Nestled in a scenic valley overlooking the English Channel, Mevagissey is one of the largest fishing ports in Cornwall and the birthplace of the Pears’ Soap founder, Andrew Pears. It is framed by two outer walls and an inner harbour dating back to 1778, while it’s also surrounded by rugged hiking trails that lead to hidden beaches.
Occupying an 18th-century building that once formed part of a boat-building yard is the Mevagissey Museum, which is packed with artefacts and local memorabilia. In addition to an apple crusher and a cider press, its exhibits include a horse-drawn rotating barley thresher and a recreated Cornish kitchen.
A picturesque walking trail connects north from Mevagissey to Polstreath Beach, which is a sheltered sand and pebble beach divided in two by a sea stack. Railway enthusiasts can visit the Mevagissey Model Railway, which includes a children’s railway, a garden railway and a well-stocked model train shop.
Getting there
Mevagissey is just over an hour’s drive from Plymouth and a little over 1.5 hours from Exeter Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular buses connect to Mevagissey and the village is small enough to explore on foot.