Portreath - Portreath Beach
- a
spectacular beauty spot with sandy beach - ideal family holiday destination
St
Ives | Carbis Bay | Hayle | Gwithian
Towans | Godrevy Head | Portreath
| Porthtowan | St
Agnes | Trevaunance Cove
| Perranporth | Holywell
Bay | Crantock Bay | Newquay
| Porth | Mawgan Porth | Harlyn Bay
| Constantine Bay & Trevone | Padstow
& The Camel Estuary
We believe that our village of Portreath and its immediate surrounds, situated on the north-west coast, is one of the most spectacular beauty spots in the county. Portreath is a small holiday destination nestled in a valley between high cliffs with a secluded, sandy beach which is ideal for the family and for the more energetic water sports enthusiasts.
The village has a very friendly atmosphere and caters for most needs of visitors whether holidaying in the area or touring whilst based in the village.
Each year millions of people from all over the world visit Cornwall. The county has the longest coastline in the United Kingdom and possesses a wealth of natural beauty whether on the seashore or inland.
For the holidaymaker who prefers to keep to the local area there are many facilities to enjoy, including: the beautiful beach for swimming, surfing and windsurfing; fishing; the National Trust coastal footpath with unsurpassed breathtaking scenery; inland wooded and parkland walks where wild flowers and many species of birds abound.
Although Portreath is uncommercialised, the local amenities provide for all holiday and touring needs. There are large car parks; cafes and licensed restaurants; a good range of shops; four public houses; a garage; hotels and guest-houses; a wide selection of self-catering facilities; camping and caravan sites with good services.
Portreath Beach.
Bask in warm sunshine on the beach of fine sand or go surfing and windsailing in safety, watched by the local Surf and Life Saving Club.
On the north side of the beach the harbour wall provides shelter and warmth for a fine tidal swimming pool. Set amidst rocks and rockpools here children can also spend happy hours exploring marine life.
The sand of the beach, still contains particles of tin and during the 19th Century a Cornish Mine Captain retrieving these on a commercial basis separated enough gold to make a gold ring!
The south side of the cove is a quiet haven overlooked by sloping cliffs and dominated by Battery House; here cannons were kept in readiness during the French wars to repel any attacks on the cove and harbour.
The quaint Smugglers Cottage, set amongst whispy Tamarisk is a surviving remnant of a fishing industry where in 1617 "a capson house for the drawing up and saving of boats" was erected. It was later used as a retreat by the Bassets of Tehidy who created a miniature Brighton here during the 1780s. Several rock-cut baths were then hewn in the rocks and cliff-face for female members of the family. They now provide a place of play for children who delight in the role of 'Lady Basset".
It was here also that the first harbour was unwisely constructed in 1713 by local mining adventurers seeking an outlet for their minerals. A large quay, curving from the projecting cliff face into the cove was shattered by heavy seas before 1749. Only a tradition of this venture lingered until shifting sands exposed its extensive foundations in 1984. An old track still survives on the hillside above along which mule trains conveyed ore and coal to the old harbour below.
Portreath Cliff Walks.
The wild and rugged beauty of the local cliffs provides another dimension for those on holiday. Here the walker, naturalist and artist find solitude away from crowded beaches. Buzzards circle, ravens soar and kittiwakes nest in their hundreds above blue seas where Atlantic seals sport in secluded coves.
The dramatic North cliffs, with distant views to Godrevy Lighthouse and St. Ives are particularly attractive. Here the Bassets once derived a regular source of income from wreckage cast upon the shore from proud East Indiamen which succumbed to terrifying gales and blanket fogs.
Immediately inland is the Tehidy Country Park with its adjoining golf-course, an area of beautiful woodland, lakeside walks and picnic areas. Throughout the year a programme of free guided walks on history, geology, botany and natural history can be enjoyed by the whole family. Adjoining Portreath itself are the Illogan Woods where streams meander beneath towering beeches and a circular walk leads to the 14th century church tower of Illogan.
