Not strictly on the Roseland, but Mevagissey is near enough and nice enough to warrant a mention!
This small yet beautiful old townof Mevagissey, was in the past the main focal point of Cornwall’s pilchard fishery. Mevagissey still has a harbor that is uses by a more than a score of small fishing boats. There is a boat building tradition that exists at Mevagissey that goes back to over two hundred and sixty years. In the town you can see many old buildings, most of which were made from cob and slate, serving as a reminder of an earlier time when Mevagissey was heavily dependent on the large shoals of pilchards for their livelihood.
The town’s name, Mevagissey, is thought to have come from the names of two saints St Meva and St Issey. It is believed, based on records, that the town started out as a hamlet in the fourteenth century and during the Bronze Age, had some small settlements.
When you travel down the narrow streets of Mevagissey you will find quite a number of cafes, pubs, gift shops, galleries and craft workshops. You will also find a few hotels and many restaurants that specialize in fish dishes, and you can also find some shops that serve fish and chips.
Other features you will see in Mevagissey include the impressive collection of the World of Model Railways Exhibition, the must see Folk Museum, and the aquarium that is housed in the old lifeboat house and displays fish that is caught locally. There is a great view of the higgledy streets, Mevagissey harbor and the yachting pool from the top of Polkirt Hill. Mevagissey offers fishing trips from the harbor and even has a ferry that goes to the port of Fowey, which is nearby. On Mevagissey quay you can park your at the car park, as it may be best to walk to wherever you want to go in the town because the streets are very narrow making it difficult to maneuver and sometimes there is a lot of pedestrians walking around.
Every year Mevagissey celebrates what is called ‘Feast Week’ at the end of June. During Fest Week there is local entertainment and street dances. Another tradition in Mevagissey takes place during Christmas time when the town put out a fantastic light display of Christmas lights. At New Years the towns folk dress up in fancy clothes and celebrate the beginning of the New Year.
Mevagissey is has an impressive stretch of coastline and there are a number of coastal footpaths that, although steep in some places, are good for walks.
In Mevagissey if you want to go sea angling, then there is ample opportunities for you to do so. The coastline of the town is a good place to do some exploration as it has a lot of coves and beaches. Nearby you will find the small anchorage of Gorran Haven, which is very rich in flora and fauna. Further north there is the sandy beach of Pentewan and further south is the quiet cove of Portmellon. There are many beaches in the area of Mevagissey and they all have some very intriguing rock formations.
