Martin Clunes plays the straight-talking Doc Martin – the TV show set in the fictional village of Portwenn. Port Issac is the real Cornish village used as the filming location. It’s a lovely place to visit, even if you’ve never watched the show.

Here’s a video of our visit, together with some classic Doc Brown lines.

We took the bus from Padstow and walked down into the village. Along the way, we met another couple of tourists and I asked them if they were also visiting because of the show. The husband gave me a condescending scowl and said they were not.

We were happy to see the Doc’s house across the bay. Apparently, you can now book and stay there. https://www.docmartinhouse.co.uk/

The Portwenn Primary School where Doc Martin’s Louisa was a teacher is actually The Old School Hotel, Bar & Restaurant.

The Crab & Lobster, the pub where Doc Martin, Bert Large, Al and the locals often gathered, is actually The Golden Lion.

Mrs Tishell’s Pharmacy is an ice cream, fudge and souvenir shop called Harbour Treats.

We climbed the hill at the other side of the bay until we reached the Doc’s house and surgery. It was there that I spotted the couple that I met earlier – they were having their photo taken outside.

The view from the house.

And the street leading down.

Port Issac is a lovely village. Here are some more pictures.

I’d absolutely recommend a visit to Post Issac, especially if you are a fan of Doc Martin.

Before the TV series, there were two TV films featuring the character, played by Martin Clunes:

  • Doc Martin (2001) – the original TV film, where the character was called Dr Martin Bamford rather than Ellingham.
  • Doc Martin and the Legend of the Cloutie (2003) – a second TV film continuing the same character.

These films led to a TV series in 2004, with the character’s name changed to Dr Martin Ellingham.

Doc Martin ran for ten seasons, with filming and broadcasts spanning 18 years from 2004 to 2022. In total, the show produced 79 episodes, including Christmas specials, before the final episode aired on Christmas Day 2022.

Unlike annual television dramas, Doc Martin settled into a distinctive pattern where new seasons were often produced roughly every two years. After the early seasons, viewers became used to the rhythm: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, with the tenth and final season arriving in 2022 following delays and changing production plans. That slower pace was apparently to give the village of Port Issac a rest.