St Austell Bay Tourist Information Mevagissey Carlyon Bay

Mevagissey & Gorran Haven

Heading down the west side of St Austell Bay brings you down into popular Mevagissey and Mevagissey Bay. Mevagissey's still attractive 15th century harbour and narrow cobbled streets offer a host of arts and crafts shops, plus the Mevagissey Museum explores the fishing and smuggling history of the area in depth - well worth a visit. Many holidaymakers head to this stretch of the bay for the prime beaches. Polstreath beach is a particular favourite offering a good stretch of attractive sandy beach, accessed via some pretty steep steps to the north of Mevagissey town. Alternatively head for Pentewan and it's beach just a little further north.

Settlement in Mevagissey has been traced as far back as the Bronze Age. Find out more in Mevagissey's Museum, housed in an old 18th century smugglers boat repair and construction house. Pulling no punches, this museum reveals what happened to smugglers that were caught and imprisoned in the town 'Clink' in irons. At the end of June catch Feast Week in Mevagissey, an ancient festival dating from the 18th century which offers a programme of music, dance, and festivities based around the harbour. Check the Mevagissey Tourist Information site for details. Other beach favourites in the Bay include Porthpean beach close to Charlestown.

Moving south from Mevagissey and it's bustling harbour you'll discover the more sedate Gorran Haven, with it's attractive harbour and stunning Vault Beach. Superb coastal walking is on the menu here right down to Dodman Point and round to Caerhays Castle and Gardens. Around the 400 foot Dodman Point is perfect territory for both swimming and snorkelling. Gorran also celebrates it's own festival in June.

Mevagissey Museum, East Wharf, Inner Harbour, Mevagissey, Cornwall. Tel: 01726 843568/843570. Open every day from 11am to 5pm, from Easter to October.

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Caerhays Castle Near St Austell

Both the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan are not the only exquisite gardens within the St Austell Bay area. Caerhays Castle and Gardens is situated to the south of St Austell on the coast adjacent to Porthluney Cove. Although the estate dates back to the 1370s, remaining in the hands of the Trevanion family until 1840, most activity on the gardens and renovation of the house/castle was under the ownership of the Williams family. J.C Williams, JC for short, was the key figure responsible for working these gardens - he kept a garden diary and became a renowned figure within Victorian horticulture. JC was also famous for his sponsored plant-hunting expeditions to China. He gave up a life of politics to devote himself to gardening.

Caerhays Castle was constructed in 1807 by notable architect John Nash. Caerhays Gardens are famous particularly for their magnolias, rhododendrons and oaks - all good Victorian staples! There are just over 40 species of magnolia, maglietia and michelia in the Caerhays Garden, which should keep you occupied.

Guided tours of the house and gardens are available, and Caerhays is open daily from 13th Feb until 31st May, 7 days a week from 10.00am til 5.00pm. Last entry is 4.00pm. Facilities on-site include a gift shop, a tearoom, and take time to mooch down to beautiful Caerhays Beach adjacent to the gardens and castle! Also on-site are nurseries and ample parking/toilets. Wheelchair access however is limited as parts of the grounds are on a slope. Check prior to your visit or the website right for more details.

The Estate Office, Caerhays Castle & Gardens, Gorran, St Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6LY. Tel: 01872 501310 / 501144.

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The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Don't come here to sleep or slumber"" was the description discovered in a buried room in a wall garden, etched on a limestone wall. Also listed were the names of the individuals who worked on this garden before they presumably were broken up by the First World War. The Gardens were at their peak in the late 19th century, and had been part of the estate of the Tremayne family for 400 years. Neglected and buried, this magical garden space has been brought back to life, and Tim Smit also a notable figure on the Eden Project is one of the key figures in Heligan's revival!

Now visitors can expect to see original features restored such as the big glass houses crammed with exotic fruits, and a few contemporary additions - the sculptures around the gardens at Heligan are captivating! There's much to see, so give yourself at least half a day for this mammoth Cornwall garden experience. The Northern Gardens include the Productive and Pleasure Gardens. The Productive Gardens contain the restored glass houses and vegetable garden which would have served the family home in days of old. Move on to the Pleasure Gardens, first laid 200 years ago and full of stunning romantic plants such as Hooker Rhododendrons and Camellias, and sublime Italian Gardens, Summerhouses, a crystal grotto, a rocky ravine and even a wishing well.

The Estate gardens truly do work for the estate. Ancient woodlands abound at Heligan, check out the Lost Valley crammed with old oaks. Check out the bluebells in late spring! Magic. Timber at Heligan is put to good use, with larger trees used for furniture making. Heligan has it's own farm shop too - Lobbs Farm Shop with online shopping website to the right. Produce comes from a non-intensive and traditional mixed farm of 850 acres situated on Heligan. Check out too the fascinating wildlife projects. Visitors are able to view wildlife on Heligan such as badgers, bats and birds via small cameras, with images projected on to big screens. The cameras do not disturb the habitats in any way.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, St.Austell, Cornwall, PL26 6EN. Tel: 0044 (0)1726 845100.Open Every Day (except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day). Main Season (March û October): 10.00 am û 6.00 pm (last tickets 4.30pm). Winter (November û February): 10.00 am û 5.00 pm (last tickets 3.30pm).

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St Austell Bay Gardens

St Austell Bay has the pick of Cornwall's gardens, with the obvious two main attractions being the Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Many more small gardens are located around the Bay with some growing plants which end up in the Eden Project.

Marsh Villa Gardens in the Par area offers three acres of all season gardens including plenty of herbaceous borders, hedges and pretty woodland. Relax by the large natural pond and enjoy marshland walks in this garden. Marsh Villa Gardens, Marsh Villa, St Andrew's Road, Par PL24 2LU. Tel: 01726 815920. Open from April to October, Sundays to Wednesdays from 11am to 6pm.

Pine Lodge Gardens are a real treat, and huge with 30 acres crammed full of herbaceous borders, water gardens and even a Japanese garden. Open 7 days a week, this garden is a real day out with cafe offering cream teas, a nursery where you can purchase your rare gem and the garden is accessible for wheelchairs. Check the Pine Lodge Gardens weblink to the right for details. Pine Lodge Gardens, Holmbush, St Austell PL25 3RQ. Tel: 01726 73500. Open every day from 10am to 6pm (last admission 5pm). Group bookings welcome.

Beautiful 19th century Tregrehan Gardens in Par are magic, and like Heligan created by another Cornish family, the Carlyon family. Explore the Victorian passion for gardens and botanical collections in this Cornwall Garden classic. It's a large woodland garden primarily, with plants here sourced from a temperate rainforest. Twenty acres of gardens are waiting to be explored, with a classic huge Victorian greenhouse on-site. Check the Tregrehan Gardens website right for full details. Tregrehan Gardens, Par PL24 2SJ. Tel: 01726 814389. Open from Mid March to mid June on Wednesdays to Sundays from 10.30am to 5pm. From Mid June to the end of August open Wednesdays 2pm to 5pm.

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