Porthcothan beach - circular walks

Porthcothan beach

The beach at Porthcothan, Cornwall

There is a beach at all states of the tide at Porthcothan, though the beach massively increases in size at low tide, and consequently the tide comes in very fast. At the top of the beach, in the sand dunes, is a store. There are also public toilets in the car park, on the opposite side of the road.

On the left side of the beach there are some double rock stacks. Before 2014, one of these (known as Jan Leverton's Island) was one large rock with a pair of "windows" going through it, but the central section containing the windows was obliterated by storm waves leaving a stack on either side. To the far left of the beach is a collapsed cave that has openings both onto the beach and the end of the headland through which it's possible to clamber at low tide.

Walks visiting Porthcothan beach

  • 4.9 miles/7.9 km - Easy-moderate

    Constantine Bay to Porthcothan

    Porthcothan Beach

    Constantine Bay to Porthcothan

    4.9 miles/7.9 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk between Constantine Bay to Porthcothan via nature's swimming pool at Treyarnon beach and a spectacular series of islands, headlands and tiny coves named after wine and pepper smuggled there, and the rock where a customs officer was left by smugglers to drown.

  • 6.8 miles/10.9 km - Easy-moderate

    Seven Bays (via bus)

    Onjohn Cove

    Seven Bays (via bus)

    6.8 miles/10.9 km - Easy-moderate

    A one-way coastal walk, made circular via an initial bus journey, along the Seven Bays coast and around Trevose Head past the lighthouse.

  • 6.2 miles/10 km - Moderate

    Bedruthan Steps to Porthcothan

    Bedruthan Steps

    Bedruthan Steps to Porthcothan

    6.2 miles/10 km - Moderate

    A circular walk featuring some of the most spectacular scenery of the North Cornish coast including the rock stacks of Bedruthan Steps, the azure lagoon of the Trescore Islands and the sheltered golden sandy beach at Porthcothan.

  • 6.8 miles/11.0 km - Moderate

    Porthcothan, Bedruthan Steps and Watergate Bay (via bus)

    Porthcothan, Bedruthan Steps and Watergate Bay (via bus)

    6.8 miles/11.0 km - Moderate

    A (bus-assisted) one-way walk along the coast with spectacular wildflowers and one of Cornwall's most photographed views over the volcanic rock stacks of Bedruthan Steps, which Victorians liked to think of as a giant's stepping stones.

Download the iWalk Cornwall app and use the QR scanner within the app to find out more about any of the walks above.