Jennifer's Guidebook
Beach days
It’s a relatively quiet beach. There is a car park reasonably priced using cash or an app but be warned some people have paid by app and still been fined so I prefer cash and definitely keep the ticket!
The road down the the beach has areas where you can park by the side of the road if your lucky! You just then need to walk down and along a small bit of coast path to the right (or the road) and you’ll end up at the beach.
You can walk the coast path from here to Charlestown. You take the same path and can go left to Charlestown or right to porthpean. When you go left to Charlestown a little way down you’ll see another beach called duporth. A little hidden beauty.
At Porthpean you can hire kayaks and sups in the summer months and paddle around to hidden beaches called Silvermines and Ropehaven where there is a little seal family.
Porthpean beach is usually sandy but can sometimes be pebbly and have seaweed depending on the weather and tides.
It’s got a shop in summer and toilets open in summer months and a Defib. It’s only a few minutes drive from our tiny house and is a lovely place for both a full beach day or just a little stop off to admire the view.
31 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Porthpean Beach
Porthpean Beach RoadIt’s a relatively quiet beach. There is a car park reasonably priced using cash or an app but be warned some people have paid by app and still been fined so I prefer cash and definitely keep the ticket!
The road down the the beach has areas where you can park by the side of the road if your lucky! You just then need to walk down and along a small bit of coast path to the right (or the road) and you’ll end up at the beach.
You can walk the coast path from here to Charlestown. You take the same path and can go left to Charlestown or right to porthpean. When you go left to Charlestown a little way down you’ll see another beach called duporth. A little hidden beauty.
At Porthpean you can hire kayaks and sups in the summer months and paddle around to hidden beaches called Silvermines and Ropehaven where there is a little seal family.
Porthpean beach is usually sandy but can sometimes be pebbly and have seaweed depending on the weather and tides.
It’s got a shop in summer and toilets open in summer months and a Defib. It’s only a few minutes drive from our tiny house and is a lovely place for both a full beach day or just a little stop off to admire the view.
Duporth beach is a private beach, in that the only access is through a locked gate OR the coastal path.
You can park on the road that leads down to Porthpean for free if your early enough and then walk a short walk down to this beach which you’ll find quiet and just tranquil even in the height of summer. But shhh don’t tell anyone.
It is sometimes pebbly and there are rocks but there are sandy bits too if the tide is out. Sometimes there is seaweed and other times it’s crystal clear.
Duporth
Duporth beach is a private beach, in that the only access is through a locked gate OR the coastal path.
You can park on the road that leads down to Porthpean for free if your early enough and then walk a short walk down to this beach which you’ll find quiet and just tranquil even in the height of summer. But shhh don’t tell anyone.
It is sometimes pebbly and there are rocks but there are sandy bits too if the tide is out. Sometimes there is seaweed and other times it’s crystal clear.
Coastal walks
A truly beautiful bay. You do not need to go far to see some amazing coastline. Short walks from Porthpean to Charlestown or longer more challenging ones like from Menabilly to Pentewan. Each one has its own little gem at the end of the path for you to explore. Just make sure you bring walking boots! And be prepared to climb up and down a number of times
72 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
South West Coast Path
South West Coast PathA truly beautiful bay. You do not need to go far to see some amazing coastline. Short walks from Porthpean to Charlestown or longer more challenging ones like from Menabilly to Pentewan. Each one has its own little gem at the end of the path for you to explore. Just make sure you bring walking boots! And be prepared to climb up and down a number of times
A very short distance from Charlestown, Carlyon Bay beach is a popular one for locals. It’s still awaiting development and has been for over 20 years. Quite a large beach so you never feel jammed in like sardines. Sand is a little rough in places. Sea shelf can be quite deep. The car park above is large and they charge in summer. Steep steps down to the beach or a slope. Not great for accessibility and has been the subject of many complaints in regard to this. It’s not top of sunny ‘beach day’ visits for me but is well worth a lovely walk the whole length of it. And is easily accessed from the coastal path which runs along the golf course above it.
