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 3FA, PL25 3FS, PL25 3FW, PL26 6AX, PL25 3NB, PL26 6AN, PL26 6DR, PL26 6BD, PL25 3PA … See all