Porthleven - Cornwall

Marazion - St Michael's Mount | Praa Sands | Porthleven | Mullion | Gunwalloe | Helston | The Lizard Peninsula | Coverack | Helford Estuary | Mawnan Smith | Falmouth | Truro

The Entrance to Porthleven Harbour

Porthleven Institute and clock tower

Porthleven Marazion & St Michael's Mount The Lizard Peninsula Holiday Apartment Rental - Holidays Cottages in Porthleven Holidays Cottages in Porthleven Self catering Holidays in Porthleven B&B Porthleven Bed & breakfast Stays in Porthleven Farm stays in Porthleven Touring Caravans- Camping & Campsites Porthleven Holiday accommodation in Cornwall Cornwall Tourist Information Tourist Attractions and Family Days Out in Cornwall

Full Guide to beaches in Cornwall Beaches near Mousehole - Lands End Beaches near Marazion - Penzance Beaches in and around Porthleven and the Lizarad Peninsula

loe Bar and Loe Lake

Porthleven

Porthleven is a historic fishing port located to the west of the The Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. Porthleven has the distinction of being the most southerly working port in mainland Britain - located on the edge of Mount's Bay, between the Lizard Peninsula and Marazion (St Michael's Mount). The town and harbour, have maintained much of their original charm and character, (through the use of strict conservation and planning control) and attracts large numbers of tourist each year.

Porthleven's picture book location and stunning coastal scenery of the area makes this an ideal destination for family holidays and vacations to the West Country - surrounded by spectacular beaches and has easy access to a wealth of local holiday attractions, including St Michael's Mount and The Flambards Adventure Park.

Much of the coastline around the town is designated as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or is in the stewardship of the National Trust. This character port is Porthleven itself is a vibrant little town arranged around its impressive harbour.

The harbour is the heart of life in the town, with fishing boats plying their trade from its sheltered waters, supplying the harbour side cafes and restaurants with their daily catch.the harbour is unusual in two aspects, it is the most southerly UK prot and in that it is rare to find a southwest facing Cornish harbour - opening directly into the prevailing winds. Porthleven's development as a port was always hampered by the orientation of the harbour entrance and Porthleven would have remained a small fishing inlet but there was an overriding need during the early nineteenth century, for a refuge harbour along this Cornwall's lee shore. A safe haven where ships could run in times of distress - the impressive structures that form the current harbour complex date from the Napoleonic war - with French prisoners of war being utilized as a labour force to construct the harbour.

Today, Porthleven harbour is a more relaxing environment catering for the needs of the Holiday maker. Boat and fishing trips available from the harbour and cafes and restaurants line the harbourside, creating an almost continental atmosphere - in the warm temperate climate that Cornwall enjoys due to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream current that passes close to the Cornish coastline. The buildings around the harbour and Porthleven beach are mainly a mix of traditional fishermen's cottages and net lofts - dating back to the 1800s.

A comination of white painted houses and Palm trees adds to the ambient quality of a stay in Porthleven. The harbourside offers an interesting and diverse range of cafes, restaurants, bars, good shops and galleries, whilst Porthleven's neighbouring town at Helston caters for those who need larger stores, supermarkets and banks etc.

Parking is available by the Harbour.

Porthleven Beach

Porthleven's Beach is located adjacent to the harbour, just east of the large granite pier by the 'iconic' Porthleven Institute and clock tower -which dominates the harbour entrance. As the tide goes out, a large 3 mile long shingle and sand beach is exposed - running along the coast towards Loe Bar and Penrose Estate.

• Car park a 5 min fairly steep walk from beach
• Parking available by the harbour in porthleven
  
• Toilets
  
• Refreshments
  
• Lifeguard during summer months
  
• No dogs Easter to October
  
• Sat Nav Co-ordinates: N50º 04' 57.79" W5º 18' 42.93"
  

Porthleven Beach is a popular beach with holiday makers in the area. The beach is never crowded and has many rock pools to entertain children during the day. Small coves line the edge of the beach providing shelter if the breeze picks up. Porthleven beach is popular with swimmers, but a degree of caution is needed when swimming at low tide or when the sea is rough.

This is a particularly challenging area or surfers, with good waves, but with a ground swell that can produce waves of up to 4 to 5 meters, which often can be seen breaking across the pier. Porthleven is well known for its right hand surfing break, which attracts many top level surfers to the town.

The majority of the beach is dog friendly, apart from the 250m section of beach closet to the harbour, which has a dog ban during the summer months.

Loe Bar

Loe Bar is a large sand and shingle bar in the central section of Porthleven Sands, lying approximately 1 mile East of the harbour in Porthleven. Loe Bar is a large sand bank, that blocks the mouth of the Cober Valley, creating Cornwall's largest fresh water lake. The sand bank was created by the action of a storm in the 12th century, forming a barrier that blocked the mouth of the valley. Prior to the formation of the sand bar, the lake was a busy trade route which enabled ships and merchants to navigate up the estuary as far as Helston.

The beach at Loe Bar is in a quiet remote location, with no facilites. Limited Parking is available at the small Loe Bar Car park, approximately 500m east of the sand bar. From the car park it is a short walk down a sandy track to the sand bar and beach.

NB ALL map locations are approximate - please verify location with the owner prior to booking - Map not displaying in IE? try the F5 key

Isles of Scilly| Sennen Cove | Land's End | Pendeen | St Just | Porthcurno | Lamorna | Mousehole | Newlyn | Penzance | Marazion - St Michael's Mount | Praa Sands | Porthleven | Gunwalloe - Church Cove | Mullion | Helston | The Lizard Peninsula

Marazion - St Michael's Mount | Praa Sands | Porthleven | Mullion | Gunwalloe | Helston | The Lizard Peninsula | Coverack | Helford Estuary | Mawnan Smith | Falmouth | Truro