Aerial photography

Porthcothan Bay

Porthcothan Bay changes dramatically with the tide. At low water the beach opens into a much larger sweep of sand, while the surrounding cliffs, stacks and coves give the bay its distinct North Cornwall character.

The coastline here has its own local stories. Jan Leverton’s Island, once known for its natural “windows”, was altered by storm waves in 2014 when the central section collapsed. Nearby walks also carry reminders of the area’s smuggling history, with coves and rocks linked to old tales of contraband and customs officers.

These aerial prints capture Porthcothan at its best: wide sand, fast-moving tide, cliff edges, sunset colour, storm light and the open sweep towards Bedruthan and Treyarnon. A strong choice for anyone with a personal link to this beach or the wider North Cornwall coast.

Print offer £10 off your second print · any A4 or A3 unframed, applied at checkout

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  • Porthcothan Bay — Turquoise Low Tide

    Porthcothan Bay — Turquoise Low Tide

    Porthcothan Bay — Turquoise Low Tide
    From £25
  • Autumn Sunrise — Porthcothan Bay

    Autumn Sunrise — Porthcothan Bay

    Autumn Sunrise — Porthcothan Bay
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay — Low Tide Across the Seven Bays

    Porthcothan Bay — Low Tide Across the Seven Bays

    Porthcothan Bay — Low Tide Across the Seven Bays
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay — Three Surfers

    Porthcothan Bay — Three Surfers

    Porthcothan Bay — Three Surfers
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay — Trescore and the Seven Bays

    Porthcothan Bay — Trescore and the Seven Bays

    Porthcothan Bay — Trescore and the Seven Bays
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay — Golden Sunrise Path

    Porthcothan Bay — Golden Sunrise Path

    Porthcothan Bay — Golden Sunrise Path
    From £25
  • Aerial view of Porthcothan Bay at autumn sunset, with golden light across the Atlantic, beach, village, fields and headlands.

    Porthcothan Bay — Autumn Sunset

    Porthcothan Bay — Autumn Sunset
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay — High Tide Rays

    Porthcothan Bay — High Tide Rays

    Porthcothan Bay — High Tide Rays
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay — Sunset with The Quies

    Porthcothan Bay — Sunset with The Quies

    Porthcothan Bay — Sunset with The Quies
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay & Trescore — Low Tide Contrast

    Porthcothan Bay & Trescore — Low Tide Contrast

    Porthcothan Bay & Trescore — Low Tide Contrast
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay — High Tide Sunset

    Porthcothan Bay — High Tide Sunset

    Porthcothan Bay — High Tide Sunset
    From £25
  • Porthcothan Bay — Inferno Sunrise Reflection

    Porthcothan Bay — Inferno Sunrise Reflection

    Porthcothan Bay — Inferno Sunrise Reflection
    From £25
  • Golden Burn, Porthcothan — High Tide Summer Colour

    Golden Burn, Porthcothan — High Tide Summer Colour

    Golden Burn, Porthcothan — High Tide Summer Colour
    From £25
  • Trescore — Contrast at Porthcothan Bay

    Trescore — Contrast at Porthcothan Bay

    Trescore — Contrast at Porthcothan Bay
    From £25
  • Golden Burn, Porthcothan Bay — Bank Holiday Heat

    Golden Burn, Porthcothan Bay — Bank Holiday Heat

    Golden Burn, Porthcothan Bay — Bank Holiday Heat
    From £25
  • Daffodil Field Sunset — Toward Porthcothan & Bedruthan

    Daffodil Field Sunset — Toward Porthcothan & Bedruthan

    Daffodil Field Sunset — Toward Porthcothan & Bedruthan
    From £25
  • Trescore in Winter Surge — Porthcothan Bay

    Trescore in Winter Surge — Porthcothan Bay

    Trescore in Winter Surge — Porthcothan Bay
    From £25
  • Trescore in Motion — Porthcothan Bay

    Trescore in Motion — Porthcothan Bay

    Trescore in Motion — Porthcothan Bay
    From £25
  • Sunbreak on the Atlantic — Porthcothan to Newquay — centred A-series photograph, unframed print preview.

    Sunbreak on the Atlantic — Porthcothan to Newquay

    Sunbreak on the Atlantic — Porthcothan to Newquay
    From £25
  • Rays at Porthcothan Bay Sunrise — centred A-series photograph, unframed print preview.

    Rays at Porthcothan Bay Sunrise

    Rays at Porthcothan Bay Sunrise
    From £25
  • Summer solstice sunrise along Cornwall’s Seven Bays coast, with dark rocks, blue-grey sea and golden fields towards Trevose Head.

    Seven Bays — Summer Solstice Sunrise

    Seven Bays — Summer Solstice Sunrise
    From £25
  • Top-down aerial view of Fox Cove at dusk, with slow-shutter white surf swirling over dark rocks and deep teal Atlantic water.

    Fox Cove — Slow Shutter Surf at Dusk

    Fox Cove — Slow Shutter Surf at Dusk
    From £25
  • Fox Cove — Head-On Summer Clarity

    Fox Cove — Head-On Summer Clarity

    Fox Cove — Head-On Summer Clarity
    From £25
  • Rowan Cove — Low Tide Clarity

    Rowan Cove — Low Tide Clarity

    Rowan Cove — Low Tide Clarity
    From £25

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Where these Porthcothan Bay photographs are taken from

Porthcothan is one of the beaches I photograph most often, so this collection covers every kind of day: red and orange sunrises from over the water in autumn and March, high-tide sunsets in May, a daffodil field inland in early spring with the bay beyond, and top-down views of Trescore and Golden Burn in summer heat. Several images look along the coast from the south of Trescore, taking in Treyarnon, Constantine and the wider Seven Bays.

Tide, surf and colour

At low water the bay opens into a much bigger sweep of sand and the smaller coves join up; at high tide the sea reaches the rocks and the picture becomes about water. The January photographs were taken in a run of large Atlantic surf, using a slow shutter from directly above so the sea pours over Trescore like cloud. The late May and June images show the turquoise that arrives with the first real heat of the year.

Choosing a Porthcothan print

The sunrise images suit rooms that take warm colour. The top-down Trescore and Golden Burn views are the more abstract, contemporary choice. The wide low-tide views are the ones that show the whole bay as you know it. Every print is made to order, unframed, framed or on canvas.

Explore the coastline around this view in our aerial guide to Cornwall’s Seven Bays.

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