Discover St Austell

Pentewan beach a large private sandy beach with a disused harbour. Although this beach is private access is allowed from Pentewan village, although the village car park is very small.Good for swimming and all water sports – swimming, surfing, windsurfing, sea canoeing, water skiing and sailing.Large holiday park on this beach which can make it busy.Toilets and small village car park.

Carlyon Bay is actually three beaches in one, to the west is Crinnis beach, in the middle is Shorthorn beach and to the east is Polgaver beach. This is a popular coast location backed by cliffs just outside of St Austell on Cornwall’s south coast. The beach has temporary toilets, pop-up eateries and car parking although the car park can get full early on a hot summer day.

Polstreath beach is fine sand and split in two by a stack, the smaller beach is known as Little Polstreath. The beach offers good swimming and a quieter alternative to Mevagissey around the corner. Hard to get to for the elderly and those with young children as the climb back up from the beach is quite steep. No facilities, nearest are in Mevagissey. We have no dog information for Polstreath beach.

The Eden Project just outside St Austell, Cornwall has artificial biomes filled with plants that are collected from all around the world, and is located in a reclaimed Kaolinite pit. The Eden Project two giant adjoining domes, the first dome emulates a tropical environment, and the second a Mediterranean environment. From the entrance there is a meandering path with views of the two biomes, planted landscapes, including vegetable gardens, and sculptures that include a giant bee and towering robot called RSA WEEE Man created from old electrical appliances. The project was conceived by Tim Smit and designed by architect Nicholas Grimshaw. The project took 2½ years to construct and the visitor centre, opened to the public in May 2000, with the full site opening on 17 March 2001. The domes are constructed from hundreds of hexagonal and pentagonal, plastic cells supported by steel frames.

Par Sands is a sheltered sandy shallow dropping beach with sand dunes. Car park, shop, cafe and toilets. Dogs allowed.

Hemmick beach is a small sandy beach to the west of Dodman Point. Relatively safe swimming. No facilities and the nearest small car park is some 15-20 minute walk away. Dogs allowed.

Great Perhaver beach is just along the coast from Gorran Haven, lovely sandy beach with lots of rocks for kids to explore only accessible by boat or very steep and muddy footpath from field above the beach. No beach at high tide. Closest facilities are at Gorran Haven. We have no dog information for Great Perhaver beach.

Spit beach is a small beach tucked in-between the China Clay Driers and the eastern end of Carlyon Bay Golf Course. No facilities.

Porthluney Cove a sheltered sandy beach part of Caerhays Castle estate. The beach backs onto the castle and gardens. Facilities include toilets, car park and shop.

Mevagissey is a working harbour that at low tide has a beach which acts as a good break whilst visiting Mevagissey. If you want a true family beach travel to one of the others very close by. Car parks and all facilities of the town. We have no dog information for Mevagissey Habour beach.

Porthpean beach, a sheltered sandy beach with rock pools popular with families that can get busy. Safe for swimming, sailing and windsurfing. No jet-skiing allowed. Facilities include toilets, small car park and slipway (sailing boats).

Portmellon beach is in a small cove with a sand and shingle beach at low tide. Facilities include pub, slipway and pimited parking nearby, more car parks in Mevagissey (20 minute walk).