Porthtowan

Porthtowan is a north Cornwall beach set between steep cliffs and a landscape shaped by the county’s mining history. At low tide, the beach opens into a wide stretch of sand, with caves, rock pools and rocky sections becoming visible around the edges of the bay.

The beach faces directly into the Atlantic and is well known for surfing, with swell reaching the bay throughout much of the year. Above the beach, the South West Coast Path follows the clifftops toward St Agnes and Portreath, passing remains from the area’s former copper-mining industry, including the engine house at Wheal Charlotte.

This collection focuses on Porthtowan from above, showing the full shape of the bay, the cliffs surrounding it and the changing colour of the Atlantic water. The aerial views range from broad low-tide beach scenes to busy summer surf, placing Porthtowan within the rugged mining coastline that surrounds it.