Does Anyone Else Like Doc Martin???

Okay, so I already said I'm a huge British TV fan.  My next town to visit is Port Isaac where the show, 'Doc Martin' was filmed.  The fictional town was called Portwenn.  Doc Martin was played by Martin Clunes who has been in a number of other British films.  I first saw him in 'Saving Grace' and 'Shakespeare in Love'.  However, when I saw 'Doc Martin', I didn't recognize him at first.  It's a quirky show about a quirky doctor who was a surgeon in London and developed hemophobia, an aversion to blood.....not really good for a surgeon.  He relocates to Portwenn to be a doctor for this small town and it is both hilarious and poignant at the same time.  The views from Portwenn (Port Isaac) were so beautiful, I wanted to see Cornwall.....long story to say why I chose to visit Cornwall!!

I drove to Port Isaac by way of Perranporth, a little coastal town that someone I met at Hever Castle recommended for me to see.  It was a lovely place.  

The next stop on my way to Port Isaac was the Bedruthan Steps.  This is a view of some huge rocks that date back to the Bronze Age.  They were impressive. This is a Wiki picture b/c mine didn't do it justice!

Finally, I get to Port Isaac!  Immediately, I knew it was the most beautiful part of the Cornish coast that I have seen so far!  Oh my goodness....I can't even imagine waking up to that every day.  I know that is what heaven is going to look like.  

There is a self-walking tour that I found online to take you around to all the 'Doc Martin' sites.  

The iconic painted van used in filming to promote the Large Restaurant

The Stowaway Tea Shop

Louisa's house

The Old School House (Portwenn School)

Squeeze-belly alley

Bert Large's restaurant

Doc Martin's house and Portwenn Surgery

 Close-up

When I got to Bert Large's restaurant, there was a film crew there and I got to see a couple of scenes featuring Bert's son, Al Large.  A man from Missouri was standing next to me and told me that Martin Clunes had just come by and spoken to everyone in the crowd.....boohoo....I missed it!  But it was quite exciting to see the town.

I had a delicious late afternoon lunch at the Krab Pot in Port Isaac....Krab Pot Soup with crusty bread...yum.

At the end of the day, I stopped at Tintagel Castle ruins.  This was a medieval fortification located on the peninsula of Tintagel just above Port Isaac.  It is associated with the legends of King Arthur.  

Wow, great day!