Porthtowan guide

Find Businesses and Services in Porthtowan, Great Britain

Please select your preferred Industry

Porthtowan derives its Cornish name from its most obvious feature - its sandy beaches and dunes (towans). It owes its present day character to its popularity as a local seaside resort in Victorian and Edwardian times when the local populous from Redruth and the surrounding areas flocked here, particularly on Bank Holidays. Today's conveniently placed shops and tourist amenities have their roots in this period when a handful of bathing machines served the adventurous swimmers of the day, most people then being content merely to take tea after a walk on the cliffs. The cliff walks are still splendid, but there is now much more to Porthtowan than just tea rooms! One local folk tale tells of a voice from the sea; "The hour is come but not the man." A ghostly figure spotted at the top of a nearby hill, in response to the call, rushed down and vanished beneath the waves. Overlooking Porthtowan are the remains of Wheal Towan, one of Cornwall's most celebrated 18th century copper mines and scene of a fortune amassed by Ralph Allen Daniell of Trelissick, "guinea a minute" Daniell - his reputed income night and day. In 1897 the wreck of the Rose of Devon left a lasting scar on the locality, bodies of dead sailors being buried in the cemetery at nearby Mount Hawke where a Cornish cross now marks the sad event. Mount Hawke is the country cousin to Porthtowan one and a half miles inland. Founded on mining and agriculture, and once a local centre for rope making, the village has become popular in the last 20 years. Several lovely wooded walks are possible from here as well as access to some of Cornwalls most exclusive areas of natural beauty.


Latest Tweets featuring Porthtowan

  • mr_djb

    Had a few at Porthtowan. A bit messy but better than it looked from the beach. Still very cold! http://t.co/98nZ8gid

    Today, 19:10

  • KempJoshua

    Just got the best pick and mix from porthtowan postoffice. £2 worth

    Today, 17:09

  • B_Roscorla

    new #photograph #Cornish #Seascape"#Porthtowan #Cornwall" by Brian #Roscorla http://t.co/6kX4gpUs via @redbubble

    Yesterday, 22:10

  • alfani81

    RT @B_Roscorla: #Porthtowan #Cornwall a home for the Surfing fraternity. Porthtowan is a great place t #Photography http://t.co/cS5TEpnh via @Photo4mecom

    Yesterday, 21:55

  • B_Roscorla

    #Porthtowan #Cornwall a home for the Surfing fraternity. Porthtowan is a great place t #Photography http://t.co/cS5TEpnh via @Photo4mecom

    Yesterday, 21:51

  • B_Roscorla

    #Porthtowan #Cornwall a home for the Surfing fraternity. Porthtowan is a great place t #Photography http://t.co/aZDR09vM via @Photo4mecom

    Yesterday, 21:48

  • B_Roscorla

    #Porthtowan #Cornwall a home for the Surfing fraternity. Porthtowan is a great place t #Photography http://t.co/tAh31c1E via @Photo4mecom

    Yesterday, 21:44

  • Amber__Rose

    If you would like to be in a large group scene of teenagers on the beach, come to Porthtowan this friday at 10 am!! @InvictusTrust

    Yesterday, 19:35

  • ryanCRASHBURN

    @NikoGardner i'm gonna head back next week man and hit up probably porthtowan and godrevy

    Yesterday, 13:46

  • Hugo_555

    @samrosswindsurf Porthtowan, Godrevy, Portreach.... Good size. Shattered.

    Feb 7th, 22:46

  • IanAshton

    Sunrise from the water in Porthtowan this morning, great waves, if a little cold

    Feb 7th, 12:33

  • Hugo_555

    @njmorton Porthtowan today. Leven yesterday... Forecast looking good.

    Feb 6th, 23:00

  • LadyKarenina

    I'm a mermaid you know, I prefer wilder seas. And Porthtowan has got better cliffs. And surfers. x

    Feb 5th, 23:33

  • LadyKarenina

    Oh, where was I? Oh yes, sleeping in a rock near Polperro, but it's way to quiet, maybe I should go to the Celtic sea near Porthtowan.

    Feb 5th, 23:31

  • LukasDrinkwater

    @Fishrider A'ch no! Rest well & enjoy - I slipped on frozen stream this time last year at Porthtowan & did much the same, & broken fin!

    Feb 5th, 20:31

Featured Businesses and Services in Porthtowan

Other Businesses and Services in Porthtowan

Do you have, or know of, a company or business that operates in Porthtowan?

Click here to register and add the company!

Write a blog post about Porthtowan

Add a Business to Porthtowan

Map of Porthtowan

Porthtowan Webcams