Porthleven, Cornwall? Is it worth visiting- A nostalgic walk around the village

Porthleven's harbour has been, and still is, one of the most important safe refuges for vessels on the stretch of coastline between Penzance and Falmouth.
With the help from Porthleven Town Trail, we explore and learn more about how and why Porthleven thrived in the 19the century. The pamphlet contains several old photos and we had fun trying to stand in similar spots to see what changes have happened. The trail was put together by Porthleven Community Interest Company and can be found on their website, www.porthleven....
As well as the pamhplet, we refer to a selection of old books about Cornwall, giving first hand accounts of Porthleven's history. Did you know that the harbour imported ice from Scandinavian countries? And just what is that church-like building at the end of the pier? And did you know that a Customs Officer was shot in 1769?
Explore with us and find out if there really is a smugglers' passage from a pub to the beach!
The standard description bit…
We are Sarah and Andrew and we film our walks around Cornwall and publish on KZbin, usually weekly. Sometimes we stay in accommodation in Cornwall and upload our vlog. Sarah is fascinated by sea glass and likes to collect it so there may be the occasional sea glass video too. The channel is a hobby and we both have normal day jobs!
We love your comments and read all of them. We also answer as many as possible. Unfortunately, we cannot answer comments received more than a week after publication.
Frequently asked questions:
What are your dogs called?
Sorry but we do not release the names of our dogs but perhaps you could make up a name for them!
What camera do we use?
Since December 2018 we have used: Canon Powershot G7x MkII
How do I find the books you use?
Most are still in print although some we pick up in charity shops and may be available on Amazon secondhand. Please refer to the video for the book titles. Every video shows the book three times. Sorry but we can’t put a link in every description.
Best time of year to visit Cornwall?
We love May, June for flora and fauna, July and September for spectacular scenery.
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[@bronwynfox3578]

In 1984 my husband discovered Loe Bar and then Porthleven and Cornwall. We walked along the coastal foot paths and stayed all over Cornwall although Porthleven was our favourite. In 2000 owing to illness my husband was no longer able to drive so we gave up our car. Why I did not learn to drive is still a mystery to me. So that was the end of our Cornish holidays. A few months ago I discovered a video of yours, walking from Loe Bar to Portheven. It was as if I was walking along as we used to .I could almost smell the sea and feel the wind. I watch your videos every day now and thank you so much for the joy they bring me.I particularly enjoyed this video of Porthleven. xx

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Ahhh! How lovely! Join us every week for a new slice of Cornwall - we may even take you to places you've not visited! Sarah :)

[@elinaranes4357]

Thank you for this interesting vlog from Porthleven. Especially the story about the ice from Norway. I’m Norwegian so I had to look this up of course. The iceexport from Norway was a very lucrative business from about 1850 to 1914 to all over Europe. The ice was handsawed from ponds and also from fjords with brackish water into huge blocks. This industry emploid a lot of people on the eastcoast of Norway. I think they kept the iceblocks from melting by using sawdust and straw to insulate it.😀

[@cathydyer3774]

Thanks Elina. I was going to find out more. Do you know what cargo was taken from England to Norway in the first place?

[@elinaranes4357]

@@cathydyer3774 Hi Cathy, I tried to find out what cargo they took in return to Norway after unloading the ice. The only thing I found was coal. I also read that they often filled the cargoplace with soil as ballast for their returntrip. The soil was then dumped either in the sea or at the beaches along the coast. So on several places in Norway you can find «ballast» plants and flowers that are nonindigenous to Norway.😀

[@cathydyer3774]

@@elinaranes4357 . Elizabeth thank you so much. That is really interesting x

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

How interesting! Thank you! Sarah :)

[@esthermorrissey1454]

A gentle, relaxing look at ‘Wonderful Porthleven’ - what a treat on a warm October day. Your ability to bring the ‘past’ to life is so interesting& this video didn’t disappoint. Thank you Sarah and Andrew for another ‘brilliant’ video on CWT,

