- Visit the spectacular Eden Project
- Take in the views on the beautiful Clay Trail
- Spend a day on one of the sun kissed local beaches
The largest town in Cornwall, St. Austell is the perfect place to spend a relaxing holiday. Boasting a number of top attractions, such as the unique botanical gardens The Eden Project, an interesting brewery tour of St. Austell Breweries (with samples!) and an historical look at the china clay heritage of the town in the Wheal Martyn China Clay Heritage Centre, there is certainly plenty to see and do.
There are a number of great pubs selling great pub grub and a fine selection of St. Austell Breweries ales, shopping options galore in the newly redeveloped White River Place in the town centre and a fine assortment of beaches to enjoy a last day on the sand. The Clay Trail is a great way of exploring the history of the town, which dates back to the middle ages, via the stunning coastal and countryside views.
Food and Drink
St Austell is packed with culinary options to tempt you during your stay. If its pubs you’re after, look no further than the scenic The Waterwheel, The Hop and Vine, and The White Hart, all of which offer fabulous pub grub and a fine selection of local ales. If a more contemporary feel is what’s needed, try the newly renovated The Rann Wartha, which boasts a chic, fashionable redeveloped decor and a fine menu.
If you prefer a lighter option, Tengo! and The Thin End Restaurant both offer a wide selection of scrumptious paninis, sandwiches, smoothies and juices. For quality home cooking, try Lanna Thai, a newly opened shop in the town centre which is truly unique, offering recipes, ingredients and advice direct from Thailand, Malaysia and The Philippines.
Family Attractions
One attraction is sure to dominate the plans of visitors to St. Austell: The Eden Project. With its huge biomes filled with tropical and exotic plants in an area the size of 30 football pitches, Eden is certainly a stunning spectacle that the whole family will enjoy. Beyond this, the Wheal Martyn China Clay Heritage Centre is an interesting way of exploring St. Austell’s past, find out how the town was shaped (quite literally) by the China Clay industry.
St. Austell Breweries offers a tour around their famous facilities, while a little further afield, The Lost Garden of Helligan, Restormorel Castle in Lostwithiel and Caerhays Castle in Porthluney Cove are all well worth a visit.
Shopping
St. Austell is fast moving towards being a Fair Trade town, with many shops sourcing ethical routes for their products. The redevelopment of the town centre has brought with it the White River Place shopping centre, which is packed with high street names and parking.
For something a little bit different, Saxe Blue in the town centre is perfect for all your clothes, jewellery, candles and soft furnishing needs. There are a number of clothes shops and a vast selection of wines, spirits and ales can be purchased at Del Monicos, the finest alcohol merchants in the region. To sample the authentic taste of St. Austell, visit one of the Local Produce Markets for a fine selection of free range ham and eggs, bread, fruit, preserves and flowers.
History and Heritage
Beginning life in 1189 as a market town, St. Austell has grown phenomenally to become the largest town in Cornwall, according to population size. By the time of the Industrial Revolution, St. Austell became heavily industrialised, with a large economic reliance to their key mining industries-tin, copper and of course, china clay. This is the reason for the bags of seventeenth and eighteenth century charm that the town still possesses today. With this rapid rise to wealth came rapid growth of the town itself, and the town possesses a rich agricultural heritage that is still present today.
Activities
For keen golfers, there are three courses to choose from; St. Austell, Carlyon Bay and Porthpean, all of which boast 18 holes and stunning scenery. But it’s walking and cycling that St. Austell really is perfect for. The Clay Trails are possibly the best way to sample the beautiful scenery that this part of the world has to offer.
A set of bus stops and national cycling routes that link along the coast, this is a really pleasant way of taking in the views. With routes varying from 3 to 5 miles long, and the stunning Par, Bugle, Wheal Martyn and even the Eden Project providing the views, the charming trail is a perfect way to get some gentle exercise and enjoy the landscape.
Beaches
A short drive will take you to a number of pleasant coves and beaches that are perfect for a lazy day on the sand. Porthpean is a safe, sandy, sheltered beach that is perfect for families. Duporth is a more private cove, with no dogs allowed, that is ideal for swimming, offering a sheltered stretch of water.
Charlestown beach is a fascinating place to visit, perfect for amateur archaeologists, with pebbles of high geological interest making for a unique memento. For the intrepid, Carlyon Bay is two miles of coarse, rugged sand which shelves steeply in places, ideal for wannabe explorers everywhere!
Events and Entertainment
The newly redeveloped town boasts a new multiplex, the White River Cinema, or the WTW Cinema, both of which can be found in the town centre. The Keay Theatre and The St. Austell Arts Theatre both boast regular shows for some cultural entertainment, while the Eden Project has offerings all the year round, from ice skating at Christmas and Halloween trails, to top bands playing gigs to thousands of fans.
Charlestown Regatta is a large event in the area, held towards the end of August. See www.charlestownregatta.co.uk for more information.
Travel
Travelling to St. Austell is very simple and can be done in a variety of ways. By rail, St. Austell’s train station is just outside the town and has just undergone a multi million pound redevelopment programme, while by road, getting to St. Austell is a very straightforward affair whatever direction you are coming from.
With excellent parking throughout the town and a successful park and ride scheme in operation, navigating your way around the town could not be simpler. St. Austell also boasts good transport links, through rail and road, to the rest of Cornwall and beyond.