Visit Pentewan, Mevagissey, Cornwall. Here you'll find all the information you need to plan your holiday in Pentewan, Mevagissey, Cornwall. Bed and Breakfast, Hotels, Self-catering Cottages and Campsites. Nearby Mevagissey is named after two Irish saints, St Meva and St Issey, the village dates back to at least 1313. Narrow streets and steep valley sides lead down to the centre of the old Mevagissey where the distinctive twin harbour provides a safe haven for the many fishing boats that land their daily catch of skate, lobster, plaice and sole.

Pentewan - Mevagissey - Cornwall

Discover Pentewan, Cornwall. Where to stay - What to do - About Pentewan. All the information you need to find your self-catering holiday cottage, hotel, bed & breakfast or camp site. Updated for 2019.

THE VILLAGE of Pentewan, Cornwall was a small port at the turn of the century for local stone and china clay. The only signs left of the industry are the old quay and harbour, now home for ducks, swans and moorhens. Pentewans popular sandy beach with its own camp/caravan site adjoining is ideal for swimming, fishing and other water sports.

Pentewan B&B - Pentewan holiday cottages - Pentewan self catering holidays - Pentewan Sands Campsite

The village and its harbour date back to medieval times, when Pentewan was mainly a fishing community, with some stone-quarrying, tin-streaming, and agriculture. Leland, writing in 1549, referred briefly to 'Pentowan' as "a sandy bay witherto fischer bootes repair for socour". Between 1818 and 1826, local land- and quarry owner Sir Christopher Hawkins substantially rebuilt the harbour, partly to improve the existing pilchard-fishery and partly to turn the village into a major china clay port. At its peak, Pentewan shipped a third of Cornwall's china clay, but continual problems with silting (caused by tin and clay mining) and the rise of the rival ports of Charlestown and Par meant that Pentewan's status as a port lasted for little more than a century. The last trading ship left in 1940. After that, the harbour entrance gradually silted up, though it was still possible for small boats to enter the harbour in the 1960s. Now, although the water-filled basin remains, Pentewan harbour is entirely cut off from the sea.

St. Austell is on the main London to Penzance rail line. Pentewan is 2 miles from the nearest town of Mevagissey, a quaint fishing port, and 4 miles from St. Austell and supermarkets. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are 2 miles away and the Eden Project 7 miles.

Advertise your Pentewan B&B, or Pentewan self-catering holiday cottage here. Email for details.

Pentewan Cornwall beach

Pentewan is best know these days for its long sandy beach, and Pentewan Sands Holiday Park. The beach is only a minutes walk from Pentewan village centre, and is also the home of Pentewan Sands Sailing Club. Water sports are a populay activity and Pentewan has 2 shops selling everthing you need from fishing rods to kayaks. Sal Diving is based here with a shop full of diving equipment and also runs diving courses. Watch out for them on the quay in Mevagissey where you can experience a dive in an old fashioned hard hat diving suit and hand pumped air !  You will see Mill Garage on the main road just before you drive into the village. Here you can buy petrol, get your car repaired, there's a garage shop with groceries, newspapers etc. and the village Post Office.  Just behind the garage is the School House Restaurant, one of the best restaurants in the area, very popular with locals and visitors, so make sure you book in advance. The Ship Inn serves great local beers and good pub grub and if its sunny, theres a nice garden to sit in and soak up the Cornish sunshine. There are several B&B's in Pentewan with plenty of self catering holiday cottages also available in the area, see contact details below.

Pentewan B&B
The Ancient Shipbrokers   01726 843370
Thorncliffe B&B   01726 843583
The Cove   01726 843781
Willowbrook   01726 844292
The Old Post Office B&B   01726 844421

Mevagissey Holiday Cottages

Pentewan Pubs and Restaurants
The School House Restaurant Pentewan   01726 842474
 The Ship Inn Pentewan   01726 842855

Pentewan Businesses
Viewpoint North Diving Pentewan   01726  432123

Mill Garage Pentewan   01726 843220

Pentewan Sands Sailing Club   01726 844928

Ocean Sports Pentewan   01726 842817

Pentewan Water Sports   01726 844777

Pentewan Cycle Hire
Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire   01726 844242
 The Pentewan St Austell Cycle Trail

Pentewan Camp Sites
Pentewan Sands Holiday Park   01726 843485

Caravan and Campsites in and around Pentewan

Old photos, maps and books of Pentewan from Francis Frith

Mevagissey Holiday Cottages
Local business with 16 years experience.
Online availability calendars, local advice.. 

 Pentewan street view - use control top left to move around.