South West
© David Dixon · CC BY-SA 2.0 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.
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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
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