Porthtowan
OS Grid ref:- SW690483
The coastal village of Porthtowan, situated between St. Agnes and Portreath has a good sandy beach which is excellent for surfing and hosts a number of surfing championships each year.
The beach at Porthtowan has a lifeguard in high season, is home to the Blue Beach Bar and has a salt water bathing pool. It is possible to walk across the beach to St. Agnes at low tide and there are spectacular views over to St. Ive's lighthouse and harbour to the south.
The village became a frequented resort in Victorian and Edwardian times. Porthtowan derives its name from the Cornish word for sand dunes, 'towan'.
The area offers stunning cliff top walks, where picnic areas are often provided. There have been occasional sightings of dolphins and basking sharks in the summer.
Wheal Towan overlooks the village, which dates from the eighteenth century and was once one of Cornwall's most famous mines. All along the heather decked cliffs the solitary remains of derelict mine buildings can be seen.