Piskey Cottage, Mousehole

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed in a lot of places around Cornwall, but Piskey Cottage in Mousehole – well, this one actually gets it right. The moment you walk up Parade Hill (and yeah, it’s a proper hill, so pack light or be ready for a bit of a huff), you realize you’re not dealing with some generic seaside rental. This is the real deal – a proper Cornish cottage that somehow manages to feel both authentically old-world and surprisingly comfortable.

The thing about Mousehole is that it’s ridiculously picturesque, almost to the point where you think it can’t be real. But staying at Piskey Cottage, you’re right in the thick of it without feeling like you’re living in a postcard. The cottage sits perfectly positioned so you can actually hear the waves when the wind’s right, and honestly, there’s something pretty magical about falling asleep to that sound. During the day, you’re literally a two-minute walk from the harbor – I mean, you can see the boats from certain windows. The whole village sort of wraps around you, with those narrow streets that were definitely not designed for modern cars (good luck if you’re driving anything bigger than a Mini, seriously).

What really sets this place apart is the attention to detail that you only notice after you’ve been there a day or two. The cottage has been done up beautifully – we’re talking exposed beams and stone walls, but someone actually thought about things like decent lighting for reading and proper water pressure in the shower. You know what I mean? It’s not just pretty to look at. The kitchen’s small but totally functional, which matters if you’re planning to cook some of the excellent fish you can get right down at the harbor. And parking – because let’s be honest, that’s always a nightmare in these old villages – is actually sorted. There’s a spot that comes with the cottage, which is basically gold dust in Mousehole.

The location means you’re walking distance from the Ship Inn (definitely go there, the locals are friendly and the beer’s good), and if you fancy a longer walk, the coastal path toward Lamorna is spectacular – especially in the evening when the light hits the cliffs just right. Winter’s actually my favorite time here because you get the village almost to yourself, though the Christmas lights display is absolutely bonkers in the best possible way. Summer’s lovely too, just busier, and you’ll want to book dinner reservations well ahead.

I should mention – this isn’t the place if you need a massive modern hotel with all the bells and whistles. It’s a cottage, with cottage-sized rooms and cottage quirks. But if you want to experience what staying in a proper Cornish fishing village feels like, without sacrificing comfort or ending up in some touristy nightmare, Piskey Cottage is pretty much perfect. The owners clearly know what they’re doing, and it shows in every little detail.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $154. Holiday Home with 1 large double bed, 2 single beds and 1 single bed for Max persons: 5

Reviews

• Frank from Germany – 17 June 2025 (10/10)

  De cottage ligt centraal in het schilderachtige Mousehole. Het huisje is gezellig en met smaak ingericht. Aan alles is gedacht. We hebben ons er zeer welkom gevoeld. Het huisje was schoon en de communicatie met het verhuurbureau prima.

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