Porthallow Beach

Porthallow was once a busy fishing village with a thriving pilchard fleet. In fact the local pub (which overlooks the beach) is named the "Five Pilchards". Today there are still a few working boats left here, and you will often see them pulled up on the beach, as it doubles as the harbour.

The beach and village here are quite pretty, with a number of thatched cottages and a backdrop of woodland. It is also a little unusual in the way that there isn't really a clear point where the village ends and the beach starts.

Porthallow's beach is fairly sheltered as it is set on the eastern side of the Lizard Peninsula, away from the prevailing south-westerly winds. You won't find much in the way of sand here and the beach is made up of pebbles. This keeps the water a little clearer, which is good news for the scuba divers you will often see setting off in boats from here, on their way to the Manacles Reef. This treacherous granite reef is one of the best diving sites in the country.