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.
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.
History
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 is 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.
Shops & Events
There is a village store selling local produce, a post office, hairdressers, surf shop, restaurant, deli and of course a couple of public houses (pubs/bars) the Unicorn and the BlueBar.
In the summer months by the beach are several excellent shops including a cafe, a surfboard and hire shop, an ice-cream parlour and next door the excellent juice bar run by Chris & Lindsey.
In more recent times Porthtowan has become well known as a surf resort and holds several surf events over the year including the SAS / Aloha Cornish and Open Surf contest around August (annualy). The lifegaurds and surfclub building can be found on the lefthand side of the beach.