Portreath Beacon - The Day Mark on the cliff tops
Portreath from the past.
The
Harbour - The historical harbour of Portreath provides a focal
point for family exploration. Commenced in 1760 as an outlet for the mining
industry its basins were once filled with small sailing vessels. This "Welsh Fleet" sailed regularly out of
the narrow harbour entrance loaded to the gunwhales with rich copper ore
destined for the smelting furnaces of Swansea. They
returned with Welsh coal to fire the boilers of numerous steam-powered
beam engines which clustered round local tin and copper mines.
Giants of the Industrial Revolution, then
residing in the area, strode its quays - Richard Trevithick inventor of
the high-pressure locomotive, William Murdock, the inventor of gas lighting
and James Watt the engineer. Here too a seine-fishing company was established
in 1800 and large wooden sailing vessels were constructed and launched.
Today the huge sailing fleet and steam-powered coasters which followed
have been replaced by small and colourful fishing vessels off-loading
catches onto the quays.
Historical Railways.
What other cove can boast of once having two railways? The need for an efficient transport system for the vast amounts of mineral ore and coal passing between the local mines and Portreath Harbour resulted in the building of the Portreath to Poldice tramway, in 1809. It was a horse-drawn railway and the first in Cornwall. Towering above the village is also the great incline of the Portreath branch of the Hayle Railway, erected in 1838. This too was a mineral line linking the mines of Camborne and Illogan with the harbour. A stationary steam engine once moved trucks up and down its steep face whilst its network of rails fanned out along the quaysides.
Today it is possible to follow the routes of both railways, the former a pleasant walk along the wooded tram-way in the sheltered valley leading to the cove.
The Basset Family .
As with many such communities Portreath grew from humble beginning's thanks in the main to the commercial activities of one family, in our case this was the Basset family. This noble family, signatories to Magna Carta, came to Britain in the time of William the Conqueror and settled in Kent. Eventually part of the family settled at Tehidy near Portreath where in 1617 records show that land was leased from them. It was from this period the Basset's family influence on the area came to bear, recognising the value and potential that a working harbour would bring to the mines and industry in the area from as early as the 1700s so they set about building the harbour most of which can still be seen today.
Their continued investment was substantial over the next 100 years of so and brought prosperity to this little village. Portreath was the main harbour for exporting minerals and ore to South Wales and importing coal also from Wales to fuel the great steam engines used so substantially in the tin mines inland. Other industries at that time included fishing, shipbuilding, rope making, tin streaming. The port that the Bassets had the foresight to build is still active, nowadays used mainly by small boat owners and an intrepid group of inshore fishermen.
The loss of the "Escurial" - There are many stories of the sea to be told here in Portreath, but probably the most famous of all is the tragic loss of the "Escurial" in 1895.
The 1,187 ton steamer went down with a loss of eleven hands out of a full crew of nineteen in a severe winter storm. Desperate attempts were made to launch the Hayle lifeboat, which had been horse-drawn overland to Portreath, but high seas and strong winds prevented the brave coastguards from achieving their rescue mission. Burning tar barrels were lit and displayed along the cliffs near Battery House in an attempt to guide the vessel towards the beach but, due to her engine trouble and her anchor dragging, she turned broadside and ran aground east of Gull Rock.
Since that sad day divers, including many locals, have shown endless interest in the wreck. In the 1970s one local diver discovered the anchor and propeller which lay some 40 ft from the main wreck in 45 ft of water. After many dives to prepare for the final lift, a full team of divers were brought to Portreath to assist with the attachment of inflatable bags and the raising of the artefacts from where they had lain for nearly 90 years.
Today the anchor can be seen outside the Portreath Arms in the centre of the village - it weighs approximately 5 cwt. and is a constant reminder of these dangerous sea-faring days.
