Porthcurno

Overlooking one of the most dramatic and atmospheric coves in southwest Cornwall, Porthcurno’s triangle of beach, made up of crushed sea shells, is sheltered by Gwennap Head to the west and Cribba Head to the east. In ancient times, Porthcurno was home to Selevan, a Celtic saint. Evidence of his presence exists today in the form of St Levan’s well with its flight of stone steps, St Levan’s cross and the Parish Church of St Levan which dates back to the 13th century.

It was from this village, in 1870, that the first telegraph cable was laid, linking Britain to the rest of the world, and this little bay soon became known as ‘the centre of the universe’, its telegraphic code name was ‘PK’. The Porthcurno Telegraph Museum explains the technology that has been developed, from Victorian times to the present day, to make global communications possible. The museum is housed in a secret underground wartime bunker, with some of the equipment still being in good working order.

Porthcurno is also the home of the Minack Theatre, the most famous cliff theatre in Britain, possibly in the world. This open-air amphitheatre, cut into the high cliffs, was founded by Rowena Cade. With her resourcefulness and financial input its first production, The Tempest, was staged in 1932. A summer season has continued ever since in the 750-auditorium. The theatre is well worth a visit even when there isn’t a performance, for the spectacular panorama of Porthcurno Bay, the thriving sub-tropical plants and the Rowena Cade Visitor Centre, which tells the extraordinary history of this unique theatre.