Wheal Coates Revisited..
There is no doubt that I will keep returning to this beach time after time. Chapel Porth has got to be one of my favourite places to be. The beach only appears during spring tides that coincide with the full moon. During spring tides, the difference between the highest and the lowest tide is at its greatest. Neap tides, where there is little change between high tide and low tide, coincide with the new moon. Between new moon and full moon, the height of the tide at its lowest and highest, changes a little each day. Tide tables come in very handy when planning shoots, along with the weather forecast of course.
The day these photographs were taken, the tide was at its lowest at around 11.30 in the morning and on a beautiful September day, the shots I got weren’t the shots I was hoping for but I was quite pleased with these nonetheless. Waiting patiently for the moment the tide dropped low enough to be able to get onto this part of the beach, I was there before anybody else.
I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. It’s a long time since I had a paddle in the ocean usually preferring the Wellington boot to taking my shoes and socks off and rolling up my trouser legs but on this day, I couldn’t resist.. Click on the pictures for a clearer sharper view :-)
24mm f/11 1/125 sec. ISO-100
70mm f/11 1/100 sec. ISO-100
Cornwall Photographic 
Nice photos. What were the buildings on the hillside?
September 20, 2014 at 9:02 pm
The buildings are 19th century engine houses that housed the steam pumps that pumped sea water from the tin mines that ran under the sea floor. Men working underground could often hear the sea crashing above their heads as they worked. Their lives depended on these engines which were prime examples of Cornish and Victorian engineering. These engine houses can be found dotted all over Cornwall. The Cornish mine engineers were so good at what they did, it was said that there wasn’t a mine anywhere in the world that didn’t have a Cornishmen working in it. Their expertise was sought the world over.
September 20, 2014 at 9:14 pm
Thanks for the info. Indeed, we had lots of Cornish immigrants come to mining areas Wisconsin. http://www.cornishfest.org/
September 20, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Simply beautiful.
September 20, 2014 at 10:34 pm
Thank you Jude! :-)
September 21, 2014 at 8:07 am
Great photos Adrian. You don’t see many photos of Wheal Coates taken from this angle. I’ll have to copy you and have a go myself! I have noticed you never get a very very low tide at sunrise or sunset, they are usually around the middle of the day.
September 20, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Thank you Malcolm. I’ve always wanted to get this view at dawn but you can’t for the reasons you mention. The Spring tides always come int he middle of the day. :-)
September 21, 2014 at 8:08 am
More superb images Adrian. I love them.
September 21, 2014 at 12:38 am
THank you Dave!
September 21, 2014 at 8:09 am
The middle image, with that clean, clear water, is lovely! So glad you went in barefoot – way to go! Worth waiting for that tide to go out.
September 21, 2014 at 12:45 am
Thank you Lynn. It was nice to get my feet wet. :-)
September 21, 2014 at 8:10 am
Love the clarity of the water, the color and pristine nature of the sand as well. Nice pictures. M
September 21, 2014 at 12:58 am
Thank you very much!
September 21, 2014 at 8:10 am
I can see why this is a favorite place. It is beautiful and you’ve captured the essence of it majestically.
September 21, 2014 at 2:06 am
Thank you very much Robyn! It’s a stunning location! :-)
September 21, 2014 at 8:11 am
I can understand this being a favorite, what a tremendous scene!
September 21, 2014 at 3:50 am
Thank you Phil! Much appreciated!
September 21, 2014 at 8:11 am
Lovely. I’m about to head for the hills. ;)
September 21, 2014 at 6:05 am
Thank you very much Gunta!
September 21, 2014 at 8:12 am
I made the fatal mistake of having a really good look at your photos right back over the last 12 months or so , I now want to visit so many places when I come down …. I don’t think a week is going to be long enough :)
September 21, 2014 at 10:54 am
There are so many lovely places to visit. We’ll do the best we can to get around as many locations as possible. Early starts should help. :-)
September 21, 2014 at 12:46 pm
Great images, Adrian, and interesting info re: the tides. Brings back childhood memories, and I did go very briefly around 30 years ago…..time for another visit?! I am guessing you live fairly close, so what a fantastic region to be in.
