A short history of Boscastle for campersnotes from the farm

Boscastle is about two miles from Lower Pennycrocker Farm, and it's one of the most fascinating villages on the north Cornish coast. Knowing a little of its history makes a stroll around the harbour far richer. Here is a short, camper-friendly guide.

A natural harbour on a hard coast

The north coast of Cornwall has few safe havens. Boscastle's long, winding inlet between high cliffs gave boats some shelter from Atlantic swells, and for centuries it was a small working port. The stone harbour walls date back centuries; the inner jetty is traditionally credited to the Elizabethan seafarer Sir Richard Grenville in 1584. Goods such as slate and other local produce went out, while coal, timber and other supplies came in.

Because the entrance is narrow and twisting, boats were often towed in by rowing boats or hauled in with ropes by men and horses on the shore. Stand at the end of the harbour wall and you'll see why.

The village and its name

The name Boscastle is generally linked to Bottreaux Castle, a Norman castle built by the de Botreaux family, of which very little survives. The older parts of the village climb the valley sides, with traditional cottages, slate roofs and narrow lanes.

Thomas Hardy and St Juliot

In 1870 the young architect Thomas Hardy travelled to St Juliot, just up the valley and close to our farm, to work on the restoration of the parish church. There he met Emma Gifford, sister-in-law of the rector, and they married in 1874. Hardy's novel A Pair of Blue Eyes draws on the landscape here, and after Emma's death in 1912 he wrote a celebrated sequence of poems remembering their time in Cornwall. You can walk from Boscastle up the Valency valley to St Juliot church; see our walks guide.

The 2004 flood

On 16 August 2004, an extraordinary amount of rain fell on the high ground behind Boscastle in a few hours. The Valency and Jordan rivers rose rapidly, and a torrent swept through the village, carrying cars out to sea and badly damaging buildings. Remarkably, nobody died, thanks to a huge rescue operation involving helicopters. Since then, major flood defence works have widened and deepened the river channel and rebuilt bridges. Look out for information boards around the village.

Boscastle today

Much of the harbour and the surrounding land is cared for by the National Trust, which has a visitor centre by the car park. Today you'll find:

• The harbour walls and the walk out to the sea
• The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, an unusual and well-known attraction by the harbour
• Pubs, cafés, galleries and gift shops
• Willapark lookout on the headland above the harbour
• The start of coast path walks to Pentargon and Tintagel

Tips for visiting from the campsite

• The main car park can fill up in summer, so go early or walk in.
• Look for the blowhole near the harbour mouth, sometimes called the "Devil's Bellows", which can spout at certain states of the tide.
• Combine a visit with a pub lunch. See places to eat near Boscastle.
• On a rainy day, the museum and cafés make a good outing. See rainy-day ideas.

Staying nearby

Lower Pennycrocker Farm has been in our family for more than 80 years, so the area's history is part of ours too. Our camping near Boscastle page explains how to make the most of a stay.

For reference, our 2026 prices per night are: adults £10, children aged 5 and over £5, electric hook-up £7 and dogs £2 each (maximum two). Awnings and showers are free, parking is beside your pitch and groups are limited to 8 people. We are open from 1 April to 31 October and reception is open 9am–7pm. See pitches & prices for the details.

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