Beaches near Mevagissey
Sandy half-miles and shingle coves, all inside a bay that the shape of England happens to shelter.
I knew every one of these by which you could land on unseen. Vault for privacy, Portmellon for the short walk, Pentewan when you wanted room. The bay is kind because the Lizard takes the Atlantic off it — the whole reason this coast is calm enough to work, by day for the fishing or by dark for the other trade.
Why this bay is sheltered
St Austell Bay sits inside a long headland, Were it not for the land around the Lizard blocking the Atlantic off, this stretch would be nothing like as calm.
The Gulf Stream helps too, bringing warmer water up from the Gulf of Mexico — more so here than anywhere in the UK bar the Isles of Scilly.
Check the tide before you go. Some of these are very small at high water.
Portmellon
Nought point seven miles, about a fifteen-minute walk — and walk it, do not drive. The nearest beach to Mevagissey, accessible at low tide, safe, and a good first stop after the village.
Pentewan Sands
Two miles, six minutes by car, or a good walk round the coast path. Over half a kilometre of whitish-gold sand, with toilets, a restaurant on the beach and paddleboard hire, because the campsite sits right behind it. Free parking and cafés in the village.
Gorran Haven
Under three miles. A little village with a small harbour and a sandy beach, and a wonderful coastal walk to it. Smaller than Pentewan, and very small indeed when the tide is in.
Vault
Just under four miles, and hard to park at. Shingle, and very private — reached by the coast path from Gorran Haven, with the National Trust car park half a mile off. A Cornish gem for escaping the crowds, and one of the naturist beaches on this coast.
Charlestown
Six and a half miles. The beaches here are covered in flint — ballast, dropped by the clay boats that came in to load. Charlestown has a good choice of places to eat and wide views across the bay to the headland.
Caerhays
Seven miles. A quiet, fairly exposed beach set in rolling hills on the edge of the Caerhays estate.
Polstreath
Within walking distance of Mevagissey and the most rugged of them, but it takes good mobility to get down to. Better at low tide; at high water it is stonier and the water deeper.
Parking, beach by beach
Parking is the thing that decides a beach day here. Pentewan Sands, Gorran Haven and Caerhays are the easiest to park at; Charlestown is middling; Vault is the hardest — the only car park is the National Trust one about half a mile away, which is rather the point of how quiet it stays. Portmellon you walk to.
Dog-friendly beaches around the bay include Vault, Porthluney, Hemmick, Gorran Haven and Polstreath. Vault and Porthluney are also where naturists go.
A self-catering cottage in St Austell Bay with sea views, a large garden and parking, close to the beach and the coast path. Book direct with the owner.
Book direct with the ownerMevagissey Harbour — a guide to the village, the bay and the people who worked it.