FAMILY
Rock pools, ice cream, shipwrecks and legends — for families, pretty Porthleven is hard to beat
Less than 15 miles north of Lizard Point, Porthleven is the most southerly working port in the UK. Though it was once most famous for its pilchard and mackerel output, today it’s popular with families who come for the excellent food, handsome harbour and proximity to beautiful Cornish beaches. Little ones will love dipping into rock pools and clambering over the cannons fringing the harbour that were salvaged from a shipwreck, while families with older kids can test out easy hiking on the South West Coast Path.
GLORIOUS FOOD
Try the Corner Deli, where hand-spun pizzas are crisped in the wood oven, or Nauti But Ice on the historic harbourside for cones of Roskilly’s brownie and marshmallow ice cream. In April, you can bring the family for the annual Food Festival, a free event celebrating Cornish food and drink with chefs such as Antony Worrall Thompson, plus music and outdoor feasts (21-23 April). thecornerdeliporthleven.co.uk nautibutice.co.uk porthlevenfoodfestival.com
SANDY ADVENTURES
The beach here is great for sand castles, crabbing in rock pools and watching pro surfers near the harbour. Later, you can pick up the South West Coast Path nearby for the 35-minute wander to Loe Bar beach and Loe Pool, the largest freshwater lake in Cornwall. Legend has it that King Arthur’s sword Excalibur lies at the bottom. Just keep an eye on the tides, and return to Porthleven, which has a lifeguard in summer, if your kids feel
