Several UK harbour towns and villages have been highlighted for their unique attractions, from boat trips to local seafood. Pittenweem in Fife, a working East Neuk fishing port, is home to approximately 30 small trawlers and creel boats. Their daily catches are sold at a covered market and served at local eateries like the Dory Bistro and Chip Ahoy.
Pittenweem also features a Victorian-era swimming pool, reopened in 2021 by the West Braes Project, and hosts an annual arts festival each August, showcasing nearly 200 artists.
In County Antrim, Carnlough's harbour, dating back to 1853, is a central village feature. It bustles with local fishers and offers daily 45-minute boat trips priced at £10 for adults and £6 for children. The village also has the Twilight coffeeshop and the recently refurbished Harbourview hotel, which hosts an annual whiskey festival.
Other notable locations include Solva in Pembrokeshire, known for its ancient harbour popular with paddleboarders at high tide, and Craster in Northumberland, famous for its kippers produced by L Robson & Sons since 1856.
Clovelly in Devon, a privately owned village, features a tiny harbour at the foot of a 122-metre cliff, accessible via a steep cobbled street where goods are transported by sledges and donkeys. Staithes in North Yorkshire, once a busy fishing port, now offers wildlife-watching trips where minke whales can be seen in August and September. Porthleven in Cornwall, with its double harbour opened in 1825, is lined with pubs, restaurants, and galleries, hosting a craft market and an April food festival. Lyme Regis in Dorset features the historic Cobb breakwater and jetty.