Charles Rashleigh, a wealthy mine owner,  built Charlestown harbour in 1791. For most of the time since then it has been used to export china clay. The harbour is still occasionally used for this purpose, though most modern cargo ships are too large to manoeuvre through narrow gates and now dock at nearby Par and Fowey.

Charlestown is now used as a  location for filming and the sailing ships are a permanent feature.

There is a large car park  on the right hand side as you enter the village and from there the  harbour, art and pottery shops and the Rashleigh Pub are within easy reach. Public toilets are located above the beach.

The beaches at Charlestown are covered in flint pebbles. Flint is not a native rock, it was used as ballast in sailing boats and dumped in the bay.

Although painful on the feet without footwear Charlestown beaches offers safe bathing and rock pools at low tide.