through Port Quin and provides walkers with an enchanting stretch of pristine coastline, exceptional even by Cornwall’s remarkably elevated standards. A stunning three-and-a-half-mile coastal ramble stretches from Port Quin to Port Isaac, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Rollercoaster’ due to its challenging landscape.

With sections that are extremely steep, walkers are urged to take care and ensure they’re properly kitted out and ready for the trek.

Yet the vistas along this route are utterly spectacular, and those who venture along it will catch a splendid glimpse of Doyden Castle, a 19th-century folly that’s been transformed into a National Trust holiday let.

Doyden Castle is a compact but impressive fortress standing at the cliff’s edge on the isolated Port Quin headland, backed by sweeping ocean panoramas.

Built in 1830 by a local entrepreneur as a private getaway (essentially: a venue for gambling and revelry), today Doyden Castle operates as a delightful one-bedroom holiday cottage brimming with historical treasures.

Gothic arched windows, a welcoming open fireplace, and the original wine storage in the cellar all contribute to its irresistible appeal.

Famous connections

Port Quin and several neighbouring spots have featured in well-known films and television programmes.

During the 1970s, Quin House in the village served as a filming location for the inaugural series of the BBC’s Poldark, whilst Doyden Castle was employed to depict a gatehouse. Roscarrock and its magnificent surroundings also made appearances on the beloved series.

During the 1980s, Doyden Castle served as a filming location for an adaptation of the celebrated classic novel Jamaica Inn. The castle and Port Quin also appeared in the 1997 film Swept from the Sea.

In 2011, the iconic Doyden Castle was featured as Pentire Castle in ITV’s popular series Doc Martin.

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Austin Beutner’s daughter was found by the side of a highway in Palmdale the night she died, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

A passerby alerted authorities to a woman in a “state of medical distress” shortly after midnight Jan. 6 near Sierra Highway and Technology Drive, said Lt. Michael Modica of the sheriff’s homicide bureau.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene to assist paramedics, who treated Emily Beutner, 22, at the scene, Modica said. He could not say how long Beutner had been by the road, which is surrounded by empty fields.

She was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Sheriff’s homicide detectives have assumed control of the death investigation. Modica said this is typical when a young person is found in such a situation and should not be taken as an indication of the cause of death, which will be determined by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Jeff Millman, a spokesperson for Austin Beutner, declined to comment.

Viridiana Aguilar, a spokesperson for the medical examiner, said earlier this month that her agency had not yet made a determination on the cause of death and had requested additional testing.

“Due to the ongoing death investigation, the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner cannot disclose what testing and/or studies were requested,” Aguilar said. “Deferred cases can take a few months before a cause of death is determined.”

The medical examiner’s website indicates that Emily Beutner died at a hospital and does not list a cause or manner of death.

Beutner, a student at Loyola Marymount University, was the youngest of four children and the only daughter.

Her father, a former Los Angeles Unified school superintendent, is among the challengers seeking to unseat Mayor Karen Bass in the June 2 primary. Others include TV star Spencer Pratt, who lost his home in the Palisades fire, and Rae Huang, a community organizer and housing advocate.

Austin Beutner has sharply criticized Bass’ handling of the fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and left 12 people dead. His own home was seriously damaged in the fire, forcing him to live elsewhere for the past year, and his mother-in-law’s home was destroyed.

Over the course of his career, Beutner did a stint as former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s “jobs czar.” He also spent roughly a year as publisher and chief executive of The Times.

Beutner has not publicly campaigned since Jan. 5, the day before his daughter’s death.

“My family has experienced the unimaginable loss of our beloved daughter. We ask for privacy and your prayers at this time,” Beutner said earlier this month.

The family of David Adam Williams, better known as YouTube personality Adam the Woo, has shared his cause of death. The travel vlogger’s father revealed in a Monday Facebook post that his son died of natural causes.

“Our beloved Son … your beloved friend … died, in essence, of a heart attack in his sleep from health issues he probably never knew he had,” wrote Jim Williams, who said he had received his son’s medical examiner’s report earlier that day. “Now, we can all stop guessing. Be grateful the Lord allowed him to die at home and not in a foreign country. Be grateful he was found by friends (as hard as that was) and not some nameless stranger.”

Jim Williams shared that Adam Williams’ official cause of death was atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, with obesity as a contributory factor. According to the American Heart Assn., atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is caused by plaque buildup on arterial walls. Hypertensive heart disease is related to high blood pressure.

Williams, known for his theme park and urban exploration videos, was found dead in his Celebration, Fla., home on Dec. 22. He was 51.

A self-described “‘80s pop culture nerd with a desire to travel and video what I see,” he had posted more than 4,000 videos about his adventures at Disney and Universal Studios theme parks, pop culture conventions, movie filming locations, abandoned cities and more since 2009 across two YouTube channels. Combined, his channels had more than 1 million subscribers.

“If you never met Adam, I want you to know, that how you saw him on video, that was our son,” Jim Williams said in a Jan. 11 YouTube video about his son. “That was how Adam lived his life. He was always courteous, he was always kind, he was always patient with people. He was always gentle, even when he had to correct people. … He would stop and talk to everybody.”

Williams, who had addressed his Facebook message to Adam’s friends and fans, concluded his post with gratitude: “Thank you for loving Adam.”