You won't believe the weird way people move things around this secret Cornish village

Tucked into a deep, narrow ravine on the south coast of Cornwall, this incredible fishing village is so small and so secret that cars are completely banned from its tiny, winding lanes.

The whole place is built around a small, picturesque harbour and is surrounded by high, steep cliffs that completely cut it off from easy road access.

This isolation makes the atmosphere feel utterly frozen in time, protected from the speed and noise of the outside world.

Photo © Oliver Mills (cc-by-sa/2.0)

This astonishing location owes its untouched charm to its centuries-old tradition of resisting modern transport, making it a genuine rarity in Britain today.

Because the lanes are far too narrow for vehicles, residents still use small electric carts and even hand-pulled trolleys to move goods and luggage through the village. It is a genuine, hidden piece of history that every keen walker needs to explore to see this unique way of life.

The village's most famous and exciting secret is its dark history as a renowned hub for smugglers, who used the hidden coves and confusing, complicated alleys to hide their illegal goods centuries ago.

The famous Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing sits right on the harbour, giving you an eerie glimpse into the village's dangerous past.

This powerful history gives the whole settlement a preserved, slightly mysterious sense of stepping back into a lawless time.

Photo © Chris Downer (cc-by-sa/2.0)

For visitors planning a holiday, be prepared for a long walk because cars are not allowed into the village itself, so leaving your vehicle is non-negotiable.

You must use the large, main pay-and-display car park situated right at the top of the steep village road, about ten minutes' walk from the harbour centre. Make sure you pack light and wear your comfiest sturdy boots, as you will be doing all the walking yourself!

This perfectly untouched spot is a genuinely rare piece of British history, offering a thrilling escape from fast modern life and letting you literally walk through a genuine piece of smuggling heritage.

This amazing, hidden village that guards its secrets and bans cars is what we are finally revealing. The name of this fantastic Cornish gem is Polperro.

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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