Portheras Beach is known for its remote beauty, pristine white sands, clear waters and stunning coastal views. The beach can only be accessed on foot, but this only adds to its romantic appeal. So, if you are in search of somewhere truly special, then the effort this cove takes to reach it is richly rewarded!
Huddled amongst rocky cliffs on Cornwall’s north coast, between Pendeen and Zennor, Portheras is a wild and untouched place where seals are often seen resting on the beach or bottling in the water, and its relative isolation means that the sands are never crowded. On calm days it makes a great place to swim, while in rougher weather those still needing their seawater fix can jump into the sea pool on the far west side of the beach at Boat Cove.
This pool was built by local miners in the 19th century as somewhere they could come to wash and cool off after a hard day in one of the nearby mines, these days it makes the perfect spot of a safe dip away from the Atlantic rollers!
(You can find out more about miner’s bathing pools here: Cornwall’s Hidden Miner’s Bathing Pools)
Portheras is partly owned by the Duchy of Cornwall
Portheras is partly owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and by local farmers, and given its importance to wildlife and its ecological significance the beach is also part of the ‘Wild Tin Coast’ reserve and a designated a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’.
This stretch of coast was once notorious for shipwrecks, hence the need for the lighthouse at Pendeen Watch, which was built in 1900. Many of the vessels lost here were ships on their way to and from Wales and sadly some of them left a permanent mark on the coastline. Until recently parts of Portheras Beach were actually out of bounds due to razor sharp fragments of an old wreck hidden under the sand.
On a foggy night on 13th September 1963 a 454 ton cargo ship called the ‘Alacrity’, which was carrying anthracite dust from Swansea to Brussels, ran aground here. Attempts to salvage her failed and within a few weeks the hull of the metal ship had been completely broken up by the waves. Unfortunately this meant that dangerous debris lurked beneath the sand of Portheras until 2004, when the wreck was finally cleaned up making the beach safe once again.
Portheras Beach, one of the best Cornish beaches
Portheras Beach holds a special place in many people’s hearts and after a visit here it is not hard to understand why, it offers the very best of the Cornish coast with its wild beauty, unspoilt scenery and peaceful surroundings.
To visit Portheras you can either park at Pendeen Watch or at Lower Chypraze and walk to the cove from there. Both places have limited spaces, so it is a good idea to plan ahead, especially in the summer months.
There are no facilities or bins at the beach so please take everything away with you and leave this special place as you found it!
PLEASE NOTE: Please be aware that there is no lifeguard cover at this beach and no mobile or wifi signal, rip currents are common, so extreme care should be taken when swimming.