Exploring Newlyn

'Is Newlyn worth visiting?' some of our guests asked us the other day and our answer was an unequivocal yes. Like its neighbour Penzance, Newlyn has been undergoing something of a renaissance recently. It has excellent restaurants, a thriving arts scene and some fantastic independent shops but at its heart, it's still a working fishing port.

Newlyn had a long history and was first recorded as a settlement in 1279. Its economy has always been reliant on fishing and today it's the largest fishing port in the UK. Local fisherman land more than 40 different types of fish. If you want to buy proper Cornish seafood then make your way down to one of the fish shops on The Strand and buy yourself something that's come straight off a boat; it doesn't come any fresher than that.

But there's more to Newlyn than just fish. Following the arrival of the railway, the town began to attract artists in the late 19th century. Known as The Newyln School, they were drawn to the quality of the light, the dramatic landscape and the lives of the local fisherman. Luminaries included Walter Langley, Stanhope Forbes and Harold Harvey. Many of their works can be seen in Penlee House Gallery and Museum in Penzance.

Here are some of our Newlyn recommendations:

Newlyn Art Gallery opened its doors in 1895 to showcase the works of the Newlyn School artists. These days it offers an ever-changing programme of contempory exhibitions. If you're looking for some art to take home, you must visit Coddiwomple. It's a gallery but also sells an eclectic selection of furniture, ceramics and objects that catch owners' Alex and Tracy's eye.

Cinema lovers will enjoy Newlyn Filmhouse which opened in 2016 in an old fish cellar. It shows independent films and Hollywood blockbusters and has an little excellent restaurant.

As you would expect of Britain's largest fishing port, Newlyn boasts some outstanding fish restaurants including Argoe, The Tolcarne Inn and Mackerel Sky Seafood Bar. The team behind Mackerel Sky also run the Mackerel Sky Seafood Shack a couple of doors down and The Cornish Delicatessen which sells a wide range of Cornish produce.

We're also fans of Lovetts which offers coffee, wine and small plates. If pasties are your thing, Aunty May's makes some of the best pasties in West Cornwall - perfect if you're heading out on a picnic.

While we have our own sauna at Middle Colenso Farm, we highly recommend Rising Embers for those of you who'd like a more communal experience. Located on Newlyn Green, its just a hop skip and a jump to the sea for anyone who fancies a refreshing dip. For post-sauna sustenance, head to Fika which serves delicious coffee and cake from a shipping container next to the art gallery. There's a little seating area outside but if the weather's a bit grim, you can take enjoy your food and drink in the gallery.

No visit to Newlyn is complete without a Jelbert's ice cream. Jelbert's is a Cornish institution. It's been serving ice cream since the 1940s but don't expect any fancy flavours. Vanilla is the only one of the menu but it does come topped with a generous dollop of clotted cream.