Porthleven Guide Cornwall

Porthleven Guide, Cornwall

Porthleven, Cornwall, UK. — The inner harbour of Porthleven at low tide

Porthleven is a picturesque fishing village with several beaches near Helston in Cornwall that has become a very popular summer seaside destination.

Weather

As the southernmost port of mainland Britain, Porthleven developed as a refuge from storms in an area famous for shipwrecks.

Due to its location and the prevailing winds and weather systems, Porthleven feels the full brunt of Atlantic storms.

Footage and photos of the harbour entrance with massive waves crashing over the clock tower are often seen in the national news.

The entrance to the harbour at Porthleven is heavily fortified against the power of winter storms. — The entrance to the harbour at Porthleven is heavily fortified against the power of winter storms

Fishing

The small inner harbour has a very narrow entrance reached by a narrow channel also heavily fortified by walls of massive granite stone blocks.

The port originally exported China clay and a sizable boat-building industry grew up. A large fishing fleet once operated out of here harvesting pilchards and mackerel.

While a few working fishing boats still operate, many of the boats in the harbour are pleasure craft.

Porthleven lies on the Southwest Coast Path, the 630 mile walking path that runs from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset. Thus, it is a great spot to stop and replenish.

Eat & Drink

Porthleven has a wide array of eateries, pubs, cafes, and restaurants and so all the classic dishes can be had.

Visitors can enjoy Cornish pasties, Cornish cream teas, fish and chips, ice cream, as well as a variety of local and not so local cuisines.

Many of the establishments have outdoor seating and/or great views out to sea of over the lovely harbour.

There are a selection of independent retail stores and several galleries specializing in art and crafts with a marine theme.

The beach and cliffs near Porthleven. — The beach and cliffs near Porthleven

Bickford-Smith Institute

The most iconic landmark in the town is the Bickford-Smith Institute, located right at the harbour mouth and built in 1884 with a 70ft high clock tower.

The view of the tower in winter, enveloped in spray from giant, crashing waves is probably the most photographed view of Porthleven.

The building opened in 1884 and was a gift from William Bickford (1827-1899), a former local MP and staunch Methodist. Bickford made his fortune manufacturing fuses for use in the local mining industry. When opened the institute served as a venue for lectures and was also both a lending and reference library. The building is presently owned by Porthleven Council and hosts the local snooker club.

The section of the coast path that leads out of Porthleven and down the coast of the Lizard Peninsula has some of the more dramatic views of the whole path.

At low tide a beach appears and you will likely see surfers as it is a well known spot for the more experienced surfer, though not recommended for the novice.

Loe Bar

Soon you reach Loe Bar, a long sandbar that separates the sea from The Loe, the largest natural, freshwater lake in Cornwall.

For those who place the Arthurian legend in Cornwall, The Loe is considered the most likely site for where the sword Excalibur is cast into the water. The other is the much smaller Dozemary Pool up on Bodmin Moor.

Porthleven is very close to Flambards Theme Park, and is a convenient location from where to explore the Lizard Peninsula, Penzance and St. Michael's Mount.

The World Heritage mining sites and St. Ives are also within easy reach.

Harbour Road in Porthleven with a terrace of houses overlooking the harbour. — Harbour Road in Porthleven with a terrace of houses overlooking the sea

Access

Porthleven is just a few miles from Helston and is best accessed by bus from either Falmouth or Penzance.

Penzance has trains to London Paddington. Journey time to London is about 5 hours, 15 minutes. To Bristol trains take about 4 and a half hours, to Exeter St David's Station in Exeter about 3 hours.