Beyond Paradise is mainly filmed in the Cornish coastal town of Looe, which stands in for the fictional Shipton Abbott. Other key locations include Launceston for high street scenes, Port Eliot House and Gardens for Martha's cafe, and Pentillie Castle & Estate for the houseboat mooring. Some scenes are shot in Devon, including Mothecombe Beach and Buckfastleigh railway station.
Beyond Paradise may be set in the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbott, but the cameras spend most of their time across the county border in Cornwall. The show's producers chose Looe, a working fishing port on the south Cornish coast, as the stand-in for Shipton Abbott, drawn by its harbour, bridge and snug town centre.
The good news for visitors is that nearly all of the filming locations are real places you can walk through, sit in or swim from. This guide covers every confirmed location, what was filmed at each one, and how to plan a trip around them.
From series 4 onwards the production expanded its reach, adding Devon locations such as Mothecombe Beach and Buckfastleigh railway station to the mix, so fans can now piece together locations across both counties.
Filmed here: Shipton Abbott seafront, harbour, bridge, market square (Fore Street), police station (Guildhall), East Beach
Looe is the heart of the show. Fore Street doubles as Shipton Abbott's market square, the Guildhall plays the police station, and East Beach, the harbour and the bridge all appear regularly. It is a public town, so nothing stops an independent visit: walk the waterfront and centre and most scenes become recognizable within an hour or two. Looe is a popular tourist spot in its own right, with shops, beach and harbour views to fill a full day.
Location 02
Launceston
Cornwall, Launceston Free to see
Filmed here: Shipton Abbott high street and town scenes (Church Street)
Launceston, the ancient capital of Cornwall, doubles for Shipton Abbott's high street, with Church Street used for town scenes. Access is public and the streets used in filming are easy to explore on foot. The town adds a historic market atmosphere and has a castle worth seeing, making it a straightforward add-on to a Cornwall itinerary rather than a destination purely for filming locations. Allow a couple of hours to cover the filming streets.
Location 03
Port Eliot House and Gardens
Cornwall, St Germans Ticketed
Filmed here: Martha's cafe (Ten Mile Kitchen at The Stables, series 1-2), Shipton Abbott Manor House
Port Eliot House and Gardens in St Germans hosted two key sets: Martha's cafe, Ten Mile Kitchen, filmed at The Stables for the first two series, and the Shipton Abbott Manor House. Access is ticketed, with the estate, cafe and gardens open to visitors during opening hours. It is one of the few locations where fans can actually eat where Martha cooked, so check opening days before travelling, as the estate is not open year round.
Location 04
Pentillie Castle & Estate
Cornwall, St Mellion Ticketed
Filmed here: Humphrey and Martha's houseboat mooring, Anne Lloyd's waterside house, riverside scenes
Pentillie Castle & Estate near St Mellion provided the mooring for Humphrey and Martha's houseboat on the River Tamar, along with Anne Lloyd's waterside house and various riverside scenes. It is a private estate with some public access for events and weddings, and riverside walks are possible on occasion. Set expectations accordingly: this is the least freely visitable of the main locations, so check what access is available before making a special trip.
Location 05
Mothecombe Beach
Devon, Mothecombe Free to see
Filmed here: Beach scenes including sunrise/swim sequences (series 4)
Mothecombe Beach in Devon appeared in series 4 for beach scenes, including sunrise and swim sequences. It is a remote sandy beach, part of the Flete Estate area, accessible on foot or by 4x4. That remoteness is the appeal: it looks on screen much as it does in person. Visitors should be prepared for a longer walk in and limited facilities, but for fans of the series 4 coastal scenes it is a striking stretch of coastline to reach.
Location 06
Rame Head
Cornwall, Rame Free to see
Filmed here: Dramatic headland and coastal scenes
Rame Head in Cornwall supplied dramatic headland and coastal scenes. It sits on the South West Coast Path, with a car park available and views described as stunning, so it rewards a visit even beyond its screen connection. Access is public and the walk along the headland is manageable for most visitors. It pairs naturally with a trip along the south Cornish coast and makes a scenic stop between Looe and the Devon border.