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Thank you! Sarah :)

[@peterdovey5182]

I'm at Praa sands in November, so Porthlevens in my sights. You two sell Cornwall so well.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Enjoy! Sarah :)

[@julianbeesley5059]

The black street bollards we often see in towns originate from an occasion when salvaged canons were used for the purpose, the canon ball sat in the top. Now it’s common to see these black canon shaped bollards with the rounded top.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Thank you! That is so interesting! Sarah :)

[@steve94971]

Beautiful

[@lesleyslade2979]

Thank you Sarah and Andrew. Really enjoyed your tour of Porthleven. Mum and l lived at 16 Bay View Terrace in the 50s. I took the bus to and fro to school in Helston. Danced in the Flora. You qualified as a Helston scholar. I must say the outlook from Bay View could be very depressing in the winter. Grey, grey and grey!

[@brawdygordii]

I used to live out on Carnmeal Downs near Sithney and as a young teenager had good reason to visit Porthleven as often as possible 😉 Keep up the interesting comments and the punny moments,👍

[@judybee]

What a beautiful October day for your trip to Porthleven. Here's a little titbit of info for you! My old aunt (now deceased) had a life long friend who lived nearby me. When she was young she worked for a certain well known actor's father as his secretary. The actor's father (now deceased) was also a well know actor. The father's friend was Guy Gibson. It's a well known story of his famous dog, whose name will probably be censored if I write it down, but you probably know it. My aunt's friend was given a statue of the dog which Guy Gibson had had made and probably gave to his friend the actor as a memento. My aunt's friend was given it in turn as a thank you, I presume, for all her work as his secretary over many years. It used to be in her garage! I lost touch with her when my aunt passed away. But somewhere out there someone has that dog statue! It had the original collar on it of the dog in question. I didn't know that Guy Gibson had lived in Porthleven. Have been there many times, but not seen that plaque! x J x

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Oh my goodness! Wouldn't it be great if you were to come across it again! We caught some of the old black and white film recently and they have edited the doggy's name to 'Trigger'. Sarah :)

[@neilcurson4505]

Trigger was Roy Rodgers horse, showing my age! Dark brown paint is now called Conker..

[@brawdygordii]

​@@neilcurson4505 Strange that Triggers are allowed to call each other Trigger but we can't call a spade a spade anymore.

[@lindacourtemanche5550]

I remember this location from an earlier video that featured a storm. Gorgeous day for a walk and sharing the smuggler stories. Thanks for another interesting video.👟🌞

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

A favourite spot of ours! Sarah :)

[@GilliBryan]

Gorgeous colours!

[@bernicebest]

What an impressive town Porthleven looks, a stunning harbour looking very tranquil on a beautiful Oct. Day, my mouth was watering watching you eat that ice cream 🍦 Sarah, but coffee ☕️ as well! I love the sound of the breakers rolling in, I also admire the bravery of those surfers, felt sorry for the one footed seagull though! I’m also intrigued to know how they transported all that ice from Norway! well I have had a good laugh at Andrews jokes again, you have both made my day, thank you 🙏 for another brilliant video. 🤗

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Thank you! Sarah :)

[@lindsay161]

Loved it. We are going down Thursday for a week so really enjoyed your walk round the harbour

[@TravellingTorunn]

Lovely and interesting video. We took a stroll around the harbour and out on the pier this summer but we didn't know all this. I also think the houses in the hillside are really beautiful with all the colours. I was going to tell you about the secrets of the ice export from Norway, but I see now that Elina Rånes has already done that, and very well so👍🏻😊 Thank you for this lovely video 😊

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Hi Torunn, I thought you may have the answer and almost directly asked you in the video! Sarah :)

[@TravellingTorunn]

@@CornishWalkingTrails haha, yes you are free to ask but I don't always know the answer. This one I actually knew the answer to 👍🏻😊

