Newlyn (Cornish: Lulyn) is a fishing village in West Cornwall, a mile or two south of Penzance. The mediaeval quay, beloved of the Newlyn School painters (including Stanhope Forbes, Harold Harvey, Henry Scott Tuke, Lamorna Birch, Norman Garstin, Charles Napier Hemy, Walter Langley), still exists and there are many charming cottages and narrow lanes to explore. Newlyn is home to Newlyn Gallery which houses a collection of modern art.

Understand

Newlyn is the 4th largest fishing port in Britain (population 4,400 in 2011). It was the first home of the Newlyn School of Art, which has re-located to Penlee House in Penzance.

Mousehole (pronounced Mow-zel by most people, although some locals do say mouse-hole!) is about a 45-min walk away along a good footpath with magnificent views of St Michael's Mount and the huge expanse of Mount's Bay. This charming little place is everyone's idea of a Cornish harbour. A short walk uphill goes to Paul where there is a fine church and a memorial to Dolly Pentreath, reputed last speaker of the Cornish language. The King's Arms pub in Paul was once used by Prince Felix Yusupov, who murdered Grigori Rasputin! An excellent book about this area is People & Places in Paul Parish by Jim Hosking.

Get in

First reach Penzance by air, train, coach or car. Then continue:

• by bus: First Kernow bus M6 runs from Penzance bus & railway station every 30 min, taking 10 min to Newlyn, and continuing to Mousehole.
• by car: stay on A30 to bypass Penzance, turn left onto B3315 "The Coombe" into the village. Parking will be your main problem.
• on foot: follow the promenade southwest.

Get around

Small enough to walk everywhere, although Paul Hill is very steep!

See

• 1 Memorial Statue. The magnificent memorial statue by Tom Leaper dedicated to fishermen lost at sea. Near Tolcarne Inn. Unveiled by HRH The Princess Royal, 11 October 2007. 
• 2 The Newlyn Gallery, New Road, TR18 5PZ. M–Sa 10AM–5PM. Contemporary art gallery, opened in 1895, refurbished in 2007. Also runs The Exchange gallery in Penzance. £2.20, includes admission to The Exchange. (updated Jun 2018)
• The Ripple. Restored lugger (sailing boat), which can often be seen in Newlyn Harbour. 
• See the Christmas lights around the harbour, also at Mousehole.
• The large harbour is home to some 160 fishing boats.
• The Fradgan area with its closely-packed fishermen's cottages. Dylan Thomas honeymooned here in 1937 after marrying at Penzance registry office.

Do

• Join in singing at Blessing of the Fleet Services at Newlyn and Mousehole (summertime).
• Walk to Mousehole from Newlyn, admiring magnificent views across Mount's Bay and the harbour.
• On the way to Mousehole, see the Lifeboat House and Memorial to the gallant crew who lost their lives in the Solomon Browne disaster of December 1981.
• Visit the Fish Festival, held most years on August Bank Holiday. St Peter's Flower Festival in the Combe at same time.
• Penlee Gallery, Morrab Road, Penzance. Newlyn School paintings are always exhibited in this excellent gallery. There is a cafe there too! Entrance free on Saturdays.
• The Centre on Chywoone Hill (pronounced Choon!) hosts a range of talks, coffee mornings, etc.
• St Peter's Church Hall in the Combe has regular coffee mornings (Wednesdays) and stages many plays and shows during the year.

This blog covers the comings and goings of this busy fishing port.

• Poetry group 'Drollow' holds a monthly Poetry Prom at The Centre. Free admission, refreshments (last Friday of the month)

Buy

• Shop at the Charity Shop which has very low prices and lots of things!

Eat

• Fishermen's Mission. It serves good meals at lunchtimes. 
• Pizza Patio, New Street. 
• 1 The Meadery, The Combe. 
• Jelbert's Ice Cream Shop. Family recipe ice cream. None of this Italian over-commercialised ice cream here. One flavour only. Get a cone topped with clotted cream and flake. 
• 2 Auntie May's Pasty shop. 
• 3 Duke Street Cafe. 

Drink

There are 6 pubs in Newlyn.

• Dolphin. It is very characterful, has Karaoke evenings on Fridays, and has a great jukebox! 
• Tolcarne Inn. Also attractive, holds art exhibitions and features live musicians on Sundays. 
• Walking uphill past the harbour brings you to The Red Lion and Fisherman's Arms pubs, both pleasant and serving meals.
• British Legion at the bottom of Chywoone Hill.

Sleep

• The Swordfish Inn, ☏ +44 1736 362830. The Strand. 

Go next

Lamorna Cove, Land's End and Sennen Cove make wonderful visits nearby.

Travel via Penzance to reach St Ives, Newquay, the Eden Project near St Austell, and Dartmoor.