2 Best Hotels in Port Isaac, The West Country

Perched on the cliffs above Port Isaac's minuscule harbor, this idiosyncratic lodging was a Victorian schoolhouse until the 1980s, and it nostalgically retains many of the features of its previous role. The hotel reverts to its former incarnation when it serves as the school in Doc Martin, a locally set TV series. Guest rooms are named after various school subjects—Geography, Chemistry, Latin—and vary considerably in size (so think about viewing the rooms before booking); most, however, have superb vistas, and some have small terraces. Bar snacks and full meals are offered in the restaurant, from baguettes to fresh seafood, Goan curry, and sirloin steaks. Limited parking is available—a rare find in Port Isaac.

This 16th-century inn on the harbor front has low ceilings, exposed timbers, and steep staircases that lead to rooms with simple but stylish modern furnishings. Two rooms have small balconies where you can enjoy the breezes. The split-level restaurant, with oak beams and pillars, serves supremely fresh fish, scallops, and crab dishes.