56 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Carlyon Bay
A very short distance from Charlestown, Carlyon Bay beach is a popular one for locals. It’s still awaiting development and has been for over 20 years. Quite a large beach so you never feel jammed in like sardines. Sand is a little rough in places. Sea shelf can be quite deep. The car park above is large and they charge in summer. Steep steps down to the beach or a slope. Not great for accessibility and has been the subject of many complaints in regard to this. It’s not top of sunny ‘beach day’ visits for me but is well worth a lovely walk the whole length of it. And is easily accessed from the coastal path which runs along the golf course above it.
Sightseeing, food scene
Charlestown Historic Harbour and beach
Visit early in the morning (before 10) to avoid the crowds and get free parking on the street leading down to the harbour. If you don’t mind walking you can park along church road or even up the top of the hill near Penrice School.
An abundance of restaurants here. Charlie’s Boathouse, The Pier House (check out the view on their webcam on their website but they are closed at the moment ), The Longstore, Rebellion and The Rashleigh are the main ones. All have great reviews. Pier House and The Rashleigh are both St Austell Brewery.
228 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Charlestown
Visit early in the morning (before 10) to avoid the crowds and get free parking on the street leading down to the harbour. If you don’t mind walking you can park along church road or even up the top of the hill near Penrice School.
An abundance of restaurants here. Charlie’s Boathouse, The Pier House (check out the view on their webcam on their website but they are closed at the moment ), The Longstore, Rebellion and The Rashleigh are the main ones. All have great reviews. Pier House and The Rashleigh are both St Austell Brewery.
Sightseeing
Golant is a little gem. It’s just down river from Fowey and is perfect for water sports like kayaking or sup’ing. There is kayak hire here. And a little pub. You can travel all the way to Lerryn for a pasty and back again. Spot the wildlife as you meander down the river and experience the tranquility and beauty of the place. It’s a lovely little place full of second homes occupied by rich people now but there are a few locals still around. One of them is in his 90s and lives in the first bungalow as you enter the flat bit and he’s regularly out painting his boats. Just be careful where you park and check the tides!
6 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Golant
Golant is a little gem. It’s just down river from Fowey and is perfect for water sports like kayaking or sup’ing. There is kayak hire here. And a little pub. You can travel all the way to Lerryn for a pasty and back again. Spot the wildlife as you meander down the river and experience the tranquility and beauty of the place. It’s a lovely little place full of second homes occupied by rich people now but there are a few locals still around. One of them is in his 90s and lives in the first bungalow as you enter the flat bit and he’s regularly out painting his boats. Just be careful where you park and check the tides!
Cycle / Walks
Pentewan a cycle Trail is a multi use path that begins just down from McDonald in St Austell. There are various spots along the route where you can park and walk. For example B&Q car park…just walk the main road and you’ll come across the path.
The next place to park is an entrance opposite the Cornwall Hotel. Then after that a car park in London Apprentice called Kingswood.
After that there is another car park just before you reach a bunch of caravan parks.
So if you have your own bikes or your on foot use these car parks and walk and cycle along all the way to Pentewan beach. It’s 3 miles each way.
Or if you need to hire bikes then park in Pentewan Car Park and hire from the into place available. You can then cycle the opposite way. It’s pretty much flat. Sone is tarmaced and some chipping and can be muddy.
It was a very old small railway that used to go to the docks that used to exist in Pentewan. The docks silted up but can be seen when you reach the pub in Pentewan. There is also a beautiful small cafe next to the pub with amazing cakes!
9 il-persuni tal-post jissuġġerixxu
Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire
1 W EndPentewan a cycle Trail is a multi use path that begins just down from McDonald in St Austell. There are various spots along the route where you can park and walk. For example B&Q car park…just walk the main road and you’ll come across the path.
The next place to park is an entrance opposite the Cornwall Hotel. Then after that a car park in London Apprentice called Kingswood.
After that there is another car park just before you reach a bunch of caravan parks.
So if you have your own bikes or your on foot use these car parks and walk and cycle along all the way to Pentewan beach. It’s 3 miles each way.
Or if you need to hire bikes then park in Pentewan Car Park and hire from the into place available. You can then cycle the opposite way. It’s pretty much flat. Sone is tarmaced and some chipping and can be muddy.
It was a very old small railway that used to go to the docks that used to exist in Pentewan. The docks silted up but can be seen when you reach the pub in Pentewan. There is also a beautiful small cafe next to the pub with amazing cakes!