The Cornish Riviera
Made famous by the old steam train route to Penzance, the Cornish Riviera takes in some stunning views of the bay of St Austell.
Clear seas and sandy coves
The stretch of south Cornwall from Gribben Head to Black Head encompasses St Austell Bay and the villages and beaches included in this stretch and either side are often referred to as ‘The Cornish Riviera’.
Originally on the Cornish Riviera steam train route, the rolling green headlands, clear water and sandy coves are an intrinsic part of Cornwall.
White clay mountains stand in the distance, adding to the unusual landscape, a reminder of the quarrying and mining heritage of the area.
St Mawes
Fowey
Looe
From quarries to cycle trails
Inland, the pretty once-quarriedLuxulyan Valley offers wonderful woodlands, whilst tall ships can still be seen in the Georgian town of Charlestown. Quaint harbour villages such as Fowey and Mevagissey contrast with some of the wide clean blue flag beaches.
There are some wonderful walks and cycle trails to be found in the area. Often following ancient clay tram trails, these are off-road and connect Cornwall’s largest town, St Austell, to harbour villages and inland to where quarrying and mining took place, such as the Eden Project.
The trails also wind around to The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Charlestown, St Austell Brewery and Wheal Martyn, all great places to visit to find out about the history of the area.
Why not download the Clay Tales app and find out about the history of the area as told by the locals?