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

@@TravellingTorunn LOL! Sarah :)

[@SpanishEclectic]

Great tour! The painted details on the Bay View Terrace houses just sing! I see a comment about straw, etc. used to keep ice from melting on the way from Norway. Also, seawater is cool and sailing ships at the time wouldn't have modern engines creating constant heat. The Star of India (formerly Euterpe, built Isle of Man, 1863) is part of our Maritime Museum. I believe for a time she transported ice (and salmon) from Alaska. My Grandmother grew up in NYC (born in 1901), and told me their ice was brought down on wagons from upstate NY and Canada; she and her sister would go down to feed carrots to the ice man's horse. One of my favorite stories as a kid. Interesting too, to learn of ancient bogs in the area. That would explain the acid soil. As a gardener, it makes me think of Daphne Du Maurier's description of the huge walls of red rhododendrons along the road to Manderley; rhododendrons and hydrangeas (as well as fern bracken) love acidic soil. I definitely learn something new with every video. :)

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

That is a lovely story, thank you so much for sharing! Sarah :)

[@Louisa93able]

When I was about 8 years old in the late 1950s I had a holiday with my mum and two sisters in Porthleven, staying at the home of a lady on the West side of the harbour. Her husband and all but the youngest son had been lost at sea fishing in bad weather. I remember the spider crab salad, skate and huge conger eels landed at the harbour and watching a sea otter fishing for crabs from the cliff top further along the West side towards St Mount's Bay.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Wonderful memory! Sarah :)

[@Erika-Uwe]

Again a glorious video around porthleven , so much information in the leaflet and such amazing views , porthleven is a beautiful town, hubby recons maybe they kept the ice blocks from norway in salt ,that kept them from melting during their long long way from there to porthleven.a big thank you from us to you for showing such exiting videos.🙂erika &hubby

[@suroyal9394]

I believe salt is used for melting ice, so it would have the opposite effect to that required. Probably the ships were well insulated & the ice being in bulk would have reduced the level of melting. A lovely video, we’ll be looking out for that book to take the trail ourselves next week ☺

[@Erika-Uwe]

@@suroyal9394 ah ,ok ,well we don't know anything about it ,so thanks for your information.

[@fkb9490]

Thank you for this video. My mother was born in Porthleven. As I live in the Netherlands, I don’t get a chance to visit it very often.

[@christineching1891]

We live on the north coast but love Porthleven. Another fab video, keep up the good work! 😊

[@JoannaLouise200]

CWT Friday ~ yay!! Beautiful gentle walk...so appreciate the background history and your cross-referencing with the guide books ~ all bringing scenic Porthleven to life. Especially interesting to hear about the shell-sand being used as a substitute for lime to alkalize Cornwall's acid soils. Also the ice from Norway! ~ I'm guessing it was transported deep in the holds of the old ships, much the same as the grand estate ice-houses of the 18th/early 19th centuries which were 3/4 sunk underground to prevent thawing.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

This story also made me think of the ice houses and the early, lead-lined ice box at Lanhydrock! I guess lead would be too heavy on a boat maybe!?! Sarah :)

[@JoannaLouise200]

@@CornishWalkingTrails They must have had sturdy cargo ships when you think of all that weight in ice! Beautiful atmospheric Lanhydrock House & gardens!...visited many years ago, and yearn to return. Would dearly love to see it all decked out for Christmas...I think you have a video of this ~ must search the CWT back catalogue! :)

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

@@JoannaLouise200 Ahh yes! We do! It was glorious! I want to watch that too now!! Sarah :)

[@evelynnicholl5366]

Nice you have good weather in Cornwall , not so warm up here in Scotland 😌😌

[@amazinggrace4036]

Lovely, those amazing houses on the edge of the water! Simply lovely! I’m jelly! Wow, to dream for. Thank you for sharing Sarah and Andrew…..Ana🌹…p.s. maybe the weather was ‘icy cold’ and the ice survived! 😉

