It’s the surgery by the seaside where the people of Portwenn are greeted by a certain grumpy GP in hit ITV drama Doc Martin.
And you can book a stay there – without having to contract an illness first.
That’s because in real life the property is a beautiful hillside holiday rental called Fern Cottage in Port Isaac, Cornwall, overlooking the fishing village’s impossibly picturesque harbour.
Fern Cottage, pictured, doubles as Doc Martin’s surgery and home – and it’s yours to rent for £255 a night
Martin Clunes is pictured here filming outside the cottage. He plays Dr Martin Ellingham, who has a phobia of blood and rubs residents up the wrong way with his brusque bedside manner
The ground floor features a hallway, sitting room complete with a stone fireplace, beamed ceilings and a modern kitchen with flagstone floor
Surgery by the sea: Fern Cottage is tucked into the Port Isaac hills on the Cornish coast
It costs £255 per night and it’s a far cry from a doctor’s surgery inside the two-bedroom detached stone cottage on Roscarrock Hill.
The ground floor features a hallway, sitting room complete with a stone fireplace, beamed ceilings and a modern kitchen with flagstone floor.
Upstairs the double bedrooms, decorated in soothing muted tones, offer stunning sea views and the roll top bath amid slate grey woodwork is an ideal treat to sink into after a day on the beach.
The two-bedroom detached stone cottage on Roscarrock Hill is a far cry from a doctor’s surgery
Upstairs the double bedrooms, decorated in soothing muted tones, offer stunning sea views
Port Isaac and the surrounding areas of the north coast of Cornwall have been used as the location for Doc Martin since 2004 – and filming for the ninth series has just begun.
Martin Clunes, 57, who plays the title role, was swarmed last week by eager fans as he reprised playing Dr. Martin Ellingham, who has a phobia of blood and rubs residents up the wrong way with his brusque bedside manner.
However, Martin appeared a far cry from his on-screen persona, as he warmly greeted fans who had approached him and the rest of the cast for autographs.
Martin says: ‘We love going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin, and we miss it when we are not there. The county is so beautiful, and the people have been so warm and welcoming to us. It is the best job in television.’
The cottage is literally a stone’s throw from Port Isaac’s impossibly cute harbour
In the new series the Doc’s career is hanging in the balance. His future as a GP is under scrutiny from the General Medical Council
Martin Clunes was swarmed by fans when he returned to Port Isaac to film the ninth series last week
In this new series the Doc’s career is hanging in the balance. His future as a GP is under scrutiny from the General Medical Council following complaints about his irascible approach to patients.
The huge popularity of the ITV drama has brought thousands more tourists to the pretty hamlet.
This boost to tourism was recognised by Cornwall Tourism, which presented a special award for outstanding contribution to tourism to the Doc Martin team at a grand ceremony held at Truro Cathedral.
Producer Philippa Braithwaite, Clunes’ off-screen wife, says the Doc Martin team was delighted to receive such a prestigious award.
Martin appeared a far cry from his on-screen persona, as he warmly greeted fans who had approached him and the rest of the cast for autographs
Taking a break: Inbetween filming Martin tucked into a packed lunch on the back of a lorry
Martin said: ‘We love going to Cornwall to make Doc Martin, and we miss it when we are not there. The county is so beautiful, and the people have been so warm and welcoming to us. It is the best job in television’
Philppa Braithwaite is the producer of Doc Martin and has been married to Martin Clunes since 1997
‘The people of Cornwall, and Port Isaac in particular, have always been so helpful to us when we are making Doc Martin. We are thrilled that we have been able to give something back, and to be recognised in this way is the icing on the cake.
‘We also contribute to a fund for the village and have raised £134,000 so far. The people of Port Isaac decide how the funds should be used.’
Head of Visit Cornwall, Malcolm Bell, said, as he presented the outstanding contribution award to Mark Crowdy, Doc Martin’s Executive Producer: ‘The Doc Martin team has projected the beauty and unique quality of Cornwall in the UK and around the world. At trade events in the overseas markets they are frequently mentioned, and resulted in generating interest in and considerable visits to Cornwall.
‘Their output showcases our stunning coast and Cornwall. In our research our visitors cited it influenced around 10 per cent of our visitors to return or visit for the first time.’
Head of Visit Cornwall, Malcolm Bell, said: ‘The Doc Martin team has projected the beauty and unique quality of Cornwall in the UK and around the world’
The narrow winding streets of Port Isaac and its whitewashed cottages are set amid stunning coastal scenery
The fishing village of Port Isaac has become a popular holiday destination, partly because of its showbiz links
Popular seaside destinations near the cottage include Padstow, famous for chef Rick Stein’s fish and chips, and romantic Boscastle. Pictured: Fishing boats in Port Isaac
Port Isaac’s attractions include cute whitewashed cottages, winding pathways and breath-taking coastal walks.
And it’s well worth catching a performance by the village’s other link to showbiz – the Fisherman’s Friends singers. The story of how their album of sea shanties became a top 10 hit has been made into a movie starring James Purefoy.
Popular seaside destinations near the cottage, meanwhile, include Padstow, famous for chef Rick Stein’s fish and chips, and romantic Boscastle.
- Fern Cottage is available to rent on HomeAway.