Porthtowan: surf, skate and commune
From the green valley that leads to the sea to the beachside businesses making this beach tick, we found out more about the places to surf, skate and get together in Porthtowan
On the approach to the Porthtowan coastline from inland sits Mount Hawke. First impressions, a quiet Cornish village – explore a little more and discover a vibrant eatery famous for its feast tables and a world-class skatepark, drawing visitors from far and wide.
First stop, Canteen Mount Hawke, the place to commune around well-made food.
“At the core of the company we do weddings and events. We lay these really beautiful long tables in these amazing locations,” explains Canteen co-owner Paul.
“Our chefs cook Mediterranean, Middle-Eastern style food, all cooked on fire: big, bold, smoky flavours, loads of colour, loads of fresh herbs.”
That’s recreated on the long tables inside Canteen Mount Hawke where the atmosphere is open and friendly, with much of the menu sourced from local farmers. And they’ve gone one step further, setting up their own farm a couple of miles along the coast, growing vegetables and herbs for the menu.
Volunteers can join the growing effort. The task list on a Thursday in July includes weeding in the poly tunnel, removing side shoots from tomato plants and direct sowing of some spring onion and radish.
Tucked away behind hedgerows and down a winding lane from the café, on the edge of Mount Hawke, sits an impressive skate park in a barn.
What began with a Mount Hawke Youth Group in the 1980s has become one of the best places to skate in the country, regularly welcoming in local skaters, BMXers and scooter riders of any age.
And it’s about to get even better. Part of the indoor park is being rebuilt later this year. Skatepark manager Barry told us more.
“We did a public consultation and among most of our riders, most of our users here that was the most popular thing that people wanted doing, because it’s the oldest section of the whole skate park.
“With the new mods that we’re going to be putting in, we will be right up there again with some of the best.”
Work begins in late September, with the park reopening before the end of the year. Holidaymakers bringing their board (with wheels), bike or scooter to Porthtowan can book and register at mounthawkeskatepark.com.
“The shop has actually been here since 1974 – one of the first surf shops in Cornwall…They started making surfboards in the early 70s and then opened the shop a couple of years later.”
THE SURF SCENE
Down at the beach, Tris Surf Shop manager Ryan tells us about Porthtowan’s long-standing place to get a board without wheels.
“The shop has actually been here since 1974 – one of the first surf shops in Cornwall. It was opened by my dad, Johnny and his business partner, Tris, hence the name. They started making surfboards in the early 70s and then opened the shop a couple of years later.”
Ryan took over the shop with his partner after his dad, Johnny, retired. What was part shop, part hang out for surfers in the 70s and 80s has changed with the times, becoming a more diverse shop, stocking local brands – from sea glass jewellery to swimwear – while sticking to its ethos as a place to pick-up a board and chat about the local surf scene.
These days, custom-made Tris boards are shaped in nearby St Agnes by @JustinWoolcott.
“We do surf lessons and we rent boards,” says Ryan. “With that, we tell people how the beach works, how to get into surfing through to giving lessons.
“So yeah, it’s the perfect spot to come really because we look after people. If they’re complete beginners, or if they’re just getting into it, we’re more than happy to give that advice, as well as a more formal lesson.”
After playing in the surf, you can follow the river upstream to The Unicorn.
Celebrating its 6th birthday in 2025, the bar and restaurant’s outside seating looks out on to the town playground and the Soul Sweats Lithuanian sauna wagon, while inside the team serve up dishes inspired by sea and land – from the mussels and clams in The Unicorn Steam Pot to the locally-farmed beef in The Unicorn Burger.
And the venue hosts a quiz night every Thursday, with an open stage the first Friday of each month.
Surf, skate or swim, and commune with the sea and the land in Porthtowan
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