Walks & Beaches From Our Door — The Full Guide

One of the best things about being based in Portmellon is that you don't need to drive anywhere to find a proper walk. Step out of the pub, turn either way along the coast path, and you're straight into some of the best stretches of coastline in Cornwall. We get asked all the time which way to go and what to expect, so here's the full guide — both directions, distances, timings, and what you'll find at the other end.

South: Mevagissey & Gorran Haven

Portmellon to Mevagissey** — 1 mile, 15–20 minutes
The short warm-up. A gentle stretch along the coast path into Mevagissey's double-walled harbour, one of Cornwall's classic working fishing ports. Narrow streets, galleries, seafood stalls, and a proper harbour to wander round before you carry on or turn back.

Mevagissey to Gorran Haven** — roughly 4.5 miles, allow 2–2.5 hours
This is where the walk properly opens up. Out of Mevagissey the path climbs onto the cliff tops, with wide views back over St Austell Bay, before working its way toward Dodman Point — the highest headland on Cornwall's south coast and one of the best viewpoints on this whole stretch of the path. Hemmick Beach along the way is a good spot to stop and catch your breath. The path drops down into Gorran Haven past St Just's Church, ending at a lovely sandy beach with a breakwater — a great place to sit before the walk back, or catch the bus if you'd rather not retrace your steps.

Round trip from the pub: around 11 miles / 5–6 hours if you walk both ways, or catch the Go Cornwall Bus back from Gorran Haven to Mevagissey (about 21 minutes) and walk the last mile home.

North: Charlestown & Carlyon Bay

Mevagissey to Charlestown — 7.3–7.5 miles, allow 3 hours
The bigger of the two routes, and a proper day out. It's a strenuous stretch with plenty of climbing — around 1,200 feet of ascent along the way — but the scenery earns every bit of it. The path skirts Pentewan Beach, passes through the woodland of the Ropehaven Cliffs Nature Reserve (a good spot for nesting fulmars), and rounds Black Head, an Iron Age cliff castle with some of the best views on the trip. Charlestown itself is worth the effort alone — a beautifully preserved Georgian harbour that's been used as a filming location for Poldark and plenty else besides. Wander the harbourside, grab a coffee, and take it all in before deciding what's next.

Charlestown to Carlyon Bay — about 1.25 miles, 25–30 minutes
A short, easy add-on once you're in Charlestown. Carlyon Bay is a proper sandy beach, easily one of the best in the area, and a well-earned spot to finish if you've walked all the way from Mevagissey.

Getting back: Charlestown and Carlyon Bay both have bus connections back toward St Austell and Mevagissey, so you don't have to walk the whole way back on tired legs — check Traveline for times before you set off.

A few tips before you go

- Wear proper footwear — several sections on both routes involve steps and steep stretches, and the path can be muddy after rain.
- Take water and snacks, especially on the Charlestown stretch — there's limited access to shops or cafés for long sections.
- Check tide times if you're planning to walk along or stop at any of the beaches en route.
- Both routes are dog-friendly along most of the path, though some beaches (including Portmellon and Pentewan) have seasonal restrictions in the summer months.

Plan your route

For full maps, elevation profiles and up-to-date path conditions, these are the resources we'd point you to:

- South West Coast Path Association(https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk) — the official site, with a distance calculator and route planner covering every stretch of the path.
- 630 Miles(https://630miles.com) — a brilliant walk-by-walk account of the entire South West Coast Path, including detailed write-ups of the Mevagissey to Charlestown and Gorran Haven stretches.
- Encounter Walking Holidays(https://www.encounterwalkingholidays.com) — for anyone looking to turn this into a longer, multi-day trip along the Cornish coast.

However far you go, you'll find us here at the end of it — right on the beach, with a cold pint and a seat with your name on it.

Kelly x