My cottage in the little Cornish fishing village of Mousehole. We don't know how old it is, but it had to have a new roof after some marauding Spaniards set fire to it in 1590. It is small and snug and I can watch the blue-green sea and the little harbour from my window. I go there to rest and unwind and sometimes to work in peace because there is no telephone. It is full of happy memories of holidays with my children. In Cornish, Mousehole is named “Port Enis” or “Porth Enys” from the Latin of Portus Insuale. That means “The Island Haven” presumably from St Clement’s Island nearby. This is a moving story about a cat and his man who save their community from starvation, and it’s an enthralling story. It involves courage and danger and adventure, and cats of more than one type take prominent roles.

After you’ve explored all that Mousehole has to offer. What next? Well, the west coast of Cornwall makes a fantastic road trip. As the harbour protects the village from the sea, there are still (and safe) waters to paddle and swim in. In this book, the cat, Mowzer, is master of his fisherman, old Tom. There is a tiny village in the western part of Cornwall where the harbour is so narrow, it is named Mousehole. One of the sweeter things to do in Mousehole with a good cause is the Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital and Sanctuary.Every year, the Mousehole Harbour lights are dimmed to remember those who lose their lives in the Penlee lifeboat tragedy. I love the illustrations that accompany the text, as they would be appealing to all year groups. The colour scheme is a palette of soft blues, greens and silvers; capturing the tranquility of the Cornish sea. One of these harbours is so small and the entrance between its great stone breakwaters is so narrow that fishermen called it "the Mousehole".

If not for the fishing and fish eating, this book would be nearly perfect for me, so 4 ½ = 5 stars.This landmark has been attracting tourists for nearly 400 years! Nowadays, it’s a whole complex that you can visit. The 1994 animated version was followed by a 6-minute making-of featurette showcasing the production of both the book and the animated version. This featurette is included with the film's home media releases.

I found it narrated on youtube, with animations of the illustrations, and a 10-minute segment at the end on how the animation was made. These included interviews with the author, illustrator, and animators, and views of the actual village and the fisherman's cottage which was an illustration of the author's own cottage. Famed for its tiny harbour mouth, this picture-perfect haven has a labyrinth of narrow streets, quaint houses and boats bobbing in the bay. If you wanted to reach Mousehole on public transport you can easily access the village from Penzance by bus. The M6 service by First Kernow runs from Jew Street and stops at Mousehole. The journey takes around 15-20 minutes. Advice for the Mousehole parking situation Antonia Barber really knows about ballet - her daughter studied ballet from the age of three and attended the Royal Ballet School junior associate classes at Sadler's Wells. Antonia is well-known for such best-selling picture books as The Mousehole Cat (with Nicola Bailey) and Catkin (with J P Lynch). Her novel, The Amazing Mr Blunden, was runner-up for the Carnegie Medal. Antonia lived in Kent.The message teaches children about bravery and not to be scared when they are faced with difficult challenges, but instead to overcome being frightened and to rise to a difficult challenge. Another spectacular spot you can visit in south Cornwall is Marazion, pronounced Maraz-eye-un’, which is home to St Michael’s Mount.

It is now a huge tradition and event that takes place each year with bigger and better lights. Some within the village, some out on the harbour and even some at sea! From the Ship Inn that was a favourite of Dylan Thomas, to the Old Coastguard with their board games and the King’s arms with a beer garden. It was also recorded in Mousehole that Dolly Pentreathwas the last lady to speak solely Cornish by Daines Harrington in 1768. The language still survives today, but many speak both English and Cornish. Mousehole is extremely busy at this time of year. You will need to allow plenty of extra time to park and walk to the venue. Most of the cute cottages and harbourside buildings are worth capturing in Mousehole. But, there is one in particular that is a photographer favourite; The Mousehole Shop.Around the parish, you can meander around gorgeous coastal paths through farmlands and villages, clifftops to find hidden beaches and adorable historic chapels! Mousehole to Lamorna Cove walk: (2 miles, 1 hour) a little bit of a harder walk than Penlee Point, however Lamorna Cove lies within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s a village and valley that has a stream leading out into the sea and cove. It’s incredibly picturesque with huge boulders, a pebbled beach and turquoise waters.