Raginnis comes from the Cornish for 'place overlooking the island'. The island in question is St Clement’s Isle, a small cluster of rocks where an ancient hermit was said to have lived. A few hundred yards along the coast from the village is a huge cave which is believed to give rise to the strange name of Mousehole. This is unlikely but the origin of the name is a mystery.

Mousehole (pronounced "Mowzel") is a picturesque fishing village on the south coast of Cornwall between Penzance and Land’s End. Mousehole is one of Cornwall's most picturesque hamlets; a stunning collection of yellow-lichened houses, built from the local finely grained Lamorna granite, huddled together around the inner edge of the harbour - protected from the force of the sea coming across Mounts Bay by two sturdy breakwaters. Its narrow streets are filled with small shops, galleries and restaurants. Local cottages huddle together around the inner edge of the harbour. The area is protected from the force of the sea by two sturdy breakwaters. Dylan Thomas described the village as the loveliest in England.

Mousehole is a very attractive tourist destination. A small and very safe beach is located in a sheltered part of the harbour which is popular with families, particularly those with small children - an ideal location for family days out, with safe bathing, quite literally at your feet.

Mousehole developed around its harbour (and of course the fishing fleet that sustained it) appearing in the record books as an important fishing port from as early as 1266, in fact, part of the south quay originates from 1390 - possibly the oldest pier in Cornwall. The fishing industry has declined drastically over the last 100 years, but a few fishing boats maintain the long heritage and tradition of a working harbour, whilst the majority of vessels now lying at anchor are pleasure craft.

It was sacked by the Spaniards in July 1595 when the entire village, apart from one house, was burnt to the ground. That house still stands today. A hundred years ago Mousehole was a bustling port, crowded with local fishing boats, landing pilchards. Each year, early in November, timber beams are laid across the narrow harbour entrance, to protect the village from the worst of the winter gales. Even so waves can still be seen breaking over the harbour wall at high tide.

Dolly Pentreath, reputedly the last person to speak only the Cornish language, lived in Mousehole. She died 200 years ago. There is a memorial to her in the churchyard at Paul, a small village just above Mousehole. In recent years, the Cornish language has undergone a revival.

The small village was devastated by the loss of the Penlee lifeboat, the Solomon Brown, just before Christmas 1981. Most of the crew were from Mousehole. Penlee Point, from where the lifeboat was launched, midway between Mousehole and Newlyn, is now a memorial to those who lost their lives.

The famous Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital on the steep road from Mousehole to Lamorna was founded in 1928 by the Misses Dorothy and Phyllis Yglesias. The Sanctuary became famous during the Torrey Canyon disaster in the sixties, when over 8,000 oiled sea birds passed through the Hospital. The RSPCA took over the task of running the hospital in 1953, but since 1975 it has been an independent charity.

Car parking in the village is extremely limited and the roads are very narrow. Visitors are encouraged to park on the outskirts of the village and to walk in. To walk from Raginnis takes no more than ten minutes. There is a regular bus service from Penzance to Mousehole.

During the winter months, sturdy wooden beams are used to close the harbour entrance, keeping the force of the sea at bay and protecting the village. In the past, villagers have suffered from the effects of winter storms - one of these events is commemorated annually shortly before Christmas on "Tom Bawcock's Eve" where a monstrous fish pie is baked and consumed by the patrons of the Inn on the quayside. This event, which becomes a major village party, attracts visitors from both the surrounding district and from all over the world.

In the middle of December, the Christmas lights are switched on in the village. These are famous throughout Cornwall and are worth visiting, especially for families with children who will find the illuminated harbour magical. The lights sometimes incorporate a pirate ship and a dragon! There are even helicopter flights from Penzance to see the lights from the sky. They remain on, from 5pm until 11pm each evening, until the end of the first week of the New Year.

It is possible to walk west along the Coastal Path to Lamorna Cove, looking down on Tater Du Lighthouse (pictured right) on the way. To the east is Newlyn, the largest fishing port in the South West.

There are very few places that can be found in the United Kingdom that have retained their original character and charm in the way that the tiny fishing village of Mousehole has.

The the information and pictures on this page are kindly supplied by www.cornwalls.co.uk