September 21, 2014 at 11:31 am
Thanks for very much! I do live fairly close and I love this section of coastline. I definitely favour the north. I think 30 years is long enough to wait Sue.. :-)
September 21, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Well, if I trek down sometime, I would love to meet up!
September 21, 2014 at 3:02 pm
That would be lovely Sue! :-)
September 21, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Great!
September 21, 2014 at 6:25 pm
Beautiful place!
September 21, 2014 at 4:17 pm
It is indeed Pat! :-)
September 21, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Every time with beautiful results.
September 21, 2014 at 6:46 pm
Thank you Bente! :-)
September 21, 2014 at 8:33 pm
What a beautiful stretch of beach and rocky coastline… The second shot, the expanse with the building adding just that added bit of interest.
September 22, 2014 at 1:15 am
It is a very beautiful beach in all seasons. I just have to time my visits and I get different shots every time I go. Thanks Randall.
September 22, 2014 at 2:17 pm
Water that clear would be hard to resist Adrian! good for you for giving in :-) Beautiful captures as always.
September 22, 2014 at 3:45 am
Thank you Tina. It was a little bit on the cold side but not to bad at all. There were quite a few people swimming. I don’t think I’d have gone that far. :-)
September 22, 2014 at 2:18 pm
loved this interesting beach :)
September 22, 2014 at 5:56 am
Thank you Joshi! :-)
September 22, 2014 at 2:18 pm
These ruins I have seen in Cornwall, but I stood directly in front :-)
September 22, 2014 at 9:00 am
I hope your visit to Cornwall was enjoyable Karine. You need a very low tide to view the ruins from the beach.
September 22, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Thank you ! I loved Cornwall and also Scotland one week later :-)
September 24, 2014 at 6:28 am
Beautiful shots, good your having nice weather this autumn.
September 22, 2014 at 12:19 pm
Thanks Ben. I has been, and still is, really lovely here. Off to the beach again tomorrow. Crantock I think..
September 22, 2014 at 2:25 pm
I headed back to Cornwall in Febuary so I am looking forward to some stormy coastline shots.
September 22, 2014 at 5:37 pm
If it’s anything like last year Ben you’ll certainly get those! :-)
September 22, 2014 at 6:16 pm
Stunning pics!
September 22, 2014 at 7:42 pm
Thank you very much!
September 22, 2014 at 8:05 pm
Adrian, one could never tire of the beauty of this landscape! Especially since it’s always shifting. The engine houses are wonderfully interesting too.
I hope your feeling well! Happy autumn. gulp…
September 22, 2014 at 8:47 pm
I am feeling well Karen, thank you. Yes, autumn is upon us. Summer went by oh so quickly. This is my favourite season though. I’m looking forward to next month and all the photography opportunities October affords.. :-)
September 22, 2014 at 9:36 pm
Wonderful photo’s
September 22, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Thank you very much Lou! :-)
September 22, 2014 at 9:37 pm
Beautiful light, accentuated by that tidal flow of water in the first of the larger images.
September 23, 2014 at 4:11 pm
Thank you Andy. With all that sand and water, light was bouncing all over the place. It was a beautiful morning to be on the beach!
September 24, 2014 at 12:08 pm
such an iconic pair of structures up on that bluff– wonderfully captured!
September 24, 2014 at 10:11 pm
Thank you John. The Engine houses are very distinctive and quite unique making for great subjects.
September 25, 2014 at 7:59 pm
Absolutely marvelous.
September 27, 2014 at 11:25 pm
Thank you Elena!
September 28, 2014 at 9:02 am
Beautiful photos of this wonderful place, Adrian. Brings back good memories of August last year. :)
September 28, 2014 at 12:52 pm
I’m so glad Sylvia. It is a very special place to me. This was where I first headed when I bought my camera just two and a half years ago! :-)
September 28, 2014 at 1:39 pm