Porthtowan

Porthtowan is a beach village on the north coast between St Agnes and Portreath, about 4 miles north of Redruth. The beach faces northwest into the Atlantic and produces reliable surf across a range of conditions. The Blue Bar, built directly on the sand at the south end of the beach, is one of Cornwall’s best-known beach bars and serves food, cocktails, and local ales with views straight out to sea. The beach has Blue Flag status and seasonal lifeguard cover.

The village climbs the valley behind the beach, with a pub (the Unicorn), a small shop, and a scattering of houses and holiday lets. The coast path runs along the cliffs in both directions - south to Chapel Porth and the dramatic engine house ruins at Wheal Coates (about 2 miles), or north to Portreath (3 miles). The Wheal Coates walk is one of the most photographed stretches of coast in Cornwall, with the National Trust engine house silhouetted against the sky above the cliffs.

Porthtowan’s mining heritage is visible in the landscape - engine houses, spoil heaps, and adits dot the surrounding cliffs. The village sits within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site. For everyday shopping, Redruth and Camborne are about 15 minutes south. Truro is about 20 minutes east. The Mineral Tramways cycle trails, which follow old mining routes, pass through the area and provide traffic-free riding.