St Ives walk through
28th August 2017
A walk along one of Cornwall’s best Blue Flag beaches towards the seaside town of St Ives
Voted Best UK Holiday Destination by Coast Magazine, we visited the beautiful seaside town in the height of the summer to see what all the fuss was about…and we get it!
Firstly getting to St Ives. Our top tip for parking is to drive to the Lelant Saltings Park and Ride train station just 4 miles away, where visitors can leave their cars and hop on the St.Erth to St.Ives Bay Line for just £4 return (please note there is a small charge for parking your vehicle).
This famous line has some of the most beautiful scenery in England and is well worth the ride down to the beach. Below is just one of the many scenes you’ll pass on your way into St Ives.
Hop off at the end of the line at Porthminster Beach, where you’ll see a large sandy bay backed by a wooded valley, with all the beach amenities you and your family will need.
Directly in front of you on the beach you’ll see the Porthminster Beach Bar, the perfect spot for a quick bite to eat, cold drink or just some chill time from the sun. Watch out for those swooping seagulls when walking around with food.
Porthminster beach has a Lifeguard sevice from mid May to end of September. You will also find that there is a seasonal dog ban on this beach…but don’t worry, read on to find out where you can take your pooches!
Head right when on the beach where you’ll find a great spot for rockpooling and you might even spot some fascinating hidden sealife under rocks and amongst the green seaweed.
In the opposite direction (our favourite one) you’ll be able to walk through shallow clear waters, jump the waves and watch the boats bobbing in the distance.
Fancy yourself as a beach artist? The golden sands with a little sea water make for a great sandcastle competition with the family. How big will you go and don’t forget to shout ‘I’m the King of the Castle’ if you win.
As you walk the stretch of golden sand you’ll end up at St Ives Harbour Beach where well behaved dogs are more than welcome.
Don’t miss a photo stop at Smeaton’s Pier built in 1831 and the St Ives lighthouse.
St Ives is known as a destination where famous artists flock year upon year. The piercing light, white sanded beaches, crystal clear waters and white washed fishermans cottages make for a great painting; not to mention the art galleries, quirky Cornish shops and lots of scrummy places to eat and drink.
We couldn’t help but stop at the St Ives Bakery with the smells of freshly cooked Cornish pasties and cakes coming out of the ovens. Meringue anyone?
When walking through this pretty seaside town, you’ll come across many beautiful narrow cobbled streets, which make up a maze of new directions to take.
To end your day, whether it’s Cornish ice cream, fudge or a little clotted cream, a stop at ‘Cornish Cream’, is a must when walking through the town if you’re still feeling a little peckish from lunch. We recommend their Cornish Cream Tea pack that consists of 4 homemade scones, 4 jams and their signature clotted cream for just £5.99.
Book your Cornish self-catering holiday with Beach Retreats.
