Soak in the atmosphere with a Cornwall holiday rental home or beach holiday cottage in Porthleven, Cornwall

Porthleven is a picturesque fishing harbour overlooking Mounts Bay in the Kerrier District of West Cornwall. It is a beautiful harbour village steeped in history and is located between Lizard Point and Land's End. A number of smaller fishing coves are scattered around Porthleven including the Lizard, Mullion, Kynance, Poldue, Cadgwith, Ogo-dour Cove and Vellan Head and Gunwalloe. Nearby Loe Bar separates the sea from the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall.

Places to stay in Porthleven

Porthleven is a lovely place to visit or as a base for your holiday in Cornwall. It has a small working fishing harbour with a granite pier, storm booms, a small beach and is a popular holiday centre. There are several hotels and guesthouses in the area, but if you really want to soak in the atmosphere and feel at home in Porthleven, above the beach cottages offer the best option.

Renting self-catering accommodation in the holiday cottages above the beach in Portleven allows you the freedom to explore the fish centre, waterfront inns, craft shops and restaurants in Porthleven and the rest of Cornwall. There are beautiful coastal walks, whether you choose to go east or west of the village, or inland to Helston passing by the Penrose estate and the woodland walks at Loe Pool.

A full circuit of Loe Pool is about five miles long and features of this area include Carminowe Creek, Loe Marsh, Bar Walk Plantation, Degibna Wood and birdwatching areas. There are numerous towns within four miles of Porthleven seaside cottages including Breage, Helston, Carleen, Cury, Germoe, Gunwalloe, Wendron, Gweek and Crowan.

Things to do in Porthleven

The Salt Cellar Workshops are the ideal place to find a present to take home or remind you of your holiday cottage in Porthleven, as here you will find the very best in local Cornish arts and crafts including hand made pottery, hats, clothing, willow work, glassware and paintings. Eating out is a pleasure with a wide choice of restaurants, cafes, bistros and inns selling local specialities, such as Cornish pasties, freshly caught fish, Cornish ice cream, fudge and Cornish cream.

Events in Porthleven include Porthleven Lifeboat Day held at the end of August to raise money for RNLI and the Penlee lifeboat will be on display. The annual Air Day is held at RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk) just outside Helston in July and this market town is also host to the annual Helston Flora (Furry) Dance.

Castles to visit in the area include Pendennis, St Mawes and Caerhays. The Chyauster Ancient Village gives you a glimpse into the inhabitants of Celtic Cornwall and the Wayside Folk Museum has an extensive collection from the past, or you can visit the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro. Gardens open to the public include Caerhays, Trebah, Penjerrick, Lamorran House, Bosvigo and Trewithen. There are good fishing, sea sports, horse riding and golf facilities as well.

Weather in Porthleven

Porthleven's climate is temperate, which allows the many gardens in the area to flourish, but it can be very windy and stormy in the winter.

Travel in Porthleven

Newquay Airport serves Porthleven and the National Express Coaches run a direct service from London to Porthleven. Mainline trains stop at Camborne, Hayle and Penzance and First National's no2 bus runs from Falmouth to Penzance stopping at Porthleven harbour.