St Ives, Cornwall: Beaches, Restaurants, Sights & Seal Island
St Ives in Cornwall is a wonderful place with great food, sandy beaches and fun things to do. I have thoroughly enjoyed various visits to St Ives in Cornwall. The seaside town is a good place for an autumn getaway.
My most recent holiday was in October, a quieter time of year. I arrived by train from Penzance, where I had stayed the week before. The town is absolutely stunning and a great place for tourists, artists and foodies. I found plenty to keep me entertained during my visit, including hiking, coastal activities, and art attractions.
The town has sandy beaches and a harbour that supplies local eateries with fresh seafood. St Ives is best known for its artistic side, with galleries to visit and artists inspired by the views.
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Things To Do In St Ives, Cornwall
Art Galleries
Artists flock to the town to paint and draw, and there are plenty of galleries to visit, including Tate St Ives. There are many independent art galleries throughout the town. They say the area has the best natural light in the country, which helps bring landscapes to life.
Boat Trip To Seal Island
The harbour offers a few boat trips to see the local coastline, as well as some nature-themed trips. One such excursion is the regular trip to Seal Island to see a seal colony that calls the area home.
I had the pleasure of a boat trip to Seal Island. The trip was to see the coastline and a grey seal colony. The trip departed from the harbour. Tickets need to be purchased in advance from one of the many kiosks in the town. You can also organise it via their website, where they have a booking form.
Seal Island is a small rocky island 3.5 miles to the west of the town. The island is home to a colony of Atlantic grey seals that live and swim nearby. There are many tiny islands or rocks on this part of the coast. These make up an archipelago of tiny islands called the Carraks.
Hike the South West Coast Path
There are lots of options for coastal walks from the town, including the long-distance South West Coast Path. This makes the town a great place to hike this section of the route. The area from the town centre towards St Nicholas Chapel is beautiful. There are also walking routes inland. You can find various suggestions on the Komoot website.
St Ives Harbour
The harbour area of the town is very good for a look around, and there are often things going on. You can watch the fishermen at work and see crab and lobster pots on the dock. It’s also a brilliant spot for boat spotting as people come and go on leisure or work trips.
St Ia’s Church
St Ives Parish Church is dedicated to Ia of Cornwall, a 5th- and 6th-century Irish saint. The building is interesting to view from the outside or to have a mooch around; it is a Grade I listed building. They built it between 1410 and 1434 as a chapel of ease for the parish of Lelant. The church tower was built of granite in four stages. It is over 80 ft high, and you can see it from various points in the town and from boats in the sea.
Carbis Bay Beach
If you like calm water with few waves, then Carbis Bay Beach along the coast is the place to head. It’s a sandy beach ideal for swimming or paddling. You can reach it by road, by train, or by walking along the coastal path. For refreshments, there are a few places, including The Beach Club. It is partly dog-friendly; however, dogs are not allowed between 10 am and 6 pm from July to September.
Porthminster Beach
Porthminster Beach is one of the more popular beaches in the town, as it is sandy and very photogenic. It has a blue flag and is popular with swimmers and those enjoying water-based activities. Porthminster Beach allows dogs except between 15 May and 30 September from 10 am to 6 pm. Thus, it is great for dog walks in the morning or evening.
Overlooking the water is a cafe that serves all sorts of food and drink, including seafood. They also serve beer; thus, it’s a great place for a beer with a view. Near the cafe is a putting green.
Harbour Sands
In the harbour, near the town centre, is Harbour Sands. Harbour Sands is a lovely beach with scenic views and calm water for fun in the sea. It is rather popular in peak season; however, outside of the hot days, it’s a picturesque place for a relaxing walk. The beach is dog-friendly before 10am and after 6pm during the holiday season, making it a great place for walks.
Porthgwidden Beach
If you like small beaches, follow the coast north from the harbour towards Porthgwidden Beach. The walk here is pleasant, and the views are splendid. Porthgwidden Beach is sandy and has a cafe for refreshments. Fun activities include paddleboarding, swimming, and relaxing.
The Dog-Friendly Bamaluz Beach
The sandy Bamaluz Beach is a great place for dogs, as it is dog-friendly year-round. It is a short walk from the harbour. I enjoyed a paddle here and enjoyed the relaxing vibe on a quiet day in the area, sitting on the rocks.
St Ives Lighthouse
St Ives has a few lighthouses; the easiest to find is on Smeaton’s Pier, which has views out to sea and of the town. Smeaton’s Pier is a working harbour, so there’s lots to see, including fishermen at work and various boats being worked on. You can also take various boat trips from here, and there are various advertising boards for these.
St Ives Museum
If you enjoy a bit of local history, the St Ives Museum is a great place to visit. Inside, they cover many topics, including aspects of the seaside town. This includes a pilchard-curing cellar, exhibits about the Hain Steamship Company, and many historic fishing artefacts. It also touches on the local mining industry and the area’s culinary history. Each year, they also have special exhibits.
Local Food
I love eating out, especially when it comes to fresh seafood. St Ives was perfect for this, and I ate fresh, locally caught crab, usually in salad form and sometimes for a more substantial meal. This was very good and left me wanting more seafood. When in Rome, as they say, I picked up picnic food at the local bakery; I picked a Cornish pasty and bread pudding for sustenance on my coastal hike from St Ives Bakery.
One of my favourite meals out was at the Sloop Inn, near the harbour. They served some delicious seafood and local food. Their half-lobster meal is a firm favourite of diners. This pub dates back to 1312 and is one of Cornwall’s oldest and most famous inns. On my visit, they served excellent food. I opted for a fish starter followed by locally caught lobster for my main course. I really enjoyed the flavours and the freshness of both dishes.
Getting Here By Train
Whichever method you choose to travel to St Ives, the journey is long. The train journey is an ideal way to reach the town. It is on a branch line off the main Cornwall route that ends in Penzance. The branch line starts in St Erth, then passes through Lelant and Carbis Bay on the way to St Ives Train Station. This is a stunning part of the track, with regular trains between the two railway stations.
Is St Ives Dog-Friendly?
The town is dog-friendly and a perfect destination for travelling with pets. Most pubs and places to dine out had dogs visiting. Many of the local beaches also allowed dogs, especially outside of peak season. They were also welcome on many of the boat trips that leave from the harbour. Finally, there is a wide choice of pet-friendly places to stay on the Booking.com website.
Is St Ives Worth Visiting?
I enjoyed my week in St Ives. I had visited before in the peak season; however, the autumn visit was much quieter. The autumnal weather can be hit-or-miss, but if you like avoiding the crowds, it is a great time to visit. The seafood and locally brewed beer in Cornwall are delicious and certainly enhance the trip. There were many options for places to stay in the town. This included a budget hotel that I enjoyed. I also found luxury hotels on the Booking.com website.