Great for nature-lovers, Porthpean beach's cliffs are home to nesting birds up high and rockpools down low. A short walk from the car park on a relatively steep incline, the beach is also a pleasant walk away from Charlestown along the beautiful South West Coast Path.
A lovely wide open beach with golden sands and backed by sand dunes. With shallow waters and and easy access from a large car park nearby, this is a great beach for family days out. There's a shop, cafe, pub and toilets nearby and dogs are welcome year round.
Mevagissey is a traditional working Cornish harbour. Take to the sea for a pleasure cruise or fishing trip.
Portmellon is the kind of place stories are written about. With a tidal sandy beach disappearing at high tide, bathers can lounge in the sand or head to neighbouring Polkirt beach for a spot of snorkelling or rockpooling. While there's limited parking in Portmellon, the beach is easily accessed from Mevagissey or Gorran Haven along the South West Coast Path.
Polkerris beach sits at the feet of Polkeris, a little hamlet overlooking St Austell Bay. Next door to Menabilly, home of Daphne du Maurier, Polkerris beach is sheltered by a stone quay and offers plenty of facilities. With a slipway running down to the sandy beach, the south west-facing bay is perfect for families looking to enjoy long days in the sunshine.
A quiet secluded small cove sheltered between Black Head and Drennick headland. Follow the coastal path past a memorial stone to A L Rowse (a Cornish Historian) and take the narrow path to the beach with care. A sand, shingle and stone beach only exposed at low tide with good snorkelling and some rock pools.
The nearest car park is at either Polkerris or Par Sands and then a trek along the coastal path. There's not much beach to be seen at high tide but when the water is low there is sand and shingle with good rock pools. Dogs are welcome year round.
There are three beaches (Crinnis, Shortorn, Polgaver), a Championship Golf Course and some fantastic bars and restaurants in Carlyon Bay to explore. It is a great place for a day out and lovely in the evenings too.
A small, mostly shingle beach to the south of Porthpean which is cut off at high water. Good facilities are available at Porthpean during the summer months and dogs are not allowed from Easter to the end of September.
Next to Charlestown Harbour, the home of the mighty tall ships, Charlestown beach is a pretty stretch of sand and pebble. With the historic working port a stone's throw away and a handful of little caves to explore along the beach, this is a great place to visit. Dogs are banned all year and there are amenities and parking nearby.
'With miles of stunning Beaches near St Austell we have listed 20 of the very best beaches St Austell has to offer. Exclusively reviewed by people who have been there.'
24 May 2025
Great for nature-lovers, Porthpean beach's cliffs are home to nesting birds up high and rockpools down low. A short walk from the car park on a relatively steep incline, the beach is also a pleasant walk away from Charlestown along the beautiful South West Coast Path.
2 June 2024
A lovely wide open beach with golden sands and backed by sand dunes. With shallow waters and and easy access from a large car park nearby, this is a great beach for family days out. There's a shop, cafe, pub and toilets nearby and dogs are welcome year round.
30 May 2022
Mevagissey is a traditional working Cornish harbour. Take to the sea for a pleasure cruise or fishing trip.
30 August 2021
Portmellon is the kind of place stories are written about. With a tidal sandy beach disappearing at high tide, bathers can lounge in the sand or head to neighbouring Polkirt beach for a spot of snorkelling or rockpooling. While there's limited parking in Portmellon, the beach is easily accessed from Mevagissey or Gorran Haven along the South West Coast Path.
27 April 2012
Polkerris beach sits at the feet of Polkeris, a little hamlet overlooking St Austell Bay. Next door to Menabilly, home of Daphne du Maurier, Polkerris beach is sheltered by a stone quay and offers plenty of facilities. With a slipway running down to the sandy beach, the south west-facing bay is perfect for families looking to enjoy long days in the sunshine.
A quiet secluded small cove sheltered between Black Head and Drennick headland. Follow the coastal path past a memorial stone to A L Rowse (a Cornish Historian) and take the narrow path to the beach with care. A sand, shingle and stone beach only exposed at low tide with good snorkelling and some rock pools.
The nearest car park is at either Polkerris or Par Sands and then a trek along the coastal path. There's not much beach to be seen at high tide but when the water is low there is sand and shingle with good rock pools. Dogs are welcome year round.
There are three beaches (Crinnis, Shortorn, Polgaver), a Championship Golf Course and some fantastic bars and restaurants in Carlyon Bay to explore. It is a great place for a day out and lovely in the evenings too.
A small, mostly shingle beach to the south of Porthpean which is cut off at high water. Good facilities are available at Porthpean during the summer months and dogs are not allowed from Easter to the end of September.
Next to Charlestown Harbour, the home of the mighty tall ships, Charlestown beach is a pretty stretch of sand and pebble. With the historic working port a stone's throw away and a handful of little caves to explore along the beach, this is a great place to visit. Dogs are banned all year and there are amenities and parking nearby.