Cadgwith is many people's idea of a Cornish fishing village. The approach roads from either side run steeply down to a cluster of buildings which almost get their feet wet when the tide is in. Walking the coast path north from the Lizard, one descends into Cadgwith through private gardens.

It used to have a lifeboat station, but in 1961 a new one was built further south at Kilcobben Cove.

Just to the south of the Cove lies the Devil's Frying-pan, a funnel-shaped depression roughly 100ft deep. At the bottom is a natural arch.