Location 07
Buckfastleigh railway station
Devon, Buckfastleigh Free to see
Filmed here: Shipton Abbott station scenes (series 4)
Buckfastleigh railway station in Devon doubled as Shipton Abbott station in series 4. It is a heritage railway station on the edge of Dartmoor and open to visitors, giving it more character than a standard platform. Access is public. It is a natural pairing with Mothecombe Beach for a Devon leg of a locations trip, and the Dartmoor setting makes the journey itself part of the appeal.
Location 08
Weir Quay Boatyard
Devon, Bere Alston Outside only
Filmed here: Boatyard scenes
Weir Quay Boatyard at Bere Alston in Devon was used for boatyard scenes. It remains a working boatyard on the Tamar, so access is exterior only, with views available from public paths. This is a brief stop rather than a destination in itself, best suited to completists tracing every filming spot. It sits conveniently close to Pentillie Castle & Estate on the river, so the two can be combined in one riverside drive.
Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The show is set in the fictional Devon town of Shipton Abbott, yet the majority of filming happens in Cornwall. Looe was chosen to play Shipton Abbott thanks to its authentic fishing community and harbour, and it carries most of the town scenes, with Launceston handling high street duties. From series 4 the production broadened its footprint into Devon itself, adding Mothecombe Beach and Buckfastleigh railway station, so the set in Devon, filmed in Cornwall gap has narrowed slightly.
Tours That Visit These Locations
Guided tours make sense for visitors who want local knowledge and the smaller details that are easy to miss when wandering Looe alone, and two bookable options focus specifically on the show's locations.
Guided Show Locations Tour
Beyond Paradise TV Show Locations Tour
Rated 4.9 from 136 reviews, this tour covers the show's locations with a guide who knows the filming spots, a strong pick for visitors staying outside Looe itself.
At 26.48 USD and rated 4.9 from 119 reviews, this Looe-based walking tour is the budget friendly way to see Shipton Abbott's real streets with a guide.
No. Shipton Abbott is fictional and set in Devon. The town seen on screen is mostly Looe in Cornwall, with Launceston used for high street scenes.
Why is Beyond Paradise filmed in Cornwall if it is set in Devon?
Looe was chosen for its authentic fishing community and harbour, which made it a convincing stand-in for the fictional Shipton Abbott. Most filming has stayed in Cornwall even though the story is set over the county border.
Can you visit Martha's cafe from Beyond Paradise?
Yes. The cafe scenes in the first two series were filmed at Ten Mile Kitchen at The Stables, Port Eliot House and Gardens in St Germans. The estate is ticketed, so check opening hours before visiting.
Where is Humphrey and Martha's houseboat moored?
The houseboat is moored on the River Tamar at Pentillie Castle & Estate near St Mellion. The estate is private, with some public access for events and weddings, plus occasional riverside walks.
Can you walk around Beyond Paradise filming locations for free?
Looe, Launceston, Mothecombe Beach, Rame Head and Buckfastleigh railway station are all publicly accessible. Port Eliot House and Gardens and Pentillie Castle & Estate require tickets or event access.
Are any Beyond Paradise locations in Devon?
Yes. Series 4 added Devon locations including Mothecombe Beach for sunrise and swim scenes, and Buckfastleigh railway station for Shipton Abbott station scenes. Weir Quay Boatyard was also used for boatyard scenes.
A Beyond Paradise location trip works best with Looe as the base, since it covers most of the recognisable town scenes on foot. From there, Port Eliot, Pentillie and Launceston are easy day trips within Cornwall, while the Devon additions from series 4 suit a second leg of the journey. A guided tour in Looe can take care of the detail, then the rest is down to exploring at your own pace.
