About Boscastle

The Riverside is situated in Boscastle, one of the picturesque parts of North Cornwall in the Southwest which is nationally recognised as being wonderful for its scenic quality. The Riverside was built around 1584 by Sir Richard Grenville of the Armada fame. He was also the benefactor who provided Boscastle with its fine sea walls. Situated along the River Valency, The Riverside has many spacious rooms with river or harbour views.

Back in the 19th century, Boscastle was a commercial port contributing to Britain's industrial expansion. Before the days of the railways which did not reach North Cornwall until 1893, heavy goods were carried by sea. Coal, iron ore and limestone from South Wales and fertilisers, timber, corn, wines and spirits from Bristol were the main imports. But there were even cargoes of timber direct from Canada entering the little port. One of the return cargoes was manganese ore from the mine within Boscastle itself.

One of the most dominating features of Boscastle is the Valency Valley with the tree canopy harbouring a magnificent landscape. Within the valley, the River Valency flows down from Marshgate, past The Riverside's secluded garden and on to the harbour in Boscastle. The village lies within a conservation area amongst some of the most beautiful countryside within the British Isles and is one of the few remaining unspoilt harbour villages in Cornwall. Boscastle is a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.