Pictured: The UK’s best harbours – from timeless Cornish gems to fairytale coastal towns in Scotland and Wales

Thanks to the UK’s rich maritime history, there are over 430 ports dotted along its coastline.

While not every harbour is a picturesque sight, there are plenty of postcard-worthy spots to satisfy even the most demanding Instagrammer.

And here’s our pick: spots cute enough to be the centrepiece of a well-earned summer holiday, from forgotten gems in Cornwall to a fairytale village surrounded by rugged cliffs in Yorkshire and a colourful coastal village in Scotland you might recognise from TV.

Wales is also on the list, with a harbour full of jewel-like houses.

Which of these ports would you like to visit? Vote in our poll…

Tobermory

The colourful seaside town of Tobermory, pictured here, on the Scottish Isle of Mull, has one of the country’s prettiest harbours

To reach Tobermory, tourists can take the ferry from Oban on the Scottish mainland

The colourful seaside town of Tobermory on the Scottish Isle of Mull has one of the most beautiful harbours in the country. And will be instantly recognisable to many millennials (and their weary parents) as the setting for the hit BBC children’s show Balamory.

Long before the age of television fame, in 1588, a Spanish Armada ship carrying a cargo of gold bars is said to have sunk in the bay. Visit Scotland.

Tourists may not see gold, but treasure hunters will find locally produced arts and crafts on Main Street and traditional whisky at the town’s distillery. To reach Tobermory, tourists can take the ferry from Oban on the Scottish mainland.

Lymington

Lymington, just across the water from the Isle of Wight, has a very nice harbour and is easily reached by car from Southampton or Bournemouth

Lymington, just across the water from the Isle of Wight and situated in the New Forest National Park, has an incredibly cute harbour – and the Georgian town is packed with picturesque buildings.

Visit Hampshire says: ‘Famous for its sailing history, there are two large marinas filled with fishing boats and yachts, as well as two sailing clubs. The town’s narrow streets are lined with pretty, historic cottages and houses, as well as plenty of local pubs and restaurants.’

Situated on the River Solent, the town is easily reached by car from Southampton or Bournemouth and has rail links to Reading and London Waterloo.

Chalk

‘Charming cobbled streets lead down to the miniature harbour at Crail,’ according to Visit Scotland

It’s not hard to see why picturesque Crail is Scotland’s most photographed harbour. Visit Scotland says: ‘Charming cobbled streets tumble down to the miniature harbour, sheltered by cliffs and lined with historic fishermen’s cottages.’

Get an ice cream at the harbour or explore the town’s pretty alleys (or wynds, as they are called in Scotland).

The market town is so picturesque that it has even been recreated in Lego and is on display in miniature form at Legoland in Denmark.

Crail is situated on the East Neuk coast of Fife, an hour and a half drive from Edinburgh.

Mouse hole

Mousehole (pronounced Mow-zul) is often described as one of Cornwall’s prettiest villages and has a picture-perfect harbour

Visit Cornwall says: ‘[Mousehole’s] picturesque harbour surrounded by narrow streets and lichen-covered houses

Mousehole (pronounced Mow-zul) is often described as one of Cornwall’s prettiest villages. It is a quiet town with a beautiful harbour, views of St Michael’s Mount and a couple of family-friendly beaches.

Visit Cornwall says: ‘The picturesque harbour is surrounded by narrow streets and lichen-covered houses, which are close together, creating a beautiful setting.’

The nearest train station to Mousehole is Penzance, where tourists can take a bus into the village.

Blakeney

Blakeney is a popular spot for crab fishing and children can try their hand at catching the shellfish in the village harbour

Visit North Norfolk says of Blakeney (pictured): ‘The village has pretty stone cottages, once home to local fishermen’

The pretty harbour of beautiful Blakeney was a fishing centre in the Middle Ages and was used for the transport of spices and oriental fabrics.

Nowadays you can see children catching crabs and tourists going on excursions to spot seals.

Visit North Norfolk says: ‘The village has pretty stone cottages, once home to local fishermen, and there are plenty of places to eat and stay, as well as pubs, gift shops and art galleries to visit.’

This seaside resort is less than an hour’s drive from Norwich.

Staithes

Staithes is a popular harbourside weekend destination for holidaymakers wanting to explore Yorkshire’s wild coastline

The Staithes Harbour Commission website says: ‘The unique charm of this village, with its closely packed cottages, towering cliffs and wild seas’

Staithes is a village in North Yorkshire, surrounded by rugged cliffs. It was once an important fishing village.

Today it is a popular weekend destination for holidaymakers wanting to explore Yorkshire’s rugged coastline.

The Staithes Harbor Commission website says: ‘The unique charm of this village, with its tightly packed houses, towering cliffs and wild sea, has long been a major draw for those interested in fine art, geology and getting back to nature.’

According to the team, the village’s ‘jumble of houses and winding streets’ give the impression that it is ‘lost in time’.

The nearest train station is in Whitby, where tourists can take a bus to Staithes.

Aberæron

The colourful houses surrounding Aberaeron harbour in Wales ‘adorn the town like jewels’

The colourful houses around Aberaeron harbour ‘adorn the town like jewels’, according to Visit Wales.

And it’s not just a feast for the eyes, it’s also an ideal place to browse, with its independent shops and craft centres.

Visit Wales recommends visiting a harbourside restaurant for fresh seafood, including local Carmarthenshire mussels.

The seaside town is just a 25-minute drive from Aberystwyth and is on the Wales Coast Path.

Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis is a popular seaside resort on the Jurassic Coast and has one of the UK’s most beautiful harbours, framed by The Cobb (pictured above)

Lyme Regis is a popular seaside resort on the Jurassic Coast. Above – the town’s colourful beach huts

Lyme Regis is a popular seaside resort on the Jurassic Coast and has one of the most beautiful harbours in the UK.

Lyme Regis harbour is located on the west side of the town and is framed by The Cobb, a stone breakwater and jetty.

Visit Dorset says: ‘The steps connecting the lower part of the Cobb to the upper part are made of projecting stones known locally as “Granny’s Teeth”.’ The steps feature in Jane Austen’s novel Persuasion and are a key location in the film adaptation of The French Lieutenant’s Woman.

The nearest train station to Lyme Regis is Axminister Train Station, which has services to London Waterloo.

Portloe

Portloe (above) is considered ‘the jewel in the crown of the Roseland Peninsula’ by Cornwall Guide

The 20th century poet Sir John Betejman once described Portloe as ‘one of the least spoiled and most impressive fishing villages in Cornwall’

Portloe, which competes with Mousehole for the title of Cornwall’s prettiest village, is regarded as ‘the jewel in the crown of the Roseland Peninsula’, according to Guide to Cornwall.

As with much of Cornwall, Portloe was once used by smugglers carrying French brandy, the most smuggled contraband in the 18th century.

In the modern era, Portloe has attracted much more attention from film scouts, and has featured in Disney’s Treasure Island and Channel 4’s The Camomile Lawn. It’s not hard to see why.

The 20th century poet Sir John Betejman once described Portloe as ‘one of the least spoilt and most impressive fishing villages in Cornwall’, and its remote location has kept it that way.

Portloe is less than an hour’s drive from Falmouth or Newquay.