Exposed to all of the Atlantic’s fury during tumultuous weather systems, Porthleven is best known for being the ‘storm capital’ of Britain – a fascinating place to watch huge waves crash into the sea wall. Positioned on the south coast within Mounts Bay, the town is in an ideal spot as a base for exploring the area’s landmarks, beaches and neighbouring attractions.

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A local’s guide to Porthleven holidays…

Things to do in Porthleven

Life in the coastal town of Porthleven on Cornwall’s south coast, is unbelievably relaxing. Cottage-lined streets meander past Cornish cafes and down to a pretty harbour with its historic breakwater and sea views.

Perfectly positioned to make the most of all that the area has to offer, the town itself has a three mile stretch of beach which is terrific for walks with the family and dogs. Just south-west is Loe Bar beach (on Cornwall’s largest freshwater lake), while Gunwalloe Cove and the wonderful Praa Sands are both just a short drive away.

Further afield lie the towns of Marazion and its famous St Michael’s Mount, as well as Falmouth with its fantastic Maritime Museum, while nearby Penrose Estate makes for a fantastic family-friendly day out.

 

 

Porthleven Food Festival

Every May, Porthleven welcomes both locals and visitors to its pretty streets for a celebration of all things food and drink. This extremely popular event sees well-known British chefs showcase their skills with live cooking demonstrations, as well as masterclasses and guided tastings hosted by sommeliers, beer experts and wine connoisseur.

Stalls abound, selling crafts and handmade products, along with Cornwall’s finest independent food and drink producers. This is a very family-friendly event too, with lots for kids to do and experience. The festival lasts three days and is said to be a town ‘takeover’, with shops, restaurants and local purveyors getting involved.

On top of all that takes place during the day, there’s a programme of evening happenings like the event’s ever-popular Feast Nights. The Diner’s Club pop-up catering is a hit too with stalls serving tasting plates laid around a stretch tent with bar and seating, and there’s a full line-up of music and entertainment, that’s free to attend all weekend.

While entry to the festival is free along with many of the live music acts and cookery demonstrations, some events are ticketed. The Porthleven Food Festival gives all the details on their website.

  • What is the nearest train station to Porthleven?

    There are two train stations within 25km of Porthleven – Camborne and Penzance (both are serviced by the mainline from Paddington). Visitors travelling by train will need to then take a bus from their preferred station to Porthleven. The bus takes between 35 and 55 minutes from Penzance bus station depending on the time of day. From Camborne it’s between 1 and 1.5 hours which includes a changeover and short walk to Blue Anchor in Helston.

  • Is the Porthleven food festival free?

    Yes, entry to the Porthleven Food Festival is completely free which includes cooking demonstrations by top British chefs in the food arena. Some events are ticketed, however including wine tastings and the evening events on the Friday and Saturday nights.

  • Can you swim at Porthleven Beach?

    Swimming at Porthleven Beach is not advised due to strong undercurrents, a steep drop off the shingle shelf, and rough seas especially at low tide. The beach is lifeguarded during the summer holidays as this is a surfing spot for experienced surfers. A safer swimming beaches in the area is Praa Sands which is about 10 minutes’ drive (please follow the beach and swimming safety guides here as well).

     

  • Can dogs go on Porthleven Beach?

    From Easter Sunday to 30th September dogs aren’t allowed on the main beach between the times of 9:00am and 7:00pm. This restricted section of the beach runs from the Harbour Wall to Blue Buoy Steps. There are no dog restrictions for the beach outside of this area.

     

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