Porthemmet Beach: The Hidden Hoax of Cornwall’s Tourist Paradise

Published on December 2, 2025

Cornwall, a famous area on the southwest tip of England, is renowned for its stunning scenery, which includes rolling moorlands, craggy cliffs, and sandy beaches. Each year, millions of visitors flock to Cornwall to experience its natural beauty, quaint fishing villages, and the world-famous Eden Project. However, the tourism industry’s success has also come with drawbacks, particularly soaring property prices, congested roads, and environmental degradation. The myth of Porthemmet Beach is the clever hoax that locals have created in response to the overwhelming number of tourists.

A County Transformed by Tourism

Cornwall, with its charming coastline and picturesque villages, has long been a sought-after destination for travelers. Boasting some of the finest beaches in the UK, such as St Ives and Porthcawl, Cornwall is a favourite for surfers and holidaymakers alike. Its thriving tourism industry, which constitutes a significant portion of the local economy, draws around four million visitors annually. Alongside its stunning seascapes, Cornwall is also known for its delectable seafood, including locally caught fish and world-renowned Cornish pasties.

However, the rise in tourism has not been entirely positive. Property prices in the region have skyrocketed, making home ownership increasingly difficult for local residents. Additionally, issues such as traffic congestion, littering, and overcrowding during peak seasons have begun to overshadow the county’s natural charm. These problems have given rise to a growing anti-tourist sentiment, with some locals expressing frustration over the environmental and social costs of mass tourism.

The Birth of Porthemmet Beach: A Hoax to Baffle Tourists

In response to these challenges, the myth of Porthemmet Beach was born—a fictional paradise that exists only in the minds of those who fall for its elaborate web of lies. This hoax is not just a joke but also a form of protest against the negative effects of tourism on Cornwall’s environment and local culture. The name “Porthemmet” itself is a clever play on Cornish words: “porth”, meaning harbour, and “emmet”, a term used in Cornwall to refer to tourists, often in a somewhat derogatory manner, comparing them to ants scurrying about the region.

Porthemmet Beach was first introduced to the world through a website created in 2007. The site presented a stunningly convincing description of the beach, promising warm waters and tropical-like conditions, which were entirely fictitious. It described the northern end of the beach as an unspoiled nature reserve, the perfect place to spot rare birds like the Cornish chough, and the southern part as a hub for nightlife, complete with beach bars, clubs, and the opportunity for topless sunbathing.

The Hoax Grows: TripAdvisor and Beyond

Despite being a hoax, Porthemmet Beach has gained a significant following over the years. The fake beach has been reviewed on platforms such as TripAdvisor, where it boasts an improbable 4.9-star rating. Many tourists who fall for the myth of Porthemmet Beach describe it as “like being transported to the Caribbean” or “the best hidden beach in Cornwall”. These glowing reviews, however, only serve to perpetuate the prank, sending unsuspecting travelers on a wild goose chase in search of the elusive beach that doesn’t exist.

The hoax website, which cleverly mimics a legitimate tourist information site, also features testimonials from “locals” and fictitious media outlets such as The Cornish Times. It includes detailed directions to Porthemmet Beach, adding another layer of authenticity to the otherwise absurd claims. For example, it mentions “The Stug”, a fake fishing trawler that supposedly offers tours around the area, further enticing potential visitors.

The idea behind the hoax is to highlight the absurdity of Cornwall’s tourism boom and the impact it has on local communities. In a way, it’s a victimless prank, designed not only to entertain but also to remind people of the sometimes excessive nature of modern tourism.

A Creative Protest Against Overtourism

The Porthemmet Beach hoax is a creative expression of resistance to overtourism. While tourism undeniably brings economic benefits to Cornwall, it also causes strain on local resources, from overcrowded streets to environmental degradation. Many Cornwall residents feel that the scale of tourism has begun to erode the very qualities that made the region so desirable in the first place.

By promoting a fake destination, locals are subtly making a statement about the need for responsible tourism practices. Instead of welcoming more tourists, the myth of Porthemmet Beach encourages people to reconsider their travel choices and think more carefully about the impact they have on the places they visit. The hoax serves as both a humorous critique and a form of protest, with no harm done to anyone except the tourists who spend hours searching for a beach that doesn’t exist.

The Rebellion of Porthemmet Beach

Ultimately, the myth of Porthemmet Beach is a poignant reflection on Cornwall’s tourism situation as well as a humorous hoax. While the county continues to welcome millions of visitors each year, it is crucial for both locals and tourists to reflect on the impact of mass tourism and strive for more sustainable travel practices. Porthemmet Beach, in its way, is a reminder that Cornwall’s beauty should be preserved—not exploited—ensuring that future generations can enjoy its natural wonders without the negative consequences that have followed in the wake of overtourism.

This hoax continues to be a distinctive symbol of rebellion against the very thing that has made Cornwall such a popular tourist destination, even as its popularity grows. Even though Porthemmet Beach isn’t on any map, its message is very clear: we need to reconsider how we travel.