Film and TV Locations in Cornwall
15 May 2024
Cornwall has long been used as the backdrop for film and television, from Doc Martin and Poldark to Fisherman’s Friends, James Bond and Jamaica Inn. Many of these locations are real villages, harbours, beaches and historic landscapes that you can still visit today, which is part of what makes them so memorable.
With its dramatic coastline, fishing villages and atmospheric moorland, it is not hard to see why production companies keep returning to Cornwall. More recently, Fisherman’s Friends brought Port Isaac to the big screen. James Bond made a memorable visit to the Eden Project in Die Another Day, and we can go right back to 1939, when Hitchcock’s Jamaica Inn drew on the atmosphere of Bodmin Moor.
Fisherman’s Friends and Port Isaac
Port Isaac is one of Cornwall’s most recognisable filming locations. The real fishing village became a key setting for the Fisherman’s Friends films, based on the real-life singing group from Port Isaac. Its narrow lanes, working harbour and steep cottages give the village the kind of character that film crews love, while still feeling like a real Cornish place rather than a film set.
Dracula, Jamaica Inn and Cornwall’s dramatic landscapes
One film that made the most of Cornwall’s varied landscape was 1979’s Dracula, starring Laurence Olivier. The film may have been set in the wilds of Yorkshire, but it was Cornwall that provided much of the atmosphere. The Camelot Castle Hotel in Tintagel, the fishing village of Mevagissey and the island castle of St Michael’s Mount all featured on screen.
Bodmin Moor has its own strong connection with film and television too. Its wild, open landscape helped shape the atmosphere of Hitchcock’s Jamaica Inn, and it remains one of the most evocative places in Cornwall for anyone interested in dramatic scenery, history and storytelling.
Poldark filming locations in Cornwall
A few of the tours we offer take in the settings of much-loved TV series, including the recent adaptation of Winston Graham’s Poldark novels. We guide you through Poldark’s Cornwall, touring the mining landscapes and stunning coastline around Land’s End and St Just. We can also visit locations linked to the 1970s version around Port Quin, explore atmospheric Bodmin Moor and, of course, the ever-popular harbour of Charlestown.
Many productions have made use of Charlestown’s historic harbour, with its tall ships and battered sea walls. Today it is also a lovely place to pause, with plenty of pubs and places to eat, while the Shipwreck Treasure Museum gives a glimpse of Cornwall’s wilder maritime past.
Where is Doc Martin filmed?
Another hugely popular series was ITV’s Doc Martin. The grumpy doctor made his home in the fictional village of Portwenn, which is actually the beautiful fishing village of Port Isaac on the North Cornwall coast. The area around here is breathtaking, and our Doc Martin and North Cornwall tour also takes in places such as King Arthur’s Tintagel and the popular surfing beach of Polzeath.
Other films and TV shows filmed in Cornwall
The BBC’s Beyond Paradise, although set in a fictional Devon town, has also borrowed some of Cornwall’s coastline. The cast and crew crossed the River Tamar to capture some of Looe’s scenery.
Now, for something a little more random, you may remember the 1980s TV show from The Muppets creator Jim Henson, Fraggle Rock. This series was actually set around St Mawes, with St Anthony’s Lighthouse featuring in the title sequence.
Hollywood’s big hitters have also been drawn to Cornwall. Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland was filmed at the grand National Trust-owned Antony House at Torpoint. For something a little more apocalyptic, World War Z used Falmouth as the backdrop for zombies to descend in the Brad Pitt action film.
Very popular with many of our German visitors are the television adaptations of Rosamunde Pilcher’s novels. Born and bred in Cornwall, though she lived most of her adult life in Scotland, Pilcher may not be quite as well known here as she is in Germany, where her stories became a Sunday night television fixture. The adaptations feature stunning locations from the Lizard to Penzance, and from Land’s End to Padstow.
Private film and TV location tours in Cornwall
Cornwall Discovery Tours is well placed for film and TV location tours, as Barry Pengelly has worked on transport for productions across the South West, including Poldark, Playing Nice and the Fisherman’s Friends films. It gives Barry real behind-the-scenes knowledge of the places visitors love to see.
It really is such a varied landscape, so it is not hard to see how Cornwall can capture the imagination and provide the perfect backdrop to a much-needed bit of escapism. If you would like to see some of these film and TV locations for yourself, take a look at our guided tours of Cornwall and see which route might be right for you. Popcorn at the ready, here we go.
