Mawgan Porth (in Cornish: Porth Maugan, meaning "St. Mawgan's cove", or Porth Glyvyan, meaning "cove of the Gluvian River") is a beach and small settlement in north Cornwall, England. It is north of Watergate Bay, approximately four miles (6 km) north of Newquay,[1] on the Atlantic Ocean coast.
The town has recently seen a number of celebrities purchasing properties in the area leading to it becoming known as Hollywood-on-Sea[2]
Mawgan Porth is in the civil parish of Mawgan-in-Pydar, at the seaward end of the Vale of Lanherne (or Vale of Mawgan) where the River Menalhyl meets the sea. The hamlet consists of a pub, a general store, and several hotels, guest houses and caravan parks.
The sandy beach, backed by dunes with cliffs at each end, is quality-assessed and supervised by lifeguards during the summer. It is a popular surfing location. The South West Coast Path passes behind the beach and the area attracts holiday-makers.[3]
There are a number of local holiday parks in Mawgan Porth. The oldest is Magic Cove Touring Park;[4] Cosy Corner[5] is nearest to the beach, and then Sun Haven Valley Holiday Park.[6]
History
editIn the years 1949–52, 1954 and 1974, archaeological excavations revealed a settlement comprising three groups of buildings ('courtyard houses') and a burial ground dating from around 850–1050. Finds included pottery and stone artefacts.[7]
Mawgan Porth is recorded as Porthglyvyan in 1334, Cornish for cove of the little wooded valley river, and later as Porthmaugan in 1755, Cornish for cove of St Mawgan.
The German sculptor Faust Lang lived in Mawgan Porth from 1936 to 1949.
References
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- ^ Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 Newquay & Bodmin ISBN 978-0-319-22938-5
- ^ "Cate Blanchett declared a noisy neighbour by Cornish villagers". www.thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
- ^ "The top 20 beach holidays (in the World)". London: Sunday Times Online. 14 January 2007. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
- ^ "Magic Cove Touring Park". www.magiccove.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Cosy Corner Static Caravan Holiday Park Mawgan Porth Nr. Newquay Cornwall". www.cosycorner.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Sun Haven Holiday Park | Holiday Homes & Camping at Mawgan Porth". Lovat Parks. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ Bruce-Mitford, R. Mawgan Porth; a settlement of the Late Saxon Period on the North Cornish Coast: Excavations 1949-52, 1954 and 1974. London: English Heritage ISBN 978-1-85074-613-3 Abstract and download link
External links
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Media related to Mawgan Porth at Wikimedia Commons