Carlyon Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carlyon Bay |
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 View from Carlyon Bay across St Austell Bay looking towards Black Head |
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| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
Carlyon Bay (in Cornish: Caryones, meaning forts) is a beautiful bay in Cornwall, England. It is located on the south coast, about 2 kilometers east of the town of St Austell. The bay has three main beaches: Crinnis, Shorthorn, and Polgaver.
For many years, Carlyon Bay was a popular spot for fun and sports. Between the 1920s and Second World War, it was home to the New Cornish Riviera Lido, a large swimming and sports area. After the war, it was known as Cornish Leisure World.
A big entertainment place called the Cornwall Coliseum opened in the 1950s. It hosted many events, like tennis games and concerts by famous musicians. However, it became less popular after a new venue, the Plymouth Pavilions, opened in 1991. The Coliseum closed in 2003, and its building was taken down starting in 2015.
The land around the bay used to be a busy place for mining. Today, much of it is a golf course. You can also walk along the South West Coast Path here, which goes along the cliff tops and across the golf course. There are also hotels, like the Carlyon Bay Hotel, which has great views of the bay.
Carlyon Bay has even been a filming location! In 1979, a scene for the movie Dracula was filmed here. Later, in 1986, the music video for Is This Love? by Alison Moyet was filmed on the beach. A large rock on the beach is known as Stack Rock.
Plans for the Future
Since the 1990s, there have been many ideas to build new homes and a holiday resort at Carlyon Bay. The first plans in 1990 were not built because strong sea walls were needed to protect the area.
In 2011, Cornwall Council approved new plans for 500 fancy apartments and other buildings. The developers planned to start building sea defenses and then the apartments. However, the work has been slow to start.
One challenge has been about public paths that cross the area. Another big challenge is building strong sea defenses. Temporary walls were put up, but they caused some disagreement. In 2015, permission was given for new homes and a leisure area to be built.
Nature and Landscape
Carlyon Bay is surrounded by low cliffs. Its three beaches are Crinnis, Shorthorn, and Polgaver. Much of the sand on the beach is actually a material called "stent." This "stent" is a leftover waste product from the china clay industry.
The Cornwall Wildlife Trust has said that Shorthorn Beach, the middle beach, is very important for nature.
See also
In Spanish: Bahía Carlyon para niños
