Discover Par: Beach, Nature and History

Par combines beach experiences, wildlife watching and an unusual industrial history. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Par will find various starting points for planning their trip: wide sandy areas and dunes, wind-dependent water sports, nature reserves, a coastal path to Polperro and traces of the china clay trade.

Beach and Coastal Path

Par Sands Beach is a wide stretch of sand with low dunes near the village of Par. The beach is four miles from St Austell. Due to the south-westerly winds, Par Sands is suitable for kitesurfing and windsurfing. This means that a stay can be organised in very different ways depending on your interests: you can plan the beach as a destination for active hours or include the dunes and open landscape in a more relaxed day.

The coastal path from Par to Polperro partly follows the National Cycle Network near Par Sands. This provides a specific point of reference for planning a section of the coast.

Natural Areas Around Par

Par Beach includes the Par Beach and St Andrews Road Local Nature Reserve. Wild birds and orchids can be observed in Par Nature Reserve. Those who enjoy discovering animals and plants can include these two natural areas as separate activities. For families, this creates a different kind of holiday experience from a purely beach-based day: instead of water sports, the focus is on observing, marvelling and discovering together.

China Clay, Harbour and Early History

Par was developed as a mineral harbour in the 1830s. China clay was shipped from Par all over the world. This history provides an interesting contrast in the village to the beach, dunes and nature reserves. Those interested in regional economic history can therefore combine their stay with a look at Par’s former importance as a harbour.

Another historical point of interest is the Biscovey Stone in the churchyard of St Mary's Church in Par. The stone is an early Christian memorial stone and the shaft of a wayside cross. Individual pieces of evidence such as these add a cultural accent to the trip without requiring the entire stay to focus on museums or historic buildings.

The Eden Project as a Special Excursion

The Eden Project site in Bodelva, Par, Cornwall, includes a Rainforest Biome. For your trip planning, this place offers another focus alongside the beach and local history. You can better accommodate the different interests of your travel group if you do not view nature, the coast, water sports and culture as opposites, but instead choose suitable day-trip destinations.

Which Accommodation Location Suits Your Travel Plans?

When looking for accommodation in Par, you should first decide which experiences are to define your stay. If Par Sands and wind-dependent water sports are the main focus, the beach will be central to your planning. If you would like to include wildlife watching, Par Beach and St Andrews Road Local Nature Reserve and Par Nature Reserve come into focus. For travellers interested in culture and history, the Biscovey Stone, Par’s development into a mineral harbour and its former china clay exports offer distinct themes. The coastal path to Polperro and the Rainforest Biome add further types of excursions to this selection.

To compare other destinations, you can also look at Carbis Bay, Roche, Camelford, Praze-an-Beeble, Gorran Haven, Penzance, Saint Just in Roseland and Germoe.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cornwall.