Porthleven
Porthleven is a small town and popular holiday destination near Helston in West Cornwall. For a small Cornish town, there is certainly plenty to see and do.
The picturesque harbour is the focal point of Porthleven and has a plethora of shops, cafes, galleries, restaurants and traditional pubs surrounding it.
I have been to Porthleven many times, particularly to storm-watch during the Winter months!
I love visiting here at any time of the year.
Where is Porthleven located?
Getting to Porthleven
Porthleven like the rest of Cornwall during the holiday season gets very busy so bear this in mind if you are planning on visiting by car.
By Car
The Sat Nav postcode for Porthleven is TR13 9JS
Porthleven is about 25 minutes from the A30
By Bus
Click here to view the FirstBus timetables for Porthleven
On Foot
Porthleven can be accessed via the beautiful ‘South West Coast Path’.
It takes about 40 minutes to walk from the town of Helston.
I can highly recommend taking the walk between Porthleven and Gunwalloe (it takes about an hour and you’ll be treated to some stunning coastal scenery)
By Air
It takes about an hour to drive from Newquay Airport to Porthleven.
Click here to view hotels, B&B’s & Guest Houses near Newquay Airport
Parking in Porthleven
There are several car parks in and around Porthleven.
TOP TIP – If you are visiting Cornwall on holiday do yourself a big favour and download the ‘JustPark‘ app.
All Cornwall Council car parks use this app. You’ll thank me when you don’t have to join a long queue to pay for parking.
Click here to view car parks in Porthleven
Where to stay in Porthleven
There’s a wide range of quality accommodation available in and around Porthleven.
Click here to view all of the Hotels, B&B’s & Guest Houses available in Porthleven on Booking.com
Where to eat & drink in Porthleven
Porthleven is rapidly becoming a destination for foodies.
Arguably the two most well-known restaurants in Porthleven are:
Rick Stein Porthleven (Sea Food)
I’ve eaten here.
I had mussels for my starter and sea bass for my main. I also discovered a particularly nice pilsner lager by ‘Sharps’ called ‘Offshore’.
As expected the food was great as was the service and it wasn’t crazy expensive either. I would definitely eat here again.
Kota (Pan Asian)
I haven’t eaten here yet but I really want to. In fact, I looked into eating here for my wife’s birthday but at the time of writing the restaurant was closed for the winter period.
The Ship Inn
I’ve had a drink or two here. It’s a traditional pub with a smuggling past. Great views over the harbour from the beer garden and there is a wide range of traditional ales to be had.
The Fudge Kiosk
I often buy vegan fudge for my nephew from here. They also have a full range of fudgy goodness!
What to do in Porthleven
- Take a walk around the harbour visiting the independent shops, studios, and galleries
- Stuff yourself silly at one of the many restaurants, cafes, pasty shops and chippies
- Visit one of a multitude of galleries and art studios
- Visit Porthleven Beach (three miles of golden sand – swimming is not advised though and surfing is for experienced surfers only due to the strong undercurrents!)
- Walk to Loe Bar and the Penrose Estate when the tide is out (make sure you check tide times!)
- Take a walk on the South West Coast Path to Gunwalloe (a stunning National Trust site)
- Visit Flambards Theme Park just outside Helston town centre for a great family fun day out
- Porthleven is a great place for storm watchers – check out my video below
What’s on in Porthleven?
When is the Porthleven food festival?
Porthleven is famous for its annual food festival.
This year (2020) the Porthleven Food Festival will take place between 17/04/20 and 19/04/20.
For an up to date list of ‘What’s on in Porthleven’ click here.
Surfing in Porthleven
Porthleven is one of the best places for ‘experienced’ surfers to surf in West Cornwall. This is not a beginners beach!
For the latest surf report and forecast for Porthleven click here
Is Porthleven dog-friendly?
Click here for some great info on what beaches in and around Porthleven are dog-friendly.
Thanks for reading this article about Porthleven.
Please keep checking back to the site as it is continually being updated.
I’m always out and about in Cornwall and I love sharing my experiences and local knowledge with you.
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Cheers, JV