Portreath is a small village on the North Cornwall coast with a sandy beach and a harbour. In the Nineteenth Century Portreath was one of the most important Cornish industrial ports. Mineral ore mined in Camborne, Redruth and Gwennap was transported here on the Devoran to Portreath Mineral Tramway. It was then shipped to South Wales for smelting.

These days the Devoran to Portreath Mineral Tramway is a popular cycle route running through the heart of Cornish mining country which is now a UN World Heritage site.

As well as Cycling, Portreath is a good location for walking. The South West Coast path runs through this spot with Porthtowan, Chapel Porth and St Agnes to the East and Godrevy and St Ives Bay to the West.

You're standing on the coast path on the cliff overlooking the harbour wall and beach. To the West, just offshore, is Gull Rock and the white tower behind you is known locally as the 'pepperpot'.

Probably one of Portreath's best kept secrets is that the poem 'For the Fallen', lines from which will be familiar to anyone who has attended a Remembrance Day ceremony, was composed here by Laurence Binyon.

A small brass plate fixed to the tower reads:
From: For the Fallen (September 1914)

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Composed on this spot by Laurence Binyon
Commemorated on the 50th Anniversary of VE Day by Portreath Improvements Committee
May 8th 1995