Portreath beach

If you fancy staying put, a trip to the beach offers a great family day out. Portreath beach is lifeguarded during the summer and as such is popular with families. It’s also ideal for surfing, and is a popular surf spot with the locals. There are surf shops, beach shops, cafés, a fish and chip shop and toilets on the beachfront with other facilities including 3 pubs, a bakery and a post office/general store in the village itself. Dogs are welcome on the beach in the off-season.

Just off the beach at Portreath is the tiny island of Gull Rock. Home to a variety of bird species this is a good spot for birdwatchers if you can get a close enough view!

Kayakers can venture to the east and west and to offshore islands where you can experience the views of the coastline from a different perspective, visit secluded beaches and explore caves in the cliff face. West Cornwall Adventures are on hand to show you the ropes at kayaking, surfing and coasteering for anyone who fancies a go. The surf shop by the beach hires out wet suits and watersports equipment and also offers surfing and bodyboarding lessons.

With a stream running into the sea, and a distinctive harbour, Portreath is a beautiful place to enjoy a holiday. Portreath’s first harbour was built in 1713 by mining adventurers needing a port for their minerals. The remnants of the second harbour that made Portreath a coastal port in 1760 still exist today. 

Things to do near Portreath

Just outside Portreath, Tehidy Country Park has 250 acres of woodland, lakes, bridleways, cycling and nature trails with several ponds and a lake with an array of waterfowl. Illogan Woods is adjacent to Portreath with picturesque bubbling streams and a circular walk leading to the 14th century church tower of Illogan.

If you haven’t brought your bike with you, cycle hire is available on the road to nearby Porthtowan, which means you’ve got no excuse not to take advantage of the cycling trails in the area. From your holiday cottage in Portreath, you can cycle The Mining Trail path (Bissoe Trail) that follows the old tram lines across the county from coast to coast, finishing up at Devoran resting on Restronguet Creek just a few miles from Truro Cathedral.