Portreath
Coordinates: 50 ° 16 ′ N , 5 ° 17 ′ W
Portreath ( Cornish Portreth ) is a small town on the north coast of the county of Cornwall in south-west England . It is two miles northwest of Redruth .
The small port with its narrow access had a heyday in the 19th century when it was a transshipment point for the copper ore mined in Cornwall and coal transported from Wales . The ore railway from Chacewater to the south, still drawn by horses, ended here.
Today the main source of income for the place is tourism. Especially the sandy beach and the strong surf are a magnet for surfers and windsurfers . The route of the former ore railway, the Mineral Tramway , has been expanded to a walking and cycling route across Cornwall.
This and that
In 1895 the steamer “Escurial” sank in a winter storm off Portreath . Rescue attempts failed due to the adverse weather, 11 out of 19 seamen died. The wreck lying at a depth of 15 meters is an attraction for divers . The ship's anchor was lifted in the 1970s and can be viewed in the center of Portreath.
Web links
- Parish Council , official website
- Website Portreath and Porthtowan
- Description Portreath