South West
St Ives Harbour Beach
Visit St Ives Harbour Beach: picturesque harbor, crystal-clear waters, and artistic heritage, perfect for leisurely swims and cultural experiences.
About Portreath Beach
Portreath is a small beach in a cliff-backed cove near Redruth, once a busy port for the copper and coal trade. It shows up on almost every Cornish sea glass list. The beach is narrow at high tide and much wider at low tide, and the shingle near the shoreline catches glass.
Sea glass at Portreath Beach
Sources describe frosted glass among the shingle near the shoreline and in the small coves and rock pools, with fresh finds after storms once the sea calms. Watch the waves, which can reach further up the beach than you expect.
Visiting Portreath Beach
- Parking
- Portreath Car Park is a medium-sized pay and display car park overlooking the beach, with roadside parking nearby if it is full (Visit Cornwall).
- Safety
- Check the tide times before you go and head out on a falling tide, so you're never cut off. Keep away from the bottom of cliffs, wear sturdy shoes on rocks, and only take sea glass and other man-made rubbish: pebbles, sand and shells should stay on the beach.
From the community
Hunters' reviews of Portreath Beach
Found here:
No reviews yet. Be the first to tell other hunters what you found.
Sources
- visitcornwall.com : Visit Cornwall: big waves bring sea glass in amid the shingle near the shoreline
- kernowcraft.com : Top 6 Cornish sea glass beaches; soft sand and shingle 'filled with all kinds of treasures'
- toadhallcottages.co.uk : Sea glass washes up after storms; sift the sand once stormy seas calm
- penventon.co.uk : Check the small coves and rock pools
- selectcornwall.co.uk : Powerful waves produce smooth frosted pieces; storms bring more
- mudpiefridays.com : Listed as ideal for beachcombing; check tides as it narrows at high water
Last updated 23 October 2026
Nearby
All beaches in South West More sea glass beaches near Portreath
South West
Perranporth Beach
Three miles of dune-backed sand on the north coast where small frosted sea glass turns up near the rocks after storms.
South West
Holywell Bay
A wide dune-backed bay near Newquay whose rock pools and dunes are a favourite hunting ground for Cornish sea glass.
South West
Marazion Beach
Discover Marazion Beach: stunning views of St Michael's Mount, golden sands, and water sports, ideal for picturesque relaxation and adventurous activities.