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 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 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.