Mevagissey

Mevagissey comes from the towns of St Meva (Meva) & St Issey (Issey) and is the largest fishing village in Mevagissey Bay. With its twin harbours Mevagissey has an unbroken tradition of boat building since 1745. Fishermen still repair nets on the quayside, using ancient skills and modern materials. In the narrow streets leading off the harbour – craft shops, art galleries, cafes, restaurants and pubs which were once the haunts of Cornish smugglers!

The beach to the north is a large privately owned beach, very sandy and excellent for sunbathing, swimming and water sports. No lifeguard cover and dog restrictions apply in the summer months. To the south is a small sandy beach of Portmellon, which at high tide is completely covered – you have been warned! For other beaches within driving distance is St Austell Bay, Par or Gorran Haven.

Mevagissey offers a choice of pubs and a couple of restaurants and a few tea houses to choose from but for a wider selection then St Austell is only a short drive away.

Mevagissey is the perfect base with many attractions close by. The Eden Project approx 8 miles away, is a global garden, depicting a fascinating story of mankind’s dependence on plants. The Lost Gardens of Heligan is now the largest garden restoration in Europe and is a magnificent complex of walled gardens. The World of Model railways has an impressive collection of 2,000 models and trains run through finely detailed scenery with fairgrounds, boats, skiers and cable cars. The Mevagissey Folk Museum displays a collection of artefacts from the local fishing and maritime community. Or why not visit the Mevagissey Aquarium probably the tiniest aquarium in the country.

At the end of June, Mevagissey celebrates Feast Week, based on St. Peter’s Day, (St. Peter being the patron saint of fishermen.) The week’s events include music and the Flora Dance, with many other activities for young and old, culminating in a Grand Fete and carnival procession and the grand finale, a spectacular firework display, will be held on Saturday.

During the pre-Christmas period Mevagissey has a wonderful display of Christmas lights and the New Year is celebrated in the Cornish tradition in which almost everybody wears fancy dress.