Portreath Harbour

Portreath Harbour is a long, narrow harbour on the north coast, a few miles from Redruth. It began as a copper port, and today it is the heart of a village with a sandy beach, a well known surf break and a cliff walk in either direction.

A copper port

The harbour we see today was started in 1760 to ship ore from the mines around Camborne and Redruth. Ships carried copper to Swansea for smelting and came back with Welsh coal for the mine engines. The quay was extended and the inner basin built in 1846. Trade was at its height around 1840, at about 100,000 tons of ore a year. Cornwall’s first railway, the Portreath Tramroad, opened in 1809 to bring ore down to the quay, and the old tramway routes are now part of the Coast to Coast path.

The beach

The beach beside the harbour is soft, fine sand with some shingle lower down, and it suits families. Lifeguards are on duty from 10am to 6pm from mid May to the last weekend of September. Dogs are not allowed on the beach from 1 July to 31 August between 10am and 6pm. Check the tide times before you set out.

Surfing at the harbour wall

The harbour wall makes a break known as the Vortex, for experienced surfers only. Waves can be exceptional in stormy weather, so take care. Surf hire is available in the village if you would rather learn on the beach.

Parking and getting there

There is a privately owned car park on the beachfront and a little on street parking, so come early on summer days.

A walk from the harbour

The North Cliffs path to Hells Mouth is about five miles there and back. It is strenuous at the start and finish, with wildflowers and a good chance of seeing seals. The cliffs erode, so keep back from the edge and keep dogs under control.

Who looks after it

Cornwall Council owns the harbour. Beynon Shipping gave it to Kerrier District Council in 1980, and Cornwall Council took it over when Kerrier was abolished in 2009. The Portreath Harbour Association leases the basins, slipway, quays, hard standing, boat shed and bait shed from the Council and looks after the harbour day to day.

For moorings, harbour rules, notes for visitors and how to get in touch, see the Portreath Harbour Association website. Cornwall Council’s Maritime Service also lists the harbour among Cornwall’s harbours.

Checked October 2026. Opening times in the village change in winter, so check before you go.