Chapel Porth

Chapel Porth is a small, exposed cove on the north Cornwall coast between St Agnes and Porthtowan. Enclosed by steep cliffs, the beach can appear quite compact at high tide, but opens into a much wider stretch of sand as the water falls, revealing caves, rock formations and additional shoreline around the bay.

The surrounding landscape is closely tied to Cornwall’s mining history. Wheal Coates and its Towanroath engine house stand on the cliffs above the beach, while remains of older tin-processing works can also be found around Chapel Combe. The South West Coast Path follows the clifftops, connecting Chapel Porth with St Agnes Head and the wider historic mining coastline.

Its exposed Atlantic position makes Chapel Porth a recognised surf location, with swell lines often clearly visible as they approach the beach. This collection focuses on the cove from above, showing the scale of the cliffs, the exposed low-tide beach and the changing colour and movement of the sea.