The parish of St Austell Bay occupies a short sweep of Cornwall’s south coast just south of St Austell, including the little harbours and villages of Charlestown, Porthpean and Pentewan. It’s characterised by sandy beaches, rocky coves and coastal clifftops with the South West Coast Path running through, so it’s popular with walkers and families seeking classic Cornish sea views.
Historically the area’s fortunes were tied to the china‑clay trade from nearby workings, and Charlestown still shows its Georgian harbour and tall‑ship heritage which now helps drive a tourism economy and draws film crews. Local life mixes seasonal visitors and long‑standing communities, with a strong maritime culture, conservation interest and small‑scale local services and festivals celebrating that coastal identity.
PL25 3NS, PL26 6AE, PL25 3NU, PL26 6BB, PL25 3GL, PL26 6DP, PL26 6BD, PL25 3FW, PL25 3NZ … See all