Portreath Beach - North Cornish Coast
Cornwall Beaches » North Cornish Coast » Portreath Beach
A mostly sand with a little shingle beach set in a steep valley. To the western end of the beach are high cliffs and another smaller cove which is seperated by the high tide. There are a couple of interesting rocks just of the coast
The other end of the beach is bounded by a granite wall which protects the narrow harbour. Once a busy port, importing coal and exporting copper but now only sheltering the occasional fishing boat
On the left hand side, the beach has a stream running down to the sea. It is a popular family beach which, like many beaches on the north Cornish coast, is popular with surfers and in particular bodyboarders. Also it backs onto the small town offering most facilities including several shops and cafés
There is a well equipped newly built surf life saving club right on the beach adding to the surfie feel!
Directions: Located on the B3300 which is marked from the main A30.
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Portreath Beach map:
Parking: There is a reasonably large privately owned car park right on the beach
Surfing at Portreath Beach
Portreath is home to The Vortex a right hand reef break which peels of the harbour wall. This is not a wave for the light-hearted and definitely not suitable for beginners. The wave comes in from deeper water and hits the reef going from a lump to past vertical making air drops the norm. Combined with its propensity to barrel and form a wedgey inside this goes some way to explaining where it gets the name
For obvious reasons (i.e. heavy and hollow) the Vortex is popular with bodyboarders, however there are usually a couple of stand up surfers giving it a go.
If all this hasn't put you off then maybe the 'Locals Only' scrawled on the wall might!
The beach itself can produce a half decent wave and packs a fair punch itself on a good day
Being north facing and with high cliffs to the west the beach is fairly sheltered and needs a medium sized west/northwest swell to get it going. In terms of wind this is an advantage as a south-westerly is cross offshore. The Vortex can handle waves of up to 8ft
lifeguard service: Full lifeguard service in the Summer
Dogs: No dogs (Easter to October)
Facilities: Toilets, including disabled facilities, first aid post, lost child centre, café, restaurant, shops and surf life-saving club.
Nearest town: Redruth
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