The Coastal Village of "Pentewan"
and its History
Pentewan (pen-headland
and tewan-sandhills, dunes) is a small
coastal village just 3 miles south
of St Austell, which is situated at
the north eastern corner of the tri-angular
"Roseland Peninsular", with
St Mawes at the southern tip.
Situated on the
eastern coast of the Peninsular, the
village of Pentewan has a long sandy
beach, safe for swimming and all watersports,
with the coastal path easily accessible
from either end of the beach. The
Pentewan
Cycle Trail way
terminates in the village and cycle
hire is available from March to October.
The village has
its own diving
school, pub,
restaurant,
shops, garage and post office, as
well as a lovely tea-room in the village
square, selling delicious home-made
cakes. It is also well served by the
local bus service, with a regular
service to the neighbouring village
of Mevagissey, The
Lost Gardens of Heligan,
St Austell, The
Eden Project, Charlstown
and Fowey.
Historically, Pentewan was a busy
and important harbour for local fishing
vessels and cargo ships. The harbour
and horse-drawn narrow gage railway,
originally built by a local mine owner
for the shipping of China Clay, Coal
and Timber, was in 1874, rebuilt by
engineer John Barraclough Fell and
converted to locomotive workings,
where it ran for many many years.
The harbour was
also home to the "Tall Ships"
which tied-up along the harbour walls
trading their cargo. In fact the "Ancient
Shipbrokers" Bed and Breakfast
was for 50 years, home of the Shipbroker
trading the cargoes of the Tall Ships.
Today the only signs
left of the port is the old quay,
now a freshwater haven for numerous
ducks, swans and moorhens. Herons
frequent the river plucking fresh
water fish from the water.
Things to do:
~ The Lost Gardens of Heligan - garden
restoration project as seen on the BBC.
~
The Eden Project - the worlds famous
horticultural project.
~
Coastal Path - walk the coast.
~
Cycle Track - cycle hire.
~
Mevagissey - Fowey Ferry - see dolphins
and basking sharks.
~
St Austell Brewery - guided tours.
~ Charlestown - tall ships and the ship
wreck museum.
~
Seal sanctuary - rescued and recuperating
seals.
~
River Cruises Cruise - sightseeing around
Falmouth and Truro.
~
Lizard Peninsular - most southerly point
of UK.
~
Lands End - a great day to be had in
the area.
~
Lanhydrock House - superb National Trust
house and garden.
~
Caerhays Castle - close to the sea with
a great beach.
~
Goonhilly Downs - visitor telecommunications
centre.
~
Wheal Martin" China Clay Museum.
~
Minack theatre - open air amphitheatre
on the side of a cliff.
~
Kneehigh Theatre - open air productions.
~
St Michaels Mount - historical island.
~
Tintagel - the legendary site of King
Arthur's Castle.
~
Port Isaac - where DOC MARTIN is filmed.
~
Newquay Airport - entry to Cornwall
has never been eaiser.
~
Railway St Austell - connects to Plymouth,
Penzance, Truro.
~
Penzance Heliport - Helicopter trips
to the Scilly Isles.
Listed below is
a choice of restaurants and pubs,
that serve good food in Pentewan and
close by.
~
The School House
~
The Ship Inn
~
The Polgooth Inn
~
The Fountain (Mevagissey)
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