Beaches near Charlestown

Charlestown Beach is a small south facing sandy beach with an area of pebbles of geological interest. This is a lovely little beach for sun bathing and paddling. 

Duporth Beach is a privately owned sandy cove, just a short walk on the cliff path from Charlestown. Direct access to this beach is restricted to residents, so the coastal path is the best way to get there. Duporth is a sheltered cove which is great for swimming and kayaking.

Porthpean Beach is a popular sandy beach which can be accessed via the coastal path from Charlestown. There’s plenty of space for beach games and sandcastle building and it’s a great spot for swimming. Porthpean is popular with windsurfers and there’s also a golf course near the beach. Dogs are welcome on this beach except between May 1st and 31st August (10am-6pm) when a seasonal dog ban is in place.

Things to do in Charlestown

Attractions

Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage Centre houses the largest private collection of shipwreck artefacts in Europe. With approximately 8000 rare items from around 150 different shipwrecks, their fascinating displays are well worth a visit.

The Eden Project is just over three miles away from Charlestown and offers a great day out for all the family. Explore the rainforest and Mediterranean biomes, the spectacular gardens, sculptures and epic Skywire zip-line. Look out for events and exhibitions too.

Lost Gardens of Heligan ae located just outside of the Cornish fishing village of Mevagissey, just under seven miles away from Charlestown. Discover Cornwall’s only outdoor jungle garden, exotic plants, ancient pastures and 60 acres of woodland, and search for the Giant’s Head and Mud Maid sculptures.

Watersports

Cornwall Watersports at nearby Pentewan Sands is the best place in the area for watersport lessons and hire, for a range of water based activities including boat trips, banana rides, kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing and windsurfing. There are also some brilliant boat trips in the area, including Seas the Day Charters, running boat trips between Fowey and Mevagissey and mackerel fishing trips. There are also watersport activities and equipment hire in both Fowey and Porthpean, the River Fowey and St Austell Bay offering a fantastic setting for kayaking in particular, a great way to explore the Cornish coast.

Dining out in Charlestown

The Longstore is situated right on the harbour, with fantastic views. This steakhouse and seafood restaurant is a scenic place to enjoy a delicious meal on your holiday in Charlestown.

The Boathouse is a great place to relax, with picturesque views of Charlestown. The decking and garden offer a lovely place to enjoy a drink on a summer’s evening and the tasty menu includes pizzas, burgers and sharing plates.

The Pier House is a traditional harbourside inn with gorgeous sea views from the window seats and the beer garden. Tuck into one of their tasty pub classics or choose a dish from their daily changing specials menu.

Loveday’s restaurant is next to the Charlestown Shipwreck and Heritage Centre and serves a fantastic fusion of seafood with influences from East Asia and the Mediterranean. This is a great place to enjoy a relaxing meal together.

Filming locations

In BBC’s recent adaption of Winston Graham’s Poldark, Charlestown was used as Poldark’s Truro. The historic harbour offered the perfect setting for the film set, the unspoilt Georgian port and tall ships providing an authentic 18^th Century setting. Other movies that were filmed here include Hornblower, The Eagle has Landed, Creation, Treasure Island and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.