Porthleven beach is next to the harbour and near the village centre.
Porthleven beach is separated from the harbour by the granite pier which lies in front of the Porthleven institute and clock tower. When the tide is out it is possible to walk in an easterly direction along Porthleven beach for approximately three miles, past Loe Bar and Penrose Estate. Alternatively, you can walk along the coast path the coast path out of the village with the Porthleven beach below you.
At high tide, the beach all but disappears.
Excellent surfing location for intermediate to advanced surfers with a natural reef break. Best months is between September and December but you will always get a strong surfing community and on big days news will travel and may get packed.
On a calm day a good location for SUP with choices of the protected harbour and the beach front.
The beach is a short walk along the harbour to the village centre where you have parking, shops and a selection of cafe and pubs.
We have no current information on dog restrictions for Porthleven Beach.
Water samples are taken at regular intervals during the bathing season and at the end of the season the water quality is classified as:
Excellent: the highest classification meaning the water is cleanest
Good: generally good water quality
Sufficient: meets minimum standards
Poor: You are advised not to swim. The beach will stay open and an action plan should be in place to improve the water quality.
Our weather forecast for The Lizard in Cornwall
Today (Wednesday, Mar 03)
Expect a temperature in the range 8.5℃ to 10.5℃ with a wind speed 2.6 m/sec (SE)
Thursday, Mar 04
Expect a temperature in the range 7.2℃ to 7.7℃ with a wind speed 1.8 m/sec (NW)
Friday, Mar 05
Expect a temperature in the range 6.1℃ to 7℃ with a wind speed 5.2 m/sec (E)
Saturday, Mar 06
Expect a temperature in the range 5.6℃ to 5.8℃ with a wind speed 5.3 m/sec (ESE)
Sunday, Mar 07
Expect a temperature in the range 4.6℃ to 5.6℃ with a wind speed 3.4 m/sec (SE)
Monday, Mar 08
Expect a temperature in the range 8.7℃ to 9℃ with a wind speed 6.5 m/sec (SW)
Tuesday, Mar 09
Expect a temperature in the range 7.3℃ to 8.2℃ with a wind speed 4.8 m/sec (NW)
Weather forecast from Yr, delivered by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute and NRK
Tides
Our tide forecast for Porthleven Beach in Cornwall.
In this 'you may also like' section we attempt to answer what else can I do? 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.
Portbeer Cove is a small sandy and rocky cove, although the sand disappears at high tide. The beach sits to the side of Chynhalls Point and is a popular beach for snorkelling. There are no facilities, best access is to park at Coverack and take a walk along the coastal path. Dogs allowed. Read more…
Lizard Lighthouse is a landfall and coastal mark giving a guide to vessels in passage along the English Channel and warning of the hazardous waters off Lizard Point. Many stories are told of the activities of wreckers around our coasts, most of which are grossly exaggerated, but small communities occasionally and sometimes officially benefited from the spoils of shipwrecks, and Read more…
Gew Graze beach also known as Soapy Cove after the adjacent soap stone quarry. The beach is stony at high tide but as the tide goes out you then have some great sand interspersed by smooth rocks. This is a classic example of a remote and beautiful Cornish cove, great to get away from everything. No facilities at the beach Read more…
The Sanctuary has nursery pools, convalescence, and resident pools, and a specially designed hospital. The hospital includes isolation pools, as well as treatment and preparation areas. In addition to the Grey and Common Seals you have Fur Seals, Patagonian Sea Lions and an Arctic Hooded Seal. The Sanctuary also provides a much-needed haven for a variety of other animals, such Read more…
Downas Cove is a sand and stoney cove backed by grass topped cliffs. Not much beach at high tide but as the tide goes out you get some great sand and rock pools. This beach and some of the other nearby coves are popular for snorkelling. No facilities only accessed from the coastal path. Dogs allowed. Read more…
Loe Bar beach is actually made up of 2 parts; The Loe, which is the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall and the Bar, a half mile shingle/flint bank that separates the Loe from the sea. The uniqueness makes this a Designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The sea at this part of the coast is not suitable for swimming, Read more…
Lankidden Cove is typical of the small coves around The Lizard, with fine sand broken up by smooth boulders and backed by high cliffs. No facilities and to access this beach you will have roughly a 1 mile walk from Kennack Sands. We have no dog information for Lankidden Cove beach. Read more…
Mullion Cove has a small sandy beach within the working harbour. Million is a small cove and harbour village with facilities including car parking, cafe, shops and toilets. We have no dog information for Mullion Cove beach. Read more…
Coverack has a beautiful seaside location and is another attractive Lizard village that grew up round smuggling and fishing. Protected by a tiny harbour wall built of local materials hundreds of years ago, and moors enclose the opposite side. Everything within the village. We have no dog information for Coverack beach. Read more…
Kynance Cove on dramatic and historic stretch of Cornish coast – white-sand, cliffs, turquoise water and multi-coloured islands. Calm seas means good swimming conditions but there can be rip tides and strong currents. Excellent location for walking and spending the day on the beach. At low tide there is sand, caves and rock pools. Often missed as visitors go straight for Read more…
Polnare Cove is a remote sand/rocky beach situated around the corner from the Nare Point headland below the MOD Observation Post. The path down leads from the old observation post on Nare Point. From this cove, you can explore the rock pools and formations of Nare Point. The beach has no facilities and only accessible by foot. Read more…
Cadgwith Cove is an old world Cornish fishing village with two beach areas. One beach is the home of the village small fleet of crabbing boats winched up on the beach. The second beach is the swimming beach, a small shingle beach with rocks to climb and explore. The boat beach is easily accessible whilst the swimming beach is down Read more…
We visited and unlike the other reviewer seems were lucky and had nice calm weather. This was great for us and our kids as it was not too busy and they loved the rock pools by the harbour walls as well as the sand.
The harbour area has some interesting shops and not just the usual Cornwall tourist tat. We had a meal in the Harbour Inn that although was not special was good value. Recommend this as a stop if you are touring the Cornish south coast.
Always too rough.
Been to Porthleven twice and on both occasions it has been too rough to go onto the beach. I am sure it is good but is exposed and so make sure it is a calm warm day.
2 Reviews on “Porthleven Beach (Cornwall)”
We visited and unlike the other reviewer seems were lucky and had nice calm weather. This was great for us and our kids as it was not too busy and they loved the rock pools by the harbour walls as well as the sand.
The harbour area has some interesting shops and not just the usual Cornwall tourist tat. We had a meal in the Harbour Inn that although was not special was good value. Recommend this as a stop if you are touring the Cornish south coast.
Always too rough.
Been to Porthleven twice and on both occasions it has been too rough to go onto the beach. I am sure it is good but is exposed and so make sure it is a calm warm day.