St Austell is one of Cornwall’s major towns on the south coast in an area that has become known as the ‘Cornish Riviera’.  Enjoy browsing for coastal cottages and other self catering accommodation in and near St Austell.  Read on for more information about this town.  St Austell is positioned in one of the most beautiful areas of the Cornish coast, boasting green wooded hills, secluded coves and enchanting villages nearby with beautiful stretches of sandy beach.

The area is bursting with various activities and places of interest including the fabulous Mevagissey harbour and pretty suntrap towns of Portmellon and Gorran Haven. Spend your self-catering cottage holiday by the sea, fishing, walking, sailing, cycling or even doing something new like a watersport.  Places of interest for days out include Caerhayes Castle, Restormel Castle, the Shipwreck Centre or the port town of Fowey.

St Austell achieved prominence in recent years because of its proximity to the Eden project, that exotic garden of glass domes or biomes created in a disused china clay pit which showcases flora from around the globe. The China Clay Country Park and museum is situated 3 miles north of St Austell at Wheal Martyn, this being the centre of china clay country. The strange sharply pointed and white tipped clay slag heaps can be seen at various points in the surrounding countryside.

The wilderness of Bodmin Moor is 20 minutes drive from St Austell and is a great place for spotting wildlife, Bodmin ponies and rare butterflies.  St Austell is also home to multiple gardens and parks such as The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pine Lodge gardens and Tregrehan gardens which are all nearby.

The best nearest beach is at Polkerris to the east or Pentewan near Mevagissey in the south. However, nowhere in Cornwall is very far once you're there. Even a trip to Land's End is possible for a day out by car. A landmark to the west of St Austell is the 1898 railway viaduct carrying trains over the Trenance Valley to London.

Renting a self catering cottage or apartment near St Austell is recommended for anyone who would like to spend a day or two visiting the Eden Project and touring the south Cornwall coast.