Portreath Beach
Portreath beach is a gently shelving sandy beach on Cornwall’s north coast. The bay has high cliffs on either side, along with a small working harbour. The name Portreath means “sandy cove” and Portreath harbour is steeped in history as it exported copper and imported coal to support the Cornish copper mines and included some shipbuilding.
The beach at low tide is a large flat sandy beach but when the tide comes in the beach is split into two with a small cove to the west and the main area in front of the car park.
You will not see so many surfers as on some other Cornish beaches, but you can get a powerful wave alongside the harbour wall. The beach is a great safe family beach very popular for bodyboarding and at low tide, you can get some good rock pools to explore besides the harbour wall.
You can also find some low-tide tidal pools. The largest is to the east beside the harbour wall, but on the west side of the beach, you should search for the six small baths cut into the rocks, created in the 19th Century for Lady Frances Bassett.
Facilities at Portreath beach include car parking, toilets, ramp access, seasonal lifeguards, a beach cafe, pubs, and shops, including surf hire and the Portreath Surf Life Saving Club.
Portreath Beach has been awarded a regional Seaside Award.
Dog Friendly Beach?
Portreath beach has seasonal dog restrictions not allowing dogs from 1st July to 31st August between 10 am - 6 pm
Why not check other beaches nearby as we have 216 beaches in Cornwall, or check our list of Cornwall Dog Friendly Beaches.
Planning your visit to Portreath Beach
Portreath Beach, B3301, Portreath, Cornwall TR16 4NN, United Kingdom
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Portreath Beach 7 Day Weather Forecast
Portreath weather forecast from Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK
Portreath Beach Tide Times
Tide times are available at around 600 locations and the closest location to Portreath Beach is at Perranporth 14.18 km (8.81 miles) away. Tides are displayed beneath for up to 7 days and we list both high and low water times along with the height, helping you to plan the best time to visit Portreath Beach. These times are not adjusted for BST.
Wed 27 Sep
High Tide at 03:11 (Height 6.23m)
Low Tide at 09:33 (Height 1.44m)
High Tide at 15:31 (Height 6.75m)
Low Tide at 21:59 (Height 0.97m)
Thu 28 Sep
High Tide at 03:59 (Height 6.76m)
Low Tide at 10:18 (Height 0.95m)
High Tide at 16:17 (Height 7.23m)
Low Tide at 22:42 (Height 0.57m)
Fri 29 Sep
High Tide at 04:40 (Height 7.14m)
Low Tide at 10:59 (Height 0.60m)
High Tide at 16:59 (Height 7.52m)
Low Tide at 23:22 (Height 0.36m)
Sat 30 Sep
High Tide at 05:21 (Height 7.33m)
Low Tide at 11:38 (Height 0.45m)
High Tide at 17:40 (Height 7.61m)
Sun 01 Oct
Low Tide at 00:01 (Height 0.36m)
High Tide at 06:00 (Height 7.34m)
Low Tide at 12:19 (Height 0.49m)
High Tide at 18:20 (Height 7.48m)
Mon 02 Oct
Low Tide at 00:41 (Height 0.55m)
High Tide at 06:39 (Height 7.17m)
Low Tide at 12:58 (Height 0.73m)
High Tide at 19:00 (Height 7.18m)
Tue 03 Oct
Low Tide at 01:19 (Height 0.91m)
High Tide at 07:17 (Height 6.86m)
Low Tide at 13:37 (Height 1.12m)
High Tide at 19:38 (Height 6.73m)
Contains ADMIRALTY® tidal data: © Crown Copyright and database right.
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In this 'you may also like' section we attempt to answer what else can do near Portreath Beach? Here you have a list by order of being the closest some more beaches, things to see and do, places to eat and upcoming events.
12th October 2023
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15th October 2023
Falmouth’s Events Square hosts the Oyster Festival from Thursday, October 12th, to Sunday, October 15th. This annual festival celebrates the start of the oyster season, the native Fal Oyster and the diversity of Cornish seafood. Daily demonstrations are held by top chefs and food experts, inspiring visitors to try the tastes of native oysters, wines, ales and local produce. The
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The Portreath Beach Cafe is located at the edge of the car park overlooking Portreath beach. The cafe serves breakfast, lunch, coffee and drinks.
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The Hub (formerly The Hub Portreath) is a dog-friendly cafe by Portreath Beach and offers indoor or outdoor seating and takeaway options. A selection of food including breakfasts, toasties, paninis, jacket potatoes and lunch specials.
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The Basset Arms is a traditional pub located about 200 meters from Portreath beach and has an outside seating/eating area and a children’s playground. The pub serves a selection of homecooked meals and fine beers.
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The John Francis Basset is a Wetherspoon pub in Camborne, Cornwall. Our pub offers a range of real ales, craft beers and freshly ground Lavazza coffee. Breakfast is served until noon, with our full food menu available until 11 pm.
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Smuggler’s Cove and Western Cove are sandy beaches with rocks. Good views from the coast path but no access down to the beach. At mid to low tide you can access the cove from Portreath beach either by walking around the headland, through a small tunnel or by canoe, although you need to be aware of the tides as you could be
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Gooden Heane Cove is a sandy beach with some rock pools to explore. The cove is named after Gooden Heane Rock that sits just off the beach. A large car park on Lighthouse Hill is just above the cove and it also walkable from Portreath town, although you can’t get down to the beach as vertical rock faces. The only
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Bassetts Cove beach is a small sandy beach situated at the bottom of sheer cliffs. Note the beach disappears at low tide. Parking, access to the beach is a fairly hazardous decent down a slippery cliff path.
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Sally’s Bottom beach consists of sand and rocks at the bottom of a steep descent via some steps. No facilities with access only on foot via a steep decent.
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Porthgwidden Beach currently has 39 chalets which are available to hire on a weekly or seasonal basis. Located on the beach with views out over St.Ives bay towards Godrevy Lighthouse and Hayle beaches. Porthgwidden Beach is in the heart of St. Ives with access to all of the towns shops and places to eat.
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Little Escape is one of seven beach huts overlooking Towan Beach in Newquay, Cornwall. The hut has electric lighting, power sockets and heating along with being located within a secure gated complex that has a tap suitable for drinking and communal seating area. There is a shower on the beach. The hut is available for day use only and can
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The Surf HQ shop sits behind the car park on Portreath beach. The shop sells and hires wetsuits, bodyboards, surfboards, kayak, clothing and accessories. We also offer surfing and bodyboarding lessons. All equipment is provided it free of charge for your lesson and if you want to carry on using it for the rest of the day the kit is
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Part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, impressive Cornish beam engines and industrial heritage discovery centre. This is a dramatic reminder of Cornwall’s mining heritage.
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Wheal Coates is a former cliff top tin mine situated on the north coast of Cornwall, between Porthtowan and St Agnes. It is maintained by the National Trust, for more details see National Trust website.
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The Gwithian Academy of Surfing’s surf school and shop are situated at Gwithian which is the Northernmost point of the lonh Hayle beach in St Ives Bay.
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