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 (Tuesday, Jan 19)
Expect a temperature in the range 10.7℃ to 10.9℃ with a wind speed 10.9 m/sec (SW)
Wednesday, Jan 20
Expect a temperature in the range 10.6℃ to 10.9℃ with a wind speed 11 m/sec (SW)
Thursday, Jan 21
Expect a temperature in the range 6.8℃ to 7.4℃ with a wind speed 7.6 m/sec (W)
Friday, Jan 22
Expect a temperature in the range 6.1℃ to 6.6℃ with a wind speed 4.1 m/sec (WNW)
Saturday, Jan 23
Expect a temperature in the range 5.9℃ to 6.6℃ with a wind speed 6 m/sec (WSW)
Sunday, Jan 24
Expect a temperature in the range 2.7℃ to 3.3℃ with a wind speed 2.6 m/sec (WNW)
Monday, Jan 25
Expect a temperature in the range 5.3℃ to 5.7℃ with a wind speed 5.9 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.
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…
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…
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…
Godrevy and Leggan Coves are two beaches separated by Leggan Point. To access Leggan Cove you will need low tide to go around the point from Godrevy. The beach is sandy although does have some shingle and rocky parts. Backed by grass covered shingle banks this is a nice location and rarely busy. No facilities, with the nearest (limited) parking in Read more…
Gillan Harbour lies about half mile south of the Helford River. The stretch of coast has three small beaches with a mixture of sand and shingle. There are good walks west along the river bank towards Manaccan or northwest to Helford Village. About half a mile east of Gillan lies the rocky Mên-aver Beach with walks available east to Lestowder Read more…
Poldhu Cove a fine beach in a sandy cove that has sand dunes. Lovely coastal walks and excellent views. The Poldhu Wireless Station (remains can still be seen) was where Marconi sent the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901. Beach car park and cafe. 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…
Porthallow beach is a sheltered pebble beach, once a thriving pilchard fishing village. The beach has plenty of rock pools at low tide. Facilities include car park, toilets, cafe and shop. Read more…
St Anthony-In-Meneage is a small beach located in a waterside hamlet within Gillan Creek. Popular for sailing and motor boats but limited facilities, just a car park and shop. 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…
Carleon Cove is a rocky cove approached down a long incline with cobbles along part of its length, then a bridge over a very pretty stream. Now deserted, Carleon Cove used to operate a pilchard fishery until the mid 19th century. The pilchard cellar buildings were later extended to accommodate a steam engine, used to power machinery for cutting and Read more…
Kennack Sands a sandy beach with rock pools. At high tide the beach is split into two but at low tide is is a very large beach. East facing beach popular with surfers of all abilities. Facilities include car park, toilets, cafe, beach shop. 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.