Everything about Porthtowan totally explained
Porthtowan is a small village in the
Carrick district of
Cornwall,
England,
UK and is a popular Summer tourist destination which lies within the
Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site. Porthtowan lies on
Cornwall's north
Atlantic coast about 2km west of
St Agnes, 6km west of
Perranporth, 4 km north of
Redruth and
Scorrier, 10km west of
Truro and 15km south-west of
Newquay. Mainline railway services, including the nightsleeper service, from
London, stop at
Redruth and
Truro.
Newquay airport is nearby and private jets, charters and helicopters are served by
Perranporth airfield.
Porthtowan has a
Blue Flag beach and is one of the UK's top
surfing beaches consisting of wide soft white sands and dunes. Its name comes from the
Cornish words 'porth' and 'tewynn' to mean Cove of Sand Dunes.
Porthtowan's history is associated with mining and one of its most prominent buildings is a former engine house converted for residential use. It is also within easy walking distance across
National Trust coastal walks to nearby
Chapel Porth,
Wheal Coates,
Trevaunance Cove and
St Agnes.
Porthtowan owes much of 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. A number of well known local families built houses during this period on the trendy West Cliff area of Porthtowan from where it's possible to walk down directly onto the beach, walk the National Trust paths, or to enjoy the distant sea views. Overlooking Porthtowan are the remains of
Wheal Towan, one of Cornwall's most prolific 18th Century copper mines, which provided
Ralph Allen Daniell of Trelisick with a fortune estimated at the time as a "guinea a minute" night and day.
Porthtowan has more recently become well known as a surf resort and the surfclub building can be found directly on the
Blue Flag beach. This is where the judges can be found for the annual SAS Rip Curl Cornish and Open Longboard Championship which is widely covered by the local radio station
Atlantic FM. The beach is kept under the constant scrutiny the
St Agnes based charity
Surfers Against Sewage and is one of the cleanest in Cornwall.
Porthtowan is also widely known for its stunning beach bar, the
Blue Bar, started by Andy Acosta,Dom Lawson, Tara Roberts and Alex Lawson (nee George - daughter of former
Governor of the Bank of England Baron George of St Tudy). Bands and performers from across the
British Isles play weekend nights at the Blue Bar attracting an eclectic crowd including
Prince William,
Prince Harry,
Kate Winslett and
Sam Mendes. The Blue Bar is also famous for its distant sunset views to the west and is rapidly developing a reputation as Cornwall's answer to
Cafe del Mar in Ibiza. The Blue Bar is also a place to find a wide range of the works by well known
surfboard artist
Lamorna Penrose, which adorn its walls.
Notable Porthtowan residents include the romance and children's author
Chrissie Loveday, and artists
Judie Strega and
Annie b.
The England Premiere of the High School Edition of the Sci-Fi Rock Musical
Area 51 took place in Porthtowan on November 2006, produced by the Porthtowan Players and directed by Karen Stone.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Porthtowan'.
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