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Hello Ana! Some wonderful comments have helped to explain the icey mystery! Sarah :)

[@amazinggrace4036]

So glad Hope all is well 😉Sarah It’s been a heavy year for me but the best is always to come 🌼

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

@@amazinggrace4036 You're positivity is infectious! I hope you are well! Sarah :)

[@joyhursey1480]

Nice walk very interesting, andrews jokes don’t get any better. Good to get out and breathe the sea air. Take care

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

I think you just get immune to them! Sarah :)

[@cathydyer3774]

Thank you Sarah and Andrew. I have recently watched a few KZbin videos about Porthleven and now yours. What a lovely October day and great to hear more about the history of PL. I also looked up the shipwrecks and the HMS Anson shipwreck in December 1807 with the tragic loss of many lives including Captain Lydiard. I was also curious enough to look on Rightmove to look inside some of the houses sold in Bay View Terrace in the past and to see their lovely terraces and sea views. :)

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Oh, how wonderfully sneaky - why didn't I think of that! I will be looking some up now.... Sarah :)

[@cathydyer3774]

@@CornishWalkingTrails 🤣🧐

[@neilcurson4505]

Hi Sarah, we were in Cornwall last week, the weather was great as you say, until Saturday when we got soaked on Park head! Ah well we will be back in spring. Just been catching up on your last 3 informative videos. Thankyou.

[@PhilipInCoventry]

Relatives had a guest house in Porthleven, but since retirement now live in Gweek. I've put bits of my Cornish history on various posts to your videos. I love the romance of the County, that's been part of my history, my mum's dad was a vicar at St Justs, in 1900. Again, thank you for your videos. Brill!

[@deborahevans1452]

I was just washing a programme on the royal pavilion in Brighton , the ice was brought there from as far afield as North America and Norway at great expense as half was lost in transit , it had its own ice house which was lined in stone and had layers of straw on the floor this maybe how it was transported as well ,

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Oh thank you! It really is fascinating! Sarah :)

[@VirginiaFoss]

Hilarious xx thank you for sharing and looking forward to your next adventures. My favourite Walk is down to Lamorna Cove. Great spot to sketch Sarah 👌

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

We have a wonderful walk planned for Lamorna, but we want the bluebells to be out! Sarah :)

[@VirginiaFoss]

@@CornishWalkingTrails oh wow Sarah I really can't wait for May xx stay safe

[@Richie90090]

Thanks Sarah and Andrew for a great one as always. I look forward to Fridays!

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Thank yoU! Sarah :)

[@christinesharps5545]

My two favourite people. Our daughter is studying at Falmouth University so we visit as often as possible. How marvellous to have such excellent guides as Sarah and Andrew. Thank you both.❤️

[@monicaskierski9697]

Loved it . Thank you for sharing your walk with us viewers. I ❤

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jamesburt6520]

Thank you Andrew and Sarah for another great video. Lovely little place and a lovely day weatherwise. Thanks again. Take Care.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Our pleasure!

[@slowpawstevet3676]

Porthleven is a great place to visit, been there a number of times including July this year, first time we visited Rick Stein's restaurant but not there this time, great places to eat in the harbour and the Ship Inn, if you can get in!

[@dottydot8058]

cornwall is so nice

[@redcap774]

Thanks you two Cornish trailers with a very interesting visit around lovely Porthleven, I'm thinking, what exciting "smuggler" stories their buildings could tell,

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

If only walls could talk! Sarah :)

[@evelynnicholl5366]

Thank you for your video , love it

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Glad you enjoyed it! And our mild spell continues - no heating yet! Sarah :)

[@garypeacock5919]

Great video, we were fortunate enough to visit Porthleven last september on holiday from Glasgow, lovely wee place and the food in the café you used was excellent ( sorry, can't remember it's name)

