Portreath Beach

A mostly sand (with a little shingle below the shoreline) beach set in a steep valley. To the western end of the beach are high cliffs and another smaller cove which is separated by the high tide.

The other end of the beach is bounded by a granite wall which protects the narrow historic harbour. Once a busy port, importing coal and exporting copper, the harbour is now only home to a few fishing boats. It is well worth taking a walk along the quayside to look at the perilous harbour mouth which ships once sailed through.

On the left hand side, the beach has a small stream running down to the sea.A few hundred metres off the coast is the huge Gull Rock, which as the name suggests is something of a haven for seabirds of all kinds.

Portreath is a popular family beach which, like many beaches on the north Cornish coast, is attracts surfers and in particular bodyboarders. The beach backs onto the small town offering most facilities including several shops, toilets and cafés.

There is a well equipped recently built surf life saving club right on the beach adding to the surfie feel!