Pennan's harbour occupies the eastern end of the village and is still used by a handful of fishing vessels, though leisure craft now outnumber working boats. The stone quayside is a good spot to watch the sea — and the wildlife in it. Grey seals haul out on the rocks at the harbour mouth, and dolphins are regularly spotted in the bay, particularly in summer. Gannets and other seabirds work the offshore waters throughout the year.
The pebble beach runs the length of the village, protected by a low seawall. The sound of waves on the stones is one of those sounds that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. The cliffs above the village — red sandstone, spectacular — can be viewed from the beach or from the single lane road that descends to the village from the clifftop car park above.