Holiday Cottages in Perranporth
Perranporth - or ‘Porthpyran’ in Cornish which means Saint Piran’s cove - is a small seaside resort on the north coast. It lies between Truro and Newquay geographically.
Perranporth is the largest settlement in the civil parish of Perranzabuloe. The parish church is in Perranzabuloe village but there is an Anglican chapel-of-ease in Perranporth dedicated to St Michael which opened in 1872.
It is believed that Saint Piran founded a church at Perranzabuloe near Perranporth in the seventh century. The church was buried under sand for many centuries but was unearthed early in the twentieth century. Sadly it had to be recovered in the 1980s but a memorial stone marks where it stood.
The village centre has a various shops and cafés such as a Co-operative store, Premier convenience store, the Camelot restaurant and a Wetherspoons bar as well as six other local pubs. The long-distance South West Coast Path runs past the village. There is one of the best waterfront bars at Perranporth called the Watering Hole - definitely worth a visit.
Notable people associated with Perranporth include motor engineer and designer Donald Healey as well as the author Winston Graham who lived in Perranporth for many years and whose Poldark novels are based on the area.
Perranporth is a popular family holiday destination. A wide sandy beach, Perran Beach, extends northwest from the town for nearly two miles to Ligger Point. The Atlantic-facing beach is a popular surfing location with lifeguard beach patrols from May to September; the beach is generally safe for bathing although there are dangerous rip currents around Chapel Rock on ebb tides.
Perran Beach is backed by extensive sand dunes which extend nearly a mile inland. These dunes are known as Penhale Sands, and are used for orienteering competitions. There is also an Army training camp and a golf course on the dunes.
At the south end of the beach are cliffs with natural arches, natural stacks and tin-mining adits. There is a youth hostel above the cliffs at Droskyn Point. Nearby is the nineteenth century Droskyn Castle, formerly a hotel and now divided into apartments.
Southwest of Perranporth at Cligga Head, Perranporth Airfield (a small civil airfield) stands on the plateau above the cliffs. The Airfield was used a great deal during the Second World War and there is a roll of honour in the control tower which commemorates those who lost their lives. The airfield is currently devoted to gliding and leisure activities.
Northeast of the village lies the Piran Mound which is an Iron Age hill camp. It is believed that the amphitheatre used to be used as a location for games and mystery plays. A more recent addition is the giant Millennium Sundial which runs at Cornish time; surprisingly 20 minutes ahead of GMT!
Perranporth hosts an inter-Celtic festival each October, Lowender Peran, drawing people in from the six Celtic nations.
