The coast in this part of Cornwall can be a wild and rugged place, and storms have long raced across the Atlantic with strong south west and westerly gales. The Cove is partly protected from the winds and ocean currents by Mullion Island or "Enys Pruen", which lies about offshore to the southwest. Occupancy of the Cove goes back several hundred years, but in the early 1800s it had three working Grist Mills, including "Criggan Mill, Mullion Mill Farm" (List Entry Number 1141889) (currently listed as Criggan Mill, Mullion Cove), and by the time of the first recorded census in 1841 the Cove had several working fish cellars, net lofts and two thatched cottages. The Census of 1841 was the first to intentionally record names of all individuals in a household or institution.