Back To All Beaches
Back to all beaches

Porthgwidden

Cornwall, South West
Excellent Water Quality
Data last verified: 08 Aug 2026

Offering a sandy landscape in Cornwall, South West, Porthgwidden is an established bathing location monitored for environmental safety. Regulators test the waters throughout the season, with the site currently holding a Excellent annual quality rating. Designated back in 1988, the area combines natural beauty with an established bathing location.

21.6°C
Air Temp
10.4 mph
Wind Speed
High Tide
in 2h 21m
Get Directions

Live Water Quality

95
Excellent
Safe for swimming
Updated 10 mins ago
Today's Conditions Updated 10 mins ago

Lifeguards

Unknown
Help us verify

Air Temp

21.6°C
Comfortable

Weather

Partly cloudy
21.6°C

Tide

High Tide
in 2h 21m

Water Quality

Excellent
Safe for swimming

Pollution Alerts

None
No alerts today

Quick Overview

Sandy beach
Family friendly
Dog friendly
(winter)
Parking nearby
Toilets
Café

Beach Information View all details

Beach Type
Sand
Water Quality
Excellent
Avg. Air Temp
21.6°C
Swimming
Highly recommended

Community Photos

Insider Tips & Community Feed for Porthgwidden

No insider tips yet

Every local tip helps other beachgoers make the most of their visit.
Be the first to share your knowledge about this beach!

Nearby Businesses View all

Advertisement
Grow Your Business

Promote Your
Business

Reach thousands of beachgoers looking for the best local spots.

Stay Near Porthgwidden

Hoseasons Logo Lodges & Parks via Hoseasons Cottages Logo Holiday Cottages via cottages.com

Reference Information

Full Tide Times
Low 07:25 -1.4m
High 13:38 1.5m
Low 20:11 -1.4m
High 02:19 1.5m
Sediment Type
Sand

The shoreline consists primarily of sand. Sediment type dictates underfoot comfort, wave energy absorption, and the water's clarity when currents stir up the seabed.

Annual Rating
Excellent

Water quality is classified as excellent, meeting the highest cleanliness standards. Bacterial counts (E. coli & Intestinal Enterococci) are consistently low, posing negligible health risks.

Rainfall Impact
Low Risk

This bathing water is generally resilient and has a low risk of quality degradation after heavy summer storm events.

Monitoring Authority
Environment Agency

Tested weekly by the Environment Agency England for bacteria levels (E. coli & Intestinal Enterococci) between May and September.

Water Body Type
Coastal Beach

Monitored as a coastal beach. Coastal beaches are subject to tidal flows and marine dilution, whereas inland lakes/rivers suffer from low water circulation, meaning bacteria can linger longer.

Sewerage Provider
South West Water Limited

South West Water Limited is the regional utility responsible for waste water treatment, sewage infrastructure, and storm overflow management in this catchment area.

Designated Year
1988

Officially designated as a protected bathing water site in 1988. This designation mandates regular public health monitoring.

County / District
Cornwall

Governed under local district sanitation and environmental safety regulations in the Cornwall area.

Explore More Beaches

Previous
Porthmeor
Random
Warkworth
Next
Porthminster

Promote Your Business

Own a local café, surf shop, or accommodation near Porthgwidden? Fill out the form below to inquire about premium banner placements.

Thank you! Your advertising inquiry has been submitted. We'll send you our rate card shortly.

Upload a Photo

Share your photo of Porthgwidden with the community!

We require this to prevent spam. It won't be displayed publicly.
If provided, we will credit you on the photo.
You can select up to 10 photos.

Share Local Knowledge

Share hidden gems, parking tips, or hazard warnings for Porthgwidden!

We require this to prevent spam. It won't be displayed publicly.
If provided, we will credit you.
JPG, PNG, or WEBP up to 5MB.

Help Us Update Our Research

Noticed incorrect information for Porthgwidden? Submit updates below and our team will verify and publish them!

Required to prevent spam. We never share your email.
Amenities & Features: