Portloe

Cornwall Information & Accommodation Guide

Portloe is a pretty, unspoiled, fishing village nestled in a steep valley on the Roseland Peninsula on the south coast of Cornwall

The village lies within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Portloe was a thriving pilchard fishery but as the taxes on salt for salting the fish, made it such an expensive commodity, many local residents turned to smuggling to make their living.

Portloe's location and remoteness made it an excellent place for smugglers to land their contraband. Smuggling was a popular activity in the 18th and early 19th century and even the local inn keeper went to the gallows for engaging in smuggling French brandy. Many local farms and fish cellars would have contained barrels of smuggled French brandy.

The situation became so serious that in 1824 Customs ordered that a watch, boathouse and slip should be erected at Portloe but smuggling continued for as long as it was profitable.

In 1870 a lifeboat was stationed at Portloe by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) but it was removed in 1887 and never performed a rescue. In 1877 it was moved from its first boat house to one closer to the water. Its first house was converted into a church. After the boat's withdrawal the second boat house became a school and it is now a private house.

Portloe is from the Cornish words 'porth' meaning a 'port' or 'harbour' and 'logh', meaning an 'inlet'.

In the early twentieth century, Portloe had more than fifty fishing boats.

Today, fishing boats still land crab and lobster at this tiny harbour. Two full-time fishing boats work out of Portloe - the Jasmine and Katie Lil.

Many film and TV companies have used Portloe as a filming location for their productions.
The TV series, 'The Camomile Lawn' was filmed near here at Broom Parc, as was the 2012 Richard Curtis film, 'About Time'.

In 1935, the war story, 'Forever England' was filmed here and the 1949 Disney film, 'Treasure Island' shot many scenes at Portloe. The 1963 film, 'Crooks in Cloisters', featured Portloe.
More recently the BBC series, 'Wild West' with Dawn French and Catherine Tate used Portloe as the village of St Gweep. Irish Jam (2004) was also filmed here.

Portloe is also popular with other famous personalities including Prime Minister Mr David Cameron, Will Young and Morrissey, who have all visited the village.

Portloe is on the Cornwall Coast Path with excellent walks to the east and west. You can also enjoy walks inland on numerous public footpaths and quiet country lanes. Fishing is popular and you can explore the area's local history.

Sir John Betjeman described Portloe as "One of the least spoiled and most impressive of Cornish fishing villages".

Location:
Portloe is located on the western side of Veryan Bay in the Parish of Veryan.

Road directions to Portloe

Books online:
Click here to buy books online about Portloe

  Topical phrases of the month October: 'Festival Phrases'

  Place Name of the Month October: Karrekreun – Cargreen