Whether you are heading to Cornwall for the first time or are a frequent visitor to the southwest coast, the quintessential fishing village of Mevagissey is a spot you cannot afford to miss. I recall frequently visiting this village as a child on annual holiday trips to Cornwall, so having the opportunity to take Heather there on her first visit to the UK was always going to be a memorable experience. This quirky yet historic fishing village oozes charm and that’s before you arrive at the harbor front to hear all of the local fishermen share their daily stories after heading out into the bay for their daily catch.
For anyone unaware of Mevagissey, this really is a treat for anyone visiting the county of Cornwall in England. Hopefully, after reading this post, you will be raring to experience this historic village and perhaps Cornwall, in general, will be at the top of your radar. While we experienced an awesome camping trip in various places across Cornwall, it’s fair to say that villages like Mevagissey are the perfect place to stay for a night or two, particularly if you are looking to experience life as a local in this proud fishing spot.
Mevagissey is a beautiful and historic town…Our history of boat building dates back to 1745, and the beautiful harbor is filled with classic Cornish charm. (Mevagissey Bay Hotel)
Where is Mevagissey?
Located approximately five miles south of the larger town of St. Austell, Mevagissey is a great spot to visit either to spend an afternoon or as mentioned above, for a couple of days if you really want to enjoy a stereotypical Cornish experience in a fishing village.
The village of Mevagissey nestles in a small valley and faces east to Mevagissey Bay on the east coast of Cornwall. The inner and outer harbors are busy with a mixture of pleasure vessels and working fishing boats, the remains of a once major industry. However, tourism has now become the pinnacle of this town in recent years and fishing is now predominantly done by locals trying to make their living.
Where to Stay in Mevagissey?
Mevagissey is home to a number of bed and breakfasts just like many other Cornish towns and villages. If you prefer to stay in nearby St. Austell, there are plenty other options available but we strongly recommend considering the gorgeous Mevagissey Bay Hotel, particularly if you want to enjoy the breathtaking views across the Bay and only have a 3-minute walk into the heart of the harbor.
Click here for latest prices and room availability at Mevagissey Bay Hotel.
Things to Do in Mevagissey
The beauty of Mevagissey is not only because of the architecture and old-fashioned houses/shops that fill the village center but also because of the beautiful scenery surrounding the steep slopes of the valley where this village lies.
If you enjoy hiking, Mevagissey and the surrounding area are home to breathtaking scenic coastal routes. Why not take advantage of the amazing South West Coastal Footpath and have the opportunity to appreciate some of the best views in southwest England.
For those of you that prefer to experience the local culture, head into the center of Mevagissey through a myriad of narrow streets that intertwine, providing tourists and locals with various dining options spots to enjoy a spot of afternoon tea. Art galleries and other shops are available and the wonderful Cornish Fudge Shop is a must for all visitors.
Fishing charters are available from the harbor front while for those that prefer to stay on dry land, the Mevagissey Aquarium offers a number of exhibits for visitors to enjoy. If you visit in the heart of summer, perhaps you will enjoy a great British summer and have the opportunity to experience one of the many beaches along this stretch of coastline.
All the local shop owners can provide wonderful local stories of the history throughout this fishing village and you just get that sense of relaxation as you wander around all those quirky gift shops. Of course, a trip to Mevagissey would not be complete without sampling the local Cornish Fish and Chip shops!
Summary
Mevagissey really is in a great location on an attractive stretch of coastline. Visitors here can also visit surrounding towns all within short driving distance and move further inland to explore the larger towns of Truro, St. Austell and St. Ives.
Whether you are enjoying an amazing camping experience in Cornwall or simply looking to visit a typical Cornish village, Mevagissey is surely a place that needs to be everyone’s radar. It’s a place I fell in love with as a child and I’m delighted to say it’s even better as an adult!
I love Mevagissey! My family always used to go on Holiday to Cornwall when I was younger – We would always stay in Crantock which is just outside Newquay, then years later I went back several times with my girlfriend at the time – We stopped in Par Sands and had loads of great times In Mevagissey. I can remember crabbing there and taking the boat to Fowey – Great memories!
Cute and quaint indeed! And say no more – the fudge shop. *Drool*
Yeah the temptation with that fudge shop is too irresistable for sure!
What a cute little town! Love all those colorful boats!
Oh my gosh! I spent most of my childhood holidays in Cornwall and we went to Mevagissey quite a few times. This post has bought back some memories. Thank you!
Fish and chips and fudge and cute little fishing boats? Yep, I love it! I seriously need to get over to England to do some site seeing other than London, loving these little towns!
Hannah, it is certainly worthwhile to head out of London and the mainstream tourist locations in England to truly see some amazing spots! Mevagissey is just one of many little fishing villages and towns along the Cornish coastline. Definitely a part of the country I would strongly recommend anyone visiting. Land’s End is a pretty cool experience as well at the ‘southernmost point’ of England (we have a post on that you can look at!). If you are based in London, it would only be a short train journey to Cornwall, probably a couple of hours max and you could really experience some beautiful spots!
What a cute little town, looks full of character. Hopefully the businesses affected can bounce back from the recession.
You probably noticed that this was an older post so it would be interesting to see how these businesses have reacted over the last couple of years since the downturn in the recession. I believe that many of them have recovered whilst others have probably suffered but either way this part of Cornwall is still a booming area for tourism which in reality is what will keep a lot of these local establishments in business!
I love these Cornish fishing villages – such a laid back feel to them, and some really fresh fish dishes if you can find a good restaurant. Couple of years ago we were in Portreath on the other side of Cornwall – looks very similar in many respects. And they had a Summer fair there when we were there – it was great fun with pillow fights on a balance bar and various other antics. 🙂
Just about every little village and town I visited in the UK had a fudge shop and each one enticed me to buy some even though, really they all tasted the same. Definitely a very quaint little place.
What a nice, quaint village escape. It’s so much fun bringing a partner to explore a spot that means so much to you. I think it’s an opportunity to share part of yourself that they might never have seen. I hope you had a really great time and Heather was as smitten as you obviously are with Mevagissey!
I love the quaint old-fashioned architecture!
It’s so well maintained and provides a picture-perfect setting overlooking the harbour!
What a picturesque little village. Growing up in the middle of the US, I am automatically drawn to the seaside, and find even the most mundane and normal details there so exciting. Thank you for sharing, it will certainly come in handy for my future plans to travel through England. Also, I just love being able to share pieces of your upbringing, or special places with your spouse. It’s really fun! 🙂 -Alexandra
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
Looks great! I’m always amazed of how little I know about England! It’s only a hop-over from Belfast, so no excuse really, will have to change that!
I think a lot of the time Els we take it for granted when we live either in England or close by! I know that whenever I lived in England for the first 22 years of my life, I didn’t appreciate the beauty as much as I do now. Definitely head on over the Irish Sea and check out some of these hidden gems – you won’t regret it!
It’s such a shame I live in the UK, and have never explored Cornwall yet. Have been planning a road trip there for a long time now. The village looks so beautiful, just like it has come out of a postcard.
What a cute place. I’ve been to Cornwall but not to Mevagissey. But anywhere that’s pretty and does good fish and chips is fine by me!
I seem to remember Cornwall also having very nice ice cream in general.
I’ve never heard of Cornwall but now it’s on my list! What a fun little place and that fudge shop is just calling my name!!
Hi Elisa, so glad to hear we have put Cornwall on your radar now! It needs to be on everyone’s radar if you are planning a trip to the UK because there is so much beauty there. Mevagissey is such a quaint, charming village but is just one of so many examples of great spots worth experiencing around Cornwall. Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to visit in the near future!