The full guide
Read straight through, or use the planning notes above to shape an easier coastal day.
Porthoustock was originally a fishing village but in the late 19th Century the main focus was as a port for the local stone quarries.
At one end of the beach is a large disused concrete stone mill which was used for crushing stone to be used in roads. Porthoustock is a popular place for divers to set off to the nearby Manacles to explore the many wrecks found there.
Due to the proximity to the Manacles, the RNLI stationed a lifeboat at Porthoustock between 1869 and 1942
Sea Fishing in this area
This area is big bass country. You can also catch large pollack, many mackerel, wrasse and garfish in this area.
Common questions
- Where is Porthoustock?
- Porthoustock is a small cove and hamlet on the eastern side of the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, near the village of St Keverne.
- What is Porthoustock known for?
- It is known as a popular launch point for divers heading to the Manacles reef, and for the disused stone mill that stands on its beach.
- What is there to do in Porthoustock?
- You can take in the quiet shingle-and-sand cove, see the old quarry stone mill, watch divers head out to the Manacles, and walk the coast path along the Lizard.
- What are the Manacles?
- The Manacles are a notorious reef of rocks off the Lizard that have wrecked many ships over the centuries, now a popular diving site rich in marine life.
- Is Porthoustock worth visiting?
- Yes. For its peaceful setting, fascinating quarrying past and access to the Manacles wrecks, Porthoustock rewards anyone exploring the Lizard's east coast.
