Fishing has shaped the landscapes and communities along the South West Coast Path for centuries. From Somerset’s herring lookouts to Cornwall’s pilchard cellars and Devon’s pioneering trawlers, the coast is lined with harbours, quays, and villages whose identity has always been tied to the sea.

Fishing in both Cornwall and Devon has seen boom and bust. Pilchards and herring collapsed in the 20th century, but the industry adapted. Shellfishing now supports many harbours, hand-lining for mackerel has revived, and sustainable trawling at Brixham and ring-netting for Cornish sardines keep traditions alive.

Walking the Coast Path today, you can still watch the dawn auctions at Newlyn or Brixham, take a mackerel trip from St Ives or Salcombe, or see huer’s huts standing on their cliffs. Fishing remains both a living industry and an enduring part of the cultural identity of the southwest coast.

Devon

Devon shares many of the same traditions as Cornwall, with seine and drift-net fishing, huers scanning the cliffs, and harbours built around seasonal fisheries.

On the north coast, herring was once king. Harbours like Clovelly, Appledore, and Ilfracombe relied on autumn shoals, providing a vital food source and livelihood.

Clovelly

With its steep cobbled streets leading to the harbour, Clovelly thrived on herring fishing for centuries. In the 18th and 19th centuries, its catch fed both local families and distant markets. Today, Clovelly still celebrates its heritage with an annual Herring Festival each November.