St Austell Bay

St Austell Bay lies on Cornwall’s south coast, framed by Gribbin Head to the east and Black Head to the west. The water stretches south-east from the inland town of St Austell towards the open sea. A small civil parish of the same name covers the western shore, from St Austell’s southern edge to Black Head. Its villages include Charlestown, Duporth, Higher and Lower Porthpean, and Trenarren. The parish was created in 2009 after years as an unparished area. The bay holds one of Britain’s largest seagrass meadows, covering 887 acres. Divers found 56 species within it, among them short-snouted seahorses and broad-nosed pipefish. Further offshore they recorded 66 more species on maerl beds, including curled octopus and streaked gurnard. These discoveries came in 2023 during an inspection of the seabed. Charlestown’s Pattern Hall, once part of an old foundry, now serves the parish council. The hall stands in a village built around a restored harbour lined with tall ships. Paths lead east and west along the cliffs, offering views over the bay’s clear waters. The coastal scenery blends gentle coves with rugged headlands.