Mevagissey's labyrinth of tiny streets twist and turn past ancient dwarf dwellings of cob and slate but head inexorably for the twin harbours which are its nerve-centre. A place to watch the fishermen land their catch and mend their nets as they have since John Trewollas built the first pier in 1430. The town of St Meva and St Issey was first recorded as a hamlet in 1313, however there were settlements in the locality long before that date as is shown by the uncovering of two Bronze Age Burial Urns at Portmellon. Mevagissey is the largest fishing village in St Austell Bay. It's working harbour has an unbroken tradition of boat building since 1745.
Fishermen still repair nets on the quayside, using ancient skills and modern materials.
The fishermen are happy to take visitors out on angling or pleasure trips and small motor boats can be hired for self-drive. Climbing up through the backdrop of Mevagissey's terraced houses and away from the activity of the quayside the pastoral peace of Cornwall takes over. Many people visit Mevagissey outside the normal holiday season in order to enjoy the heritage and natural wildlife of Cornwall without the usual crowds and to capture the awesome beauty of the precipitous cliffs and the sea in all its moods. Mevagissey is renowned for the soaring, switchback walks that whet the appetite for its seafood or help to work it off. From Polkirt Hill you can look out over the higgledy Mediaeval street plan, the fishing boats in the harbour and the yachts in the pool, to the golden sweep of Polstreath Beach and St Austell Bay or south to the inlet that shelters Portmellon Beach and the scenic coast path over Chapel Point to Gorran Haven.