The place
Polperro is an old fishing village with a long and colourful history. There are bronze age remains within a few miles. Some years ago a hoard of Roman coins turned up on Talland Hill, so our steep little valley has been inhabited for a long time. Joseph of Aramethea is supposed to have visited nearby Looe island while supervising his tin trading business, 2,000 years ago.
These days the smuggling trade has died, as far as I know, but the remnants of the old Polperro families are still here, a few fishing boats still head out past Peak Rock all year round when the weather permits, the nearby fields are still farmed regularly and enough shops stay open through the winter to supply all the basic services that we need.
But in one form or another, tourism has become the life blood of the village. Fortunately the seasonal pattern of visits has gradually levelled out, and even on a sunny weekday morning in February you are likely to find a couple or two wandering along the quay or on the beach.
For me, the best places lie along our network of coastal footpaths and the inland bridle ways and tracks. There are fine walks to the east through Talland, Looe and towards Whitsand Bay, or to the west through Lansallos to Polruan and Fowey, with as many detours as you like where you can slither down precipitous slopes to obscure, hidden coves in search of that elusive shot that captures the beauty of a sunrise.