Porthcothan is a deep sandy beach with a river running down its right side. On a calm day, the waters are crystal clear, and there are several rocks to swim to – or around – from the shore, including the large Will’s Rock pictured above centre. It’s said that a revenue man chasing down smugglers was tied to this rock and left to face the rising tide. Incredibly, he survived. Whether or not he was the ‘Will’ that the stack is named after, it’s not clear. But either way, it makes for a really beautiful swim.
To the left along the coast path from Porthcothan you’ll find the very special Trescore Islands, who have their own blog post. Walk right from the beach towards Treyarnon and you’ll discover a series of long, narrow coves with steep, steep sides. Perfect places to hide if you’re a ship unloading things you shouldn’t be… Rich in history, this coastline is full of caves and long-disused smuggling tunnels – one of which is believed to have stretched a mile inland.
Fox Cove (pictured top right) used to be accessible to swim in, but since a large landfall, I wouldn’t advise climbing down, despite it looking so tempting. One to return to with a kayak or boat I’d say!
Similar spots: For deep narrow coves ~ Port Quin
