St Ives, Cornwall: One of Those Places You Don’t Want to Leave
I think St Ives is one of those places that is almost impossible to describe properly in a photo.
You can take a picture of the beach. You can take one of the harbour. You can photograph the little streets and colourful boats, but somehow none of them quite capture what it actually feels like to be there.
The first thing that struck me about St Ives was the colour of the water. On a sunny day, it is ridiculously blue. For a moment, you could genuinely convince yourself that you’ve travelled somewhere much further away than Cornwall.
Then you turn around and you’re standing in a narrow little Cornish street with a pasty in your hand.
That’s St Ives.
Porthminster Beach
I started by heading towards Porthminster Beach, which is only a short walk from the centre of St Ives.
It is a beautiful stretch of golden sand, backed by the town and surrounded by the hills and coastline of St Ives Bay. When the weather is good, it is hard to believe you’re looking at a beach in England.
I could have happily stayed there for hours.
There is something very relaxing about just sitting by the sea and watching the boats move around the bay. No schedule, no rushing around, just enjoying where you are.
Of course, Cornwall doesn’t always provide perfect weather. But even with clouds rolling in, the coastline still has a completely different character. In some ways, I actually prefer it like that.
Wandering around St Ives
The best way to see St Ives is probably to forget about having a strict plan.
Just walk.
The streets around the harbour are full of little shops, cafés, galleries and places selling all the things you would expect from a Cornish seaside town. Some streets are surprisingly narrow, and you can easily find yourself turning down one just because it looks interesting.
That’s what I enjoyed most.
There isn’t necessarily a particular destination you’re trying to reach. You’re just taking everything in as you go.
And obviously, you can’t visit Cornwall without having a Cornish pasty. There are plenty of places to choose from, although I quickly realised that trying to eat one while walking around without making a complete mess of yourself is harder than it sounds.
The harbour
The harbour is probably the part of St Ives that I kept coming back to.
Small fishing boats sit in the water, surrounded by the old buildings and winding streets of the town. It feels incredibly picturesque without actually feeling like it was designed to look picturesque.
People sit outside cafés, tourists wander along the waterfront and, depending on the weather, you can spend ages just watching the sea.
I found myself stopping more often than I expected.
Sometimes you don’t realise how much you need to slow down until you’re somewhere that makes it easy to do so.
A town shaped by art
St Ives is also famous for its connection with the arts, and that becomes obvious as you explore.
There are galleries everywhere, and the Tate St Ives sits overlooking Porthmeor Beach. Even if you’re not someone who would normally spend your holiday visiting art galleries, the setting alone makes it worth a look.
The light here is incredible, particularly around the coastline, so it isn’t difficult to understand why artists have been drawn to the area for so long.
Don’t just stay in the town
If you have the time, I’d really recommend exploring beyond St Ives.
The surrounding coastline is where you start to see a completely different side of Cornwall. The South West Coast Path takes you away from the busy streets and towards dramatic cliffs, beaches and huge stretches of open coastline.
One route I particularly wanted to do was from St Just towards Land’s End.
It is a very different experience from spending the morning around St Ives. Instead of cafés and shops, you’re walking along the edge of Cornwall with the Atlantic stretching out in front of you.
And this is where I think Cornwall really gets you.
You can be somewhere busy and touristy one minute, then half an hour later you’re standing somewhere incredibly quiet, with nothing but the sea and cliffs around you.
A few things I’d recommend
If you’re visiting St Ives, I’d definitely try to arrive earlier in the day, particularly during the summer. It can get busy, and the town is much more enjoyable when you’re not constantly trying to navigate through crowds.
I’d also leave some time to simply wander. Don’t fill every hour with attractions.
And if you’re planning on exploring the wider area using public transport, check the timetables beforehand. Services can be limited, particularly once you get further along the coast.
Most importantly, give yourself time to actually enjoy St Ives.
Don’t just arrive, take a few photographs and leave.
Sit by the harbour. Walk along the beach. Get something to eat. Wander down a street because it looks nice.
Those ended up being some of my favourite parts.
Would I go back?
Definitely.
St Ives has that rare combination of beautiful scenery and a relaxed atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer than you planned.
I went expecting a pretty Cornish seaside town. I came away feeling like I’d experienced somewhere with a lot more character than that.
Maybe that’s why St Ives stays with you.
It’s not just one particular attraction or viewpoint. It’s the whole experience of being there, walking around with the sea beside you, stopping whenever you feel like it and realising that, for once, you don’t really need to be anywhere else.
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