Boat Cove and Portheras Cove
Boat Cove and Portheras Cove sit side by side just to the west of Pendeen Lighthouse, offering a peaceful and picturesque spot along the rugged Cornish coast. I have to admit I hadn’t heard of either cove until this week, but after being kindly asked to try and capture some photos there, I decided to take a walk down and explore the area for myself.
It’s a very short and pleasant walk to Boat Cove if you choose to park at Pendeen Lighthouse. Once you’ve parked your car, simply follow the well-marked path heading west down the gentle hill.
No car access to the coves!
The first cove you reach is Boat Cove, a charming little spot that feels timeless. Just a bit further along the path lies Portheras Cove, and as you make your way down, you'll notice a fork in the track clearly marked “Beach.” Be sure to follow this beach route if you’re heading towards Portheras Cove.
Boat Cove itself is a tiny fishing cove, still very much in use today, with a couple of small boats resting by huts perched at the top of a steep slipway leading down to the sea.
Interestingly, despite its long history of use, there seems to be very little information available online about Boat Cove. Like many Cornish coves, it was used by smugglers in the past—after all, what cove in Cornwall wasn’t? According to one local source, there's even a hidden smuggler’s cave somewhere within the cove, adding an air of mystery to this idyllic spot.
Follow the Beach sign for Portheras Cove.
If you decide to take a walk along the beautiful Portheras Cove, please be aware that the track leading there is quite uneven and rugged. While there is a concrete path and steps once you reach the beach, the bottom steps have been worn away over time, meaning you’ll need to make a short but careful jump down to reach the sand.
Back in 1963, a ship known as the Alacrity ran aground on this very beach and remained there for several years, slowly rusting away in the cove. In 1981, the decision was made to clear the wreck by blowing it up. This left the ship spread out over a larger area and some pieces of the wreckage remain despite extensive efforts to clear it.
On the day I visited, the sun was positioned very high in the sky, making it quite difficult to capture any truly portfolio-worthy shots. The cove is bordered by steep cliffs to the east, so as the sun begins to dip and provide the area with its most flattering light, it simultaneously casts a large shadow over the cove and the small boats resting on the slipway. That being said, I am confident there are some beautiful photographs waiting to be taken here, so I plan to return and update this blog with fresh images as I do.
For now, my favourite shot is featured below. This was taken from the Beach Path while walking toward Portheras Cove.
Portheras Cove