- Trerice, Elizabethan Manor House & Gardens.
- St. Michael's Mount - Marazion.
- Treliske - Truro.
- Goldolphin - Marazion.
- Mineral Tramways Museum.
- Geevor Tin Mine.
- Cornish Engines - Pool.
- Levant Engine Houses.
- Cornish Goldsmiths
- Newquay Pearl
- Lands End
- Pendennis Castle
- Newquay Zoo
- Cornish Seal Sanctuary
- Miniature World
- The Tate Gallery - St. Ives
- The Judi Emanuel Gallery
- The Hall for Cornwall
- The Minack Open Air Theatre
- Merry Maidens
- Men an Tol
- Tehidy Golf Club
- St Ives
- Hayle
- Treloy
- Newquay
- Truro
Things to do and What To See in around Portreath .
Stately Homes Gardens
Mining Heritage Sites
All Weather Attractions
Art Galleries
The Theatre
Antiquities
Golf Courses
Holidays in Portreath
Stay in Portreath Porthtowan and the local area
Self- catering Holiday Rental,
Changeover Day = Sat
Prices from £150 to £695
Holidays in Perranporth with the benefit of an onsite swimming pool - to help you enjoy your Holiday in Cornwall. Two bedroom well apointed Holiday chalets situated on the Perran Sands Haven site - in a quiet location. Within easy walking distance to all amenities including on site swimming pool and facilities and night clubs. Just 10 mins walk to beach!
Facilities
Location: Perranporth
beach_access Nearest Beach: 0-1 mile
Online Availability
local_parking
Parking Available
pool
Swimming Pool
Bar
Restaurant
phone 07775 572 339
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Perran Sands Holidays, Perranporth
Self- catering Holiday Rental, Static Holiday Caravan Stays, Camping and Touring Pitches, Holiday Park vacation,
Prices from £20 to £1515
Enjoy England 4 star - Holiday Park. Green Tourism Gold Award. Best Site Static/Glamping. AA 4 Pennants Gold, Voted BEST SMALL SITE IN UK 2023
Welcome to our Green Tourism Gold Award park. Voted Best Holiday and Caravan Site in UK 2023, and rated 4 Pennant Gold AA. Our multi award winning Holiday Park in Cornwall offers bungalows, holiday caravans, wigwam glamping cabins and camping/ touring pitches. Nestled in a beautiful wooded valley, set in the heart of the UNESCIO World Heritage site, approximately half way between St Ives and St Agnes.
EV charging Points
Facilities
people Suitable for Large / Family Groups
Location: Nr Portreath
beach_access Nearest Beach: 1-3 miles
local_parking
Parking Available
wifi
Internet Access
Disabled Facilities- Please call to discuss your requirements - before booking !
phone 01209 216489
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Tehidy Holiday Park, Nr Portreath
Self- catering Holiday Cottage Rental,
Changeover Day = Sat
Prices from £315 to £925
A short, level walk to the stunning beach, Piskey Cottage is a charming and traditional Cornish tin miners cottage that sleeps 4-6 people and provides the perfect location for your self catering holiday in Cornwall. Private off road parking
Pets are Welcome at Piskey Cottage in Portreath -We are a Dog friendly establishment.
Facilities
Location: Portreath
beach_access Nearest Beach: 0-1 mile
Online Availability
pets
Pets Welcome
local_parking
Parking Available
phone 0771 202 0922
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Piskey Cottage, Portreath
WHERE TO STAY in PORTREATH -- Holiday Apartment Rental - Holidays Cottages in Portreath -- Holidays Cottages in Portreath -- Self catering Holidays in Portreath -- B&B Portreath -- Hotel Bed & Breakfast Stays in Portreath -- Farm stays in Portreath -- Touring Caravans- Camping & Campsites Portreath -- Holiday accommodation in Cornwall -- Cornwall Tourist Information -- Tourist Attractions and Family Days Out in Cornwall --