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The village of Porthtowan, situated on the rugged north coast of Cornwall, is a relaxed beachside spot. A clue to its geography, in Cornish its name translates to Porth meaning beach and towan meaning dunes. Home to the award-winning Blue Flag beach, the community of Porthtowan also have a huge environmental commitment, with education and information around the beach.
If travelling by car, take the A30 from the M5, then head off on the B3277 at the Chiverton Cross roundabout and head for Porthtowan. It is around 10 miles from Truro.
If you’re driving to North Cornwall in a plug-in electric vehicle, see our list of charging locations here.
Porthtowan is also around 20 miles from Newquay Airport, so that is another option, but public transport is limited on this stretch so a taxi, or car hire would be the best option for onward travel.
The council-run car park on Beach Road is the main car park at Porthtowan. There’s 137 spaces, and charges apply from 9am – 4pm from 1 April until 31 October (out of the peak season there is no charge). The car park is reasonably priced; up to 1 hour costs 90p, 1 to 2 hours – £1.50, 2 to 3 hours – £2, 3 to 4 hours – £2.50, 24 hours – £3.50, and you can park here weekly for £8.75.
You may be lucky and find some on-street parking depending on the time of year.
The Unicorn on the Beach and its shack-style beach bar enjoy a dog-friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Moments from Porthtowan Beach, open seven days a week, its winning combination of tasty cuisine, beautiful surroundings, and a welcoming atmosphere makes it one of the best around.
Blue Bar opened in 1999 as Cornwall’s original beach bar and kitchen, and has been a popular choice ever since. Right on the dunes of the beach, you’ll find freshly prepared, locally-sourced food – think burgers, tacos and stonebaked pizzas – Barista coffees, local ales, lagers and more.
A Cornwall holiday wouldn’t be complete without fish and chips at the beach. Seasmiths is a short stroll from the beach, not deviating away from the main character, on the limited menu you’ll find  lightly battered and sustainably caught cod and haddock, tasty chips and a selection of sauces and sides. Plus, everything Seasmiths serve can be gluten free.
If it’s creamy Cornish ice cream you’re after Moomaid at the Beach is not to be missed, while Porthtowan Beach Café serves up tasty breakfasts and lunches, plus coffees and sweat treats.
Less than five miles away, Driftwood Spars is a pub with a real sense of history. Recommended by the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide, the fish is generally landed daily at Newlyn harbour or 200 yards away in the cove. Be sure to check out the seafood specials.
Wheal Coates Tin Mine is a 3 mile drive or hour coastal walk from Porthtowan. Highly photogenic, dramatic ruins on cliffs, the mining site is part of UNESCO World Heritage scenery, with wonderful walks, too. National Trust owned, remember to bring your membership card.Â
Heartlands is 5 miles from Porthtowan, just off the A30 at Pool. It offers 19 acres of visitor-friendly attractions including a mining museum, diaspora gardens, and giant adventure play. Free of charge, Heartlands is a Charitable Trust for visitors to enjoy.
Home of the famous Cornish Rattler, Healey’s Cyder Farm is a 15-minute drive away. Each year in April, they host a family-friendly festival ‘Rattler Fest’. Or if ice cream is more for you, then Callestick Farm is right next door.
For energetic families, why not fuel your sense of adventure and endure the Coast to Coast cycle trail? Starting in Portreath which is less than four miles away, you’ll begin the challenge on the north coast and ending in Devoran on the south coast. Following the line of two historic transport routes; the early horse-worked Portreath tramroad and the Redruth and Chasewater Railway, it’s predominantly traffic-free. The route is challenging more for its length (11 miles each way) than its degree of difficulty.
 You can hire bikes with Mountain Bike Hire. The hire hut is perfectly situated at the start of the beautiful trail, along with many other trails in the area.
 Learn to surf at Porthtowan with Eskinzo surf lessons. For those aged eight years plus, allow your experienced instructor to show you the ropes. Choose to join a group or book a private lesson. Eskinzo also run two-hour stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) lessons if you fancy something a little calmer. Teaching the fundamentals to flat water paddle boarding, followed by 30 minutes of free time to hone in on your new skills.
