St. Ives, Cornwall

Article By: Dan Hill

5 years ago

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Nature-Beach Nature-Ocean Settlement-Town

Originally an active fishing port, today St. Ives in west Cornwall is a thriving seaside resort also renowned for its artist colony and surfing culture. With a population of around 11,000 people, St. Ives is a place to wander small cobbled streets and alleyways. There are shops selling artwork, and plenty of places to relax in the many restaurants, cafes and pubs. The town has five beaches, taken in walking order: Porthminster is a relatively calm watered beach with a cafe, restaurant and ample space for families. Walking toward the town, the small Lambeth Walk Beach can be found along a walkway behind the present day lifeboat house. Past the harbour, the next beach is St. Ives harbour beach - a relatively small sandy beach with a view of the boats. Walking to Smeatons pier, and turning left, you’ll find the tiny beach of Bamaluz - with rocks and sand. Depending on the wind, occasionally this beach is used by surfers. Continue around the coastal path and you’ll reach Porthgwidden beach - a small but lovely sandy cove with a cafe and a backdrop of the rocky point known as “The Island”. The sea here is generally calm. Continue walking around “The Island”, or take a short-cut across the car park at Porthgwidden, and you’ll reach the largest and main surfing beach of the town: Porthmeor. Here, you can arrange for surfing lessons. There is a lifeguard presence during the summer months here. When the conditions are right (generally when winds are offshore - and most frequently in autumn, spring and winter, but also sometimes summer), Porthmeor can give some great waves for surfers, body boarders and other water sports. Also of note in the town is the Tate St. Ives gallery and the Barbara Hepworth museum, exhibiting many of her works in her sculpture garden. Parking in the town can be problematic. There is a beautiful little branch line train route which runs from St. Erth to St. Ives - meaning that you can leave your car a few miles away, and enjoy a coastal train ride (highly recommended).