The Perfect Cornish Staycation!
Updated: Jul 1
This article showcases things to do near St Austell, Cornwall. St Austell is a hub for staycations in the south of Cornwall due to is wide range of accommodation in the surrounding area such as Air BnB’s, campsites, hotels and holiday parks. There is an abundance of things to do and places to see, in this blog I have collated the best!
Things to do near St Austell
Fowey
Fowey is pronounced “foy” and rhymes with boy. There is a common misconception about how to pronounce the name so I thought I’d better clear that up first. Fowey is a glorious port town at the mouth of the River Fowey in the south of Cornwall. The Cornish coastline is known for its beauty and its hidden gems, Fowey being a prime example. Fowey has a spectacular harbourside and boasts immaculate views of the river along with a beautiful town bustling with amazing local businesses. It’s the perfect coastal escape and is reminiscent of many European ports boasting its water clarity and hidden coves.
2. Charlestown
Charlestown is a historic Georgian harbour town which you may recognise as it is a film set for Poldark! It feels like stepping into the Cornish past surrounded by pirate ships and cobbles. It really is the picture perfect Cornish harbour with two beautiful pebble beaches either side, the right hand one being dog friendly. Alongside the harbour there are a few places to eat and drink, plenty of pirate memorabilia and often marquees selling local food and produce. Above the harbour, at the top of Charlestown is the Shipwreck treasure museum that houses over 8,000 artefacts from over 150 different shipwrecks! There are several excellent reasturants in Charlestown making it an ideal place to enjoy dinner. Charlestown feels like a deep dive into Cornish culture and is a geat place to kill a few hours.
3. Mevagissey
Mevagissy is a must. Being one of the tourist hotspots on the south coast of Cornwall it caters to everyone! Boasting a large magnitude of eateries it is perfect for a foodie! The narrow Cobbled streets are laced with, reasturaunts, bakeries, pubs, chippys and cafes. Mevagissey is famous for its fishing industry which the village is built upon, with that comes an abundance of fresh seafood. Combined with several traditional Cornish bakeries this really is the place to get an authentic taste of Cornwall! There is a free aquarium (donations are welcome) that displays some of the Cornish sealife that the local fishermen catch. There is also a museum that showcases the history of the old fishing village. As you’d expect from the harbour there are multiple boat excursions and fishing trips which are always good fun. I recommend exploring Mevagissey, there is a lot to experience!
4. Pentewan Beach
Pentewan beach is the closest beach to St Austell. It’s a magnificent stretch of white sand and clear blue sea between two headlands. There is a campsite (Pentewan Sands) right next to the beach that is a very popular place to stay. On the beach there is also an amazing reasturaunt and cocktail bar which is below in the ‘places to eat’ section of the article. There is Kayak, Paddle board, Windsurf, Pedalo and self drive boat hire on the beach, see Cornwall water sports for more information. I highly reccomend the self drive boat it is relatively simple to operate and great fun getting out offshore! There are toilets right next to the beach and even a cofee shop and campsite shop if you need refreshments. Dogs are banned from Pentewan beach from the 1st of March to the first Sunday in November. If you’re in desperate need of a beach day then Pentewan is where to look!
5. Polkerris Bay
Polkerris is a tranquil sandy cove, sheltered by a harbour wall. Duet to this the water is very calm making it an excellent place to swim or partake in water sports. With that bieng said, they offer paddle board lessons and hire alongside kayak hire too! Dogs are banned on the beach between easter and October 1st. There are public toilets, a pub, cafe and shop close to the beach and there is also a public car park in the hamlet next to the beach. There is disabled access to the beach (ramp) and also a disabled toilet. The beach is absolutely stunning and I highly recommend spending some time there, especially on a sunny day!
6. Eden Project
The Eden project is home to the worlds largest indoor rainforest! It is a huge botanical garden featuring a rainforest biome, Mediterranean biome and outdoor gardens. There is plenty to see and do including zip wires, an assault course, parks, restaurants and exhibits. The best thing to do in my opinion is simply explore the biomes as it is a very unique experience, being in the heart of Cornwall, encompassed by lush tropical vegetation. I recommend having lunch at the Mediterranean restaurant as it really feels like you are abroad and you can sit “outside”, al fresco style, whatever the weather. They also host suppers some nights if you fancy a quick escape to Italy one evening!
7. Cornwall Football Golf
Cornwall Football golf is a great activity for everyone! It is a good price considering you can easily spend a fun filled couple hours on one 18 hole course! There are two separate courses to chose from each with their own obstacles to traverse through and around. Every hole is different and will feature a different obstacle. You will be provided with your own football, you will just need to bring suitable trainers (no studs or blades are allowed). The 19th hole (bar) serves food and drink so you can enjoy some refreshments before or after your game. You don’t necessarily need to be good at football to enjoy this, it’s a great laugh for anyone of any ability!
Places to eat near St Austell
Sam’s (Fowey)
Sam’s is a restaurant/cocktail bar that serves scrumptious local produce, from award winning burgers, locally caught fish, mussels from the bay to lobsters and scallops from a local fishermen. The decor is very bright and bold with memorabilia filling the walls and there are punk rock tunes playing, creating a fun atmosphere. You could say it gives a very American diner vibe with a much higher quality standard of food and drink, especially with their pride of place going to homemade burgers. There is seating with a gorgeous view of the river and a cocktail bar upstairs. If you fancy taking on a giant burger, a few evening drinks in the town or eating quality local seafood with riverside views then this is the place!
2. Ruby’s Ice cream (Fowey)
Ruby’s Ice cream is a must to fix your ice cream cravings! They have a great range of flavours that all taste premium. Sometimes when you buy a brownie ice cream there is little to no brownie, well this is not the case as my brownie ice cream was jam packed with the stuff! You can chose from a variety of cones and even have your ice cream dipped in melted chocolate, which I highly recommend. At Ruby’s they also sell ice cream milkshakes that look phenomenal, they come dipped in chocolate with toppings too! They also have ice cream sundaes and cookie dough sandwiches, so there are plenty of options for your seaside sugar fix!
3. Hubbox (Pentewan beach)
Hub box is a burger and cocktail chain that have several locations in the UK. The burgers are to die for and there is a wide range of cocktails and coolers to try! They often have specials too which is usually local drinks. There is outdoor seating on the beach and the indoor seating has a cool diner theme with a spectacular view of the beach. It’s the perfect place to enjoy an ice cold drink on the beach and is ideally located a few steps from your beach towel! Hub box allows dogs on site but only between certain dates based around the Pentewan beach dog ban.
4. The Ship inn (Pentewan)
The Ship in is in Pentewan towards the village. It has a large beer garden overlooking the river that leads to the beach. The view is picture perfect and there are plenty of outdoor tables and even booths, ideal for a sunny day. The pub itself is surprisingly large inside and has a very traditional feel to it. The Ship inn has a good menu with lots to chose from, I highly recommend anything that has the pulled brisket as it is delicious! They serve a lot of different drinks including many local beers and ciders. The Ship inn is just a few minutes walk from the beach and right next to one of the car parks so it is ideal for a meal after a day at the beach. The Ship inn is dog friendly so you and your pooch can enjoy!
Where to Stay in St Austell
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