The Beaches of South Cornwall - S02 - Porthcurno

This map is part of the Ordnance Survey's Explorer series designed to replace the old Pathfinder map series. At 1:25,000 scale this detailed map shows a host of attractions including gardens which are open to the public, nature reserves and country parks as well as all official footpaths, bridleways, roads and lanes. Other facilities covered include: camping and caravan sites, picnic areas and viewpoints, selected places of interest, rights of way information for England and Wales, National Trail and Recreational Path routes, and selected tourist information. The series is aimed mainly at the experienced map user but can be used by tourists and locals alike.

Location: South Coast - Porthcurno

Porthcurno Beach and Treryn Dinas

A somewhat triangular shaped beach at the famous cove of Porthcurno. The first sub-marine transatlantic telecommunications (and lately fibre-optic) cable came ashore here and until recently Cable & Wireless ran a Telegraph College here. A short walk back into the village from the large car park will unearth several features of interest on a cloudy day. Look for the camouflaged buildings of the Museum of Submarine Telegraphy on the eastern flank of the valley. There is a pleasant, if initially steep walk east towards Penberth Cove over Treen Cliff passing the Logan Rock and the striking natural cliff castle of Treryn Dinas. The second beach of Pednvounder - pronounced 'PennyFounder' by the locals - lies just at the foot of the cliffs here. Above the beach to the west lies the famous clifftop Minack Theatre, hewn out of the granite by Rowena Cade in the 1930's. A little further west along the coastpath lies Porth Chapel and St. Levan. Further west still lie Porthgwarra and ultimately Gwennap Head, Nanjizal and Land's End.

Porthcurno Beach and Treryn Dinas from the Minack Theatre