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Porthleven West Beach

Cornwall, England


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Porthleven West Beach is a small, mainly shingle beach located in a bay backed by cliffs on the south coast of Cornwall.

Porthleven West Beach is situated at the western end of Porthleven Sands and is approximately 330 metres wide. The beach is backed by cliffs and features a mix of shingle and coarse sand. The beach is home to the Porthleven Reef Break, a popular surf spot known for its challenging and potentially hazardous conditions.

The Porthleven Reef Break is considered one of the best surf spots in the UK, but it is also extremely dangerous and only suitable for experienced surfers. The reef is shallow, and the shelves drop steeply, making it essential for surfers to exercise extreme caution. Swimming is not recommended at this beach, and the area has claimed several lives over the years, particularly at the notorious Loe Bar stretch.

The beach is a popular destination during the summer season, with many holiday cottages nearby. Dog owners will be pleased to know that the west part of the beach is dog-friendly all year round, although there are restrictions in place around the harbour pier wall during the summer months.

Porthleven West Beach is adjacent to the South West Coast Path.

Shingle

Weather and tides for Saturday 19 July

Today
Chance of rain 86%
Max temp. 19°C
(feels like 18°C)
Wind 13mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 84%
Min temp. 16°C
(feels like 13°C)
Wind 18mph

The tide at Porthleven West Beach is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 6:11 AM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 12:05 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   16.8°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Shops Litter bins Slipway
  • Popular Activities

    Surfing Swimming Walking
  • Sea Life

    Dolphins Seals Sharks
  • Parking

    There are various small car parks near the beach. A fee is charged for parking.

  • Dogs

    Dogs not allowed Easter Sunday to 30th September (7:00am - 7:00pm).

  • Beach Cleaning

    Beach cleaned daily during the summer.

  • Lifeguard

    Daily - 9th July - 4th September

  • Awards

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Excellent water quality

    Excellent water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Porthleven West Beach

Things to do and see in the area

Vertical Blue Adventures (0.3 miles)
Porthleven Harbour (0.3 miles)
Four Crows Gallery (0.4 miles)
Loe Pool (0.9 miles)
The Blue Anchor (2.1 miles)
Helston Museum (2.2 miles)
Flambards Theme Park (2.5 miles)
Dan Joel Surf School (3.9 miles)
Newton Equestrian Holidays (4.4 miles)

Places to eat near Porthleven West Beach

The Atlantic Inn (270 yards)
Nauti But Ice (290 yards)
Ship Inn (200 yards)
Harbour View Cafe (230 yards)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Porthleven

Location type: Town

OS Grid: SW631252

Country: England

Local Authority: Cornwall

Parish: Porthleven

Nearest postcode: TR13 9EQ

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for Porthleven West Beach, Cornwall, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.14.84 Sat, 19 Jul 2025 03:41:25 +0100