PORTSCATHO

Such is the complexity of the coastline in this part of Cornwall that the Roseland Peninsula is divided by yet another river, the Percuil River, giving it the appearance of a knobbly cloven hoof. St Mawes lies at its mouth, so to get to my next port of call, Portscatho, you have to drive up the west side of the peninsula before hopping across to the eastern flank of Roseland. For walkers tackling the South-West Coastal Path there is a ferry linking St Mawes to St Anthony on the opposite side of the river mouth.

Portscatho is a cheery-looking little seaside village, with plenty of whitewash on the houses surrounding the harbour to reflect the sun when it deigns to show its face. Pilchard fishing was the economic mainstay in the 18th and 19th centuries, when the village housed a large fishing fleet for this purpose, but that has now given way to tourism, and most of the boats hauled up on the little sandy beach are now pleasure craft. The view over the harbour from the high grassy banks above, with Gerrans Bay and Nare Head stretching into the distance, provides a nice photo opportunity for amateur snappers.

Map of the area.

Beach at Portscatho - geograh.org.uk - 561805. Photo by Trevor Rickard, via Wikimedia Commons.