St. Austell Bay offers an incredible variety of beaches from a historic port to miles of sandy beach with watersports, it really has it all in one place! All the beaches are all linked by a wonderful coastal trail although at the time of writing, the trail between Charlestown and Duporth was temporarily closed due to erosion. The trail distances between the beaches are short, around 10-20 minutes.
This part of the Cornish coast is known for it calm, clear waters making it great for kayaking, fishing, swimming and other water activities. Most beaches have large car parks within a couple of minutes walk.
1) First up..Porthpean beach!
A sheltered, mostly sandy beach, enclosed by cliffs on both sides. Low tide exposes rock pools which are great fun for kids. There are toilets and a small cafe right on the beach. The nearby cliffs and caves make it an awesome spot for kayaking. There is a kayak rental run by the Porthpean outdoor centre. There is a seal family living in the area and seals are frequently spotted.
During low tide a surreal landscape opens up, making it possible to walk across to the next beach, Duporth.
2) Duporth
This beach has no facilities and can only be accessed through a footpath from the coastal trail. However it is lovely and quiet, and the water is usually nice and clear. Its great during high season as it gets far fewer people than the others.
3) Charlestown
Charlestown has two small pebble beaches on either side of the harbour. It has nice clear water and is popular with tourists because of the historic harbor. Charlestown is home to the Shipwreck & Heritage Centre, a working Georgian port, as well as some good pubs and restaurants.
4) Carlyon Bay
This is a vast, sandy beach (actually 3 beaches combined!) stretching for almost 2 miles. It has a number of pop up cafes and bars on the east side of the beach during the summer, and even some music in the evenings. The beach has a nice, fun atmosphere and due to its size, even during the busiest season you can always find a quiet spot to yourself. There is a jet ski and SUP hire on the beach and the water is usually calm and pleasant for swimming.
On the west side of the bay there are fascinating caves and untouched sandy coves exposed by the low tide. Always be sure to check your tide times before venturing out.
5) Par
Another vast sandy beach. Par is over half a mile long and is backed by nice sand dunes. Its popular with families due to shallow water and plenty of space even at high tide. While this is a lovely beach, there is an unsightly plant right on the beach. While it doesn't affect the sea water quality, it doesn't look too nice so may put some people off.
6) Polkerris
Beach with dark sand with excellent water sports facilities. It is situated in a lovely natural area near a small village. There is a good choice of activities and it has a shop, a watersports centre and a good pub and a restaurant right on the beach. Easily accessible by car.