Nearby Portreath beach is the site of the famous Vortex – big high tide swells hitting the harbour wall making it perfect for bodysurfing, but it is not for the fainthearted. Experienced water sports enthusiasts love surfing/boarding the big swells of the Vortex, a tricky reef break which peels off the harbour wall. Portreath Surfing School & Hire Centre Centre is situated here, where you can hire kayaks.
There’s often creative workshops taking place at Mount Pleasant Eco Park, from printmaking and stained glass activities to wreath making and more.
You’ve one of the best beaches in Cornwall at Porthtowan, a beach that has consistently been awarded with a Blue Flag status thanks to its cleanliness and fantastic water quality. The sandy beach is a popular choice for surfers, but equally suited to families with plenty of rock pools to discover. Backed by large dunes and dramatic cliffs, it’s a beautifully rugged beach with a large expanse of sand to burn off energy. Lesser known is the secret tidal pool at Porthtowan Beach, covered at high tide it’s not easy to access but is one of nature’s delights.
At low tide you can take a walk east from Porthtowan to the neighbouring beach at Chapel Porth. A National Trust-owned beach, overlooking Chapel Porth is the dramatic ruins of the famous Wheal Coates engine house.
The beautiful golden sandy beach at Porthtowan Cornwall England UK Europe ©Ian Woolcock Shutterstock
Surfers headed for the waves at Chapel Porth, Cornwall ©National Trust Images Hilary Daniel
The pretty sandy beach at Portreath, with a stream running down to the sea on the left-hand side is only three miles away. Popular with surfers and bodyboarders, it has a laid back, chilled feel and very handy parking for all your beach kit.
You’re also close to Perranporth, around 8 miles by road from Porthtowan, where you’ll find one of the north coast’s largest stretches of sand at low tide. It is also very accessible, with parking and many facilities, such as shops and cafes, right next to the beach, so ideal for families with small children and all the beach kit needed for a day on the golden sands.
Porthtowan is far from a shopping metropolis, however there’s everything you need here with all the essentials at Porthtowan Village Stores, Tris Surf Shop for surfing paraphernalia and Porthtowan Beach Shop to kit you out for a day on the beach.
Cornwall Gold is a five minute drive from Porthtowan. It makes and sells amazing jewellery, and has paint-and-create pottery and build-a-bear sessions for children. There is also free entry to Tolgus Mill, an ongoing restoration project of the last Victorian tin mill.
Over at nearby Perranporth enjoy the Watering Hole, an actual bar on the beach. Its known for its music gigs, and annual Tunes in the Dunes Festival, which attracts some class live acts.
The Famous Nine Golf Course over in Portreath has been inspired by some of the most famous golf holes in the world. A uniquely spectacular par 3, nine hole course that will challenge and inspire golfers.
You’re not far from the country park at Tehidy Woods, the largest area of woodland in the whole of Cornwall, is perfect for cycling, walking on fairly flat terrain – which makes it suitable for all age groups and ability levels – or simply being at one with nature.
The aforementioned Tehidy Woods is a fabulous alternative to a coastal walk with over nine miles of pathways and 250 acres of woods and lakes to explore.
The south-west coast path is readily accessible from Porthtowan. Strenuous in parts the walk to Portreath is a 7 mile return journey, heading south. From on high, you will see flowers, views and seabirds, along with remnants of mining heritage dotted around.
If you’re feeling energetic follow the coast path northbound to pretty Perranporth. It’s 9 miles one way so bear in mind your returning mode of transport. While it’s a long walk, it’s pretty easy-going as you pass the gorgeous heather covered cliff tops. You could make a pitstop at Chapel Porth beach, at low tide you can walk right along the beach from Porthtowan. The last section of this coastal walk hugs the steeply sloping cliff face from Cligga Head around to Perranporth. This stomp is rich in scenery from the remains of old engine houses to stunning panoramas of the ocean.
According to local myth many years ago, a dragon roamed the cliffs above Porthtowan, in an area known as Mile Hill. The dragon was known to taunt and terrorise the local people of Porthtowan from his lair in a nearby cave in the cliff face.
The best time to visit Porthtowan is summer, from June until October, when temperatures are usually pleasant and rainfall is low.
The public toilets are situated at the main beach car park.
Porthtowan Holiday Cottages & Luxury Homes
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