Today’s edition of KERA’s Iconic British Classics Tour with Transcendent Travel took our group to the picturesque village of Port Isaac and the home of Doc Martin. Clearly THE highlight of the trip given most, if not all, of our group were major fans of the series, Port Isaac was made even more picturesque with temperatures in the 60s for today’s mini-tour.

Even though the series ceased their every other year 20-week filming schedule a couple of years ago, it’s pretty clear that the series is as much a part of Port Isaac’s tourism effort as is it’s unmatched beauty along the Cornish coastline.

While the gorgeous coastline screamed out for everyone to take pictures from all angles, I couldn’t help but snap my first picture of the official head of the Port Isaac Welcoming Committee before seeing the city. C’mon, everyone, you know I’m a cat person!

We then set out on an official 90-minute tour given by ‘Mike’, a Port Isaac resident that had appeared in 7 series of Doc Martin over the years. After winding our way through the cobblestone streets of ‘Portwenn’, our first stop was Mrs. Tishell’s Pharmacy, where you could clearly see with a bit of coverup, the sweet shop could easily be transformed into a working pharmacy.

We then headed to the school where Louisa taught (later gathering there for afternoon tea), Bert Large’s restaurant and ended in front of the Doc’s surgery which is now an Airbnb. It’s impressive to think of the many times that Martin Clunes had to run full gate down those cobblestone streets in a suit and loafers to get to his next patient in Portwenn before it was too late! 🙂

A quick stop at the Golden Lion Pub for some to-die-for Smoked Haddock Chowder (it is a working fishing village, after all), we sadly ended our day in Port Isaac and boarded Jim’s carriage for a return to Plymouth. Waiting for us back at the hotel was Martin and an amazing falconry demonstration on the grounds of Boringdon Hall, our home in Plymouth for two nights.

Ahead of us for tomorrow is a tour of The Greenway Estate, the beautiful home of Agatha Christie, before heading to Torquay, the birthplace of Agatha Christie. While I have been to Greenway once before, I am equally looking forward to Torquay as my only frame of reference of Torquay is Basil Fawlty explaining to Mrs. Richards what you should be able to see out of a Torquay bedroom window.

While not expecting to see herds of wildebeasts sweeping majestically across the plain, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, or the Sydney Opera House, hopefully as Basil mentioned, we will find the sea…and it will be right there between the land and the sky!

Sadly, our stay at Boringdon will end tomorrow but with The Greenway Estate and Torquay up next, diving deep into the world of Agatha Christie will definitely soften the blow. Cheers!