Portreath is a small resort with a very narrow harbour located about 5 miles north of Redruth. It was once a busy port, importing coal and exporting copper but now only sheltering the occasional fishing boat. The original loading ramp can still be seen in the village. Copper ore was transported from mines, in the Chacewater area, using horse-drawn wagons, and was shipped by the ton to Swansea in South Wales for smelting. The ships would return, laden with Welsh coal.