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Nauti but Ice! Fabulous play on words but Andrew, too, also forgets it! Sarah :)

[@jennyowen6051]

Brilliant! Loved this week's video! Am fascinated too how they got those big blocks of ice over from Norway. Also, I always thought the building with the clock house was a little church 🤣. Fabulous! Can't wait for next weeks x

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Ahhh yes! A common mistake to think it is a church! Sarah :)

[@susanMcDonald-md3np]

Great video guys,but can’t believe that you didn’t mention the artwork on the doors of the old lifeboat shed 😮😊

[@sallydingle321]

Absolutely love Porthleven and spent a couple of days there at the end of August. Again though, you have enlightened me on all the history and fascinating it was too 👌😁. I read one of your Norwegian subscribers comments about the ice and how they kept it from melting.... amazing 👍. Thanks again Sarah and Andrew for a great video yet again ✊💝😘

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

We have had some wonderful contributions from our audience - so helpful! Just lovely! Sarah :)

[@KaadmAl-anzi]

Hey guys lm from Manchester and l like your videos

[@Zenajs]

We're going for our 3rd stay this coming Sunday.

[@melaniehewetson428]

Yes don’t be shy about asking us to like , I do it immediately to help your algorithm :). I remember a you tuber years ago saying how important it was. Along with subscribe Obs ! Take care. 🤗

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Oh thank you so much! Sarah :D

[@adrianbew9641]

The first China clay was found by William clotworthy at wheal grey ,tresowes and the clay pit lies just along side, all before st austell. You may like to do a walking trail of the carleen/ godolphin area which could cover this, bronze age settlements on tregoning hill, the brick kiln and of course The well known wheal vor that mined one of the richest tin seams ever found in Cornwall, possibly the world.

[@SpanishEclectic]

This sounds so interesting. I hope they take your suggestion!

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

We have visited the area around Godolphin and Great Mine, but Tregonning Hill will have to go on the list!! Sarah :)

[@colinbaker3415]

You mentioned that Porthleven is ideal for photography. Of course, it is, as is the rest of Cornwall. That's why my son spent two days last week touring, including Porthleven . And he found the newest resident (Dave & Bird). Another fact filled adventure from CWT

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

I hope he had a great time! Sarah :)

[@colinbaker3415]

@@CornishWalkingTrails Thanks. Yes, he did. He always comes back with some brilliant photos.

[@rachelbate3443]

Next time you go to porthleven you need to meet Reggie the cat!

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Ooohhhh! I would love to meet Reggie the cat. Redruth railway station has its own cat! Sarah :)

[@grahamkennethgarbutt9261]

I heard Rick pulled out because he insisted that the fish for his restaurant came from padstow although I am sure covid helped . Love your show.

[@marieryan2541]

Hi Sarah and Andrew. I did really enjoy your walk today. I learnt alot about it to thanks to all the history of the place. The impor of ice is amazing considering sailing ships would of taken weeks to get to Cornwall from Norway how did they keep the ice cold without freezers I can't get my head round that answer.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

Yes! It is a puzzling thought but some good comments from our lovely audience here! Sarah :)

[@evelynnicholl5366]

😊😊😊

[@mikeoglen6848]

I've now watched the whole video and I feel compelled to comment on Andrew's observation on a 'buoyant fishing fleet'. If it wasn't 'buoyant' you wouldn't be able to see it because it would've sunk, wouldn't it?

[@anthonykerruish4750]

Just seen this video. Had many holding Porthleven.. Did you know about the plaque in the harbour wall in memory of 2 Police officers who were killed 1 stormy when their police car was washed into the harbour?

[@mikeoglen6848]

It's quite shocking to learn that gun crime is rampant in Porthleven.

[@CornishWalkingTrails]

LOL! Sarah :)

[@Louisa93able]

Global warming? Come to Costa Porthleven!

[@thecornishtemple]

Beautiful