Find Hotels in Saint Austell: Culture, Ceramics and Trails

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Editor's Choice

Pure Luxury

“Call me spoiled - but I love to be treated like a queen when traveling. Only the best is good enough for me. Hotels that make my vacation a dream of luxury and seduction are my choices. Pay attention to the (violet Medal) for luxury accommodation.”

Tatjana Herzegova, Kiew, Ukraine

Editor's Choice

Sustainable Travel

“There is only one earth and we should go out and see it. I like hotels, which look for sustainability. It is not only protecting the ecology, but also taking care for the local business and culture. I recommend the medal for eco accomodation. Let’s protect our earth. Sustainable travel is travelling with responsibility.”

Markus Lenk, Düsseldorf, Germany

Saint Austell offers clear highlights for a range of travel interests: Holy Trinity Church and the Market House for architectural history, ceramic art in the town centre, the St Austell Brewery visitor centre, and trails with different characteristics. There is also Pinetum Gardens in Holmbush near St Austell. The location and route details can help you decide whether your stay will focus mainly on the town or also include trails and a garden visit.

Architecture and Ceramic Art

Holy Trinity Church in St Austell is a Grade I listed building. The St Austell Market House dates from 1844 and is Grade II* listed. Together, the two buildings offer a tangible connection to the town’s architectural history, with different listing grades and one clearly dated building.

Ceramics feature in two different forms: the Whitegold Ceramic Art Trail is a public outdoor art exhibition featuring 18 individually made ceramic works in the town centre. The Earth Goddess is also a ceramic sculpture in the centre of St Austell. This lets you distinguish between an exhibition with several works and one individually named sculpture.

Brewery History and Visitor Centre

St Austell Brewery was founded in 1851. Its visitor centre offers an interactive attraction and tours of the historic family brewery. If you are interested in brewery history as well as buildings and public art, you’ll find a different focus for your stay here: the brewery’s history and what its visitor centre offers.

Trails with Different Characteristics

The Coast and Clay Trail follows a mostly traffic-free route into St Austell. Between St Austell and Pentewan, the Pentewan Valley Trail follows the route of the former Pentewan Railway. It is 3½ miles long and mostly flat. The specific details distinguish the two trails: the Coast and Clay Trail is defined by its largely traffic-free route and destination of St Austell, while the Pentewan Valley Trail has a stated length and a mostly flat profile. Choose the trail whose characteristics best suit your plans.

There are also nine Clay Trails near St Austell, which mostly run off-road and are suitable for walking, cycling and horse riding. If you plan to use one of these trails, check current access before setting out. The different activities offer different ways to explore the area; the right choice depends on whether you want to travel on foot, by bike or on horseback.

Garden and Getting There

Pinetum Gardens is a 30-acre botanical garden in Holmbush near St Austell. Its location and botanical focus offer a different experience from the ceramic art in the town centre. So when choosing your activities, you can consider a garden visit as well as architecture and public art.

For travel, St Austell is on the main line through Cornwall and is served by GWR and CrossCountry trains. Check the timetable for your travel day if you are arriving by train.

Discover more destinations: Boscastle, Luxulyan, Ruan High Lanes, White Cross, St Just, Tywardreath, Gwinear, Porkellis.

For the broader travel overview: Cornwall.

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