St Austell Bay

Historic sites, - sheltered beaches and inviting waters

The great sweep of St Austell Bay and its hinterland play host to a vivid range of scenery, spectacle and activity, compounded by a location which makes it a natural touring centre, within an hours drive of most major attractions in the county.

St Austell itself is the meeting point of old and new Cornwall, of ancient, narrow streets and smart pedestrian precincts with fine shops. Its industry of china clay goes back to William Cookworthys discovery at St Stephen-in-Brannel in 1748 the development of which can be seen at the Wheal Martyn Museum or followed in industrial heritage tours by car

A drive north will take you to Roche, noted for its towering rock with the chapel of St Michael built into the summit, a natural sound stage for the Cornish Gorsedd celebrating a pre-Christian oral tradition.

Nearby, is the bijou port of Charlestown, little changed since its completion in 1795 by the brilliant local entrepreneur, Charles Rashleigh. Its Shipwreck and Heritage Centre, built over the old china clay dry, charts a fascinating 200 year history of fishing, wrecking, mining and migration to North America. On display in the harbour you will find traditional square rigged sailing ships, and at various times, famous visiting tall ships, aboard which you can discover a world from many years ago.

Charlestown, Polkerris, Carlyon Bay

Charlestown has its own beach and St Austell Bay also offers outstanding cliff and coastal scenery with beaches at Carlyon Bay, Porthpean, Pentewan and Par where you will find a lake whose many species of bird make it a naturalist s paradise. Carlyon Bay is also the home of Cornish Leisure World, with a host of recreational facilities. Across the water, tucked into the hillside between Par and Fowey is the small, picturesque harbour of Polkerris with its sandy beach from where you can hire a boat or pedaloe and explore the Bay.

Things to see and do: