Cawsand & Kingsand 

For many centuries the historical fishing and smuggling villages of Cawsand and Kingsand were on different sides of the Cornwall / Devon border,  with a fierce rivalry not completely forgotten to this day. Kingsand was on the far west border of Devon, Cawsand at the far east border of Cornwall, with a tiny stream acting as boundary line. In 1844, Kingsand rejoined Cornwall and today the two stunning villages intertwine. These tiny villages are at the top of our "favorites" list!

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The best thing about these villages is their traditional and unspoilt architecture; they still genuinely feel like the fishing ports they were ages ago. There’s a wonderful selection of pubs and restaurants, tiny beaches, and picturesque village lanes to explore; yet somehow the villages have managed to shun mass commercialization. In the summer, a ferry runs from Cawsand Beach to the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth, making day trips easy peasey. ​

The villages have an interesting history of both smuggling and fishing. Smuggling was rife in the 1700s and early 1800s when the villages were the main center of smuggling in the West country. Thousands of casks of spirits were landed here every year by a fleet of over 50 smuggling vessels which operated out of Cawsand Bay. Secret tunnels are said to run beneath the towns' streets.

While smuggling was a "cleaner" business, the villages also have a darker history of wrecking. Legend says the name Cawsand actually evolved from Cow Sand: Locals supposedly tied lanterns to the horns of cows and walked them along the shore at night. Passing ships would mistake the bobbing lights for the lights of other ships in safe harbor at Plymouth, steer toward them, and run aground on the rocks—allowing the villagers to "salvage" the cargo.

Every May Day, the villages hold a unique custom called the Black Prince Procession. A flower-adorned boat is carried through the streets of Millbrook, Kingsand, and Cawsand on the shoulders of locals to "banish winter" and welcome the summer. It culminates with the boat being launched into the sea from the beach. I would so love to see this. 

We take the ferry back and forth to Plymouth. Check out the gangplank!