As a coastal town, St Ives is renowned for the beauty of its beaches and all they offer, whether you want to spend a day in the sun with your family or spend a peaceful afternoon walking your dog along the sands.
Below you’ll find a guide to some of the best beaches you can find on your trip to St Ives as well as some tips to nearby accommodation so you can spend as much time at the beach as possible and make the most of your coastal visit.
1. Porthminster Beach, St Ives
An award-winning beach with stunning views of the bay and Godrevy lighthouse, Porthminster Beach is another favourite with families that is perfect for swimming and sunbathing, with a nearby pitch and putt for those looking for extra activities.
We have some beautiful cottages and apartments overlooking the beach for you to choose from when it comes to selecting the perfect location in St Ives for your holiday. Both 10 The Warren and Sandhamn put you right on the doorstep of the beach and both are lauded for the views across the bay.
13 Carrack Widden, 36 Carrack Widden,and 51/52 Carrack Widden are also some of our top choices as they overlook Porthminster Beach as well as Morvah and 6 Malakoff and provide stunning seaside views across the beach all the way to Godrevy Lighthouse in the distance. Penryn is also a favourite, just minutes away from the beach and with plenty of open space for a couple to relax in.
2. Porthmeor Beach, St Ives
Porthmeor Beach is a popular choice for surfers and swimmers alike. It is located right in the heart of St Ives with quick and easy access to the Tate Gallery as well as a cafe and fantastic restaurants. For those who are beginners in surfing or want to brush up on their skills, there are a number of surf schools to choose from to help you make the most of the ocean.
Due to the popularity of the beach and the nearby area, we have a variety of holiday cottages for you to choose from. 26 Piazza has front balconies that look directly out over the golden sands on the beach, providing the perfect couple’s cottage for a sunny holiday in St Ives. 4 Crusoes also gives you direct access to the beach and puts you within walking distance of the harbour.
Sixpence Cottage puts you a little way back from the beach but you’re only a few minutes out and the cottage is dog-friendly, making it a great choice for families that want to take their dog on a walk along the sands.
Penty Men Growyn and 2 Meadow Villas are also good choices if you want to stay right beside Porthmeor Beach. Their larger occupancy of 6 people is perfect if you want a beach holiday with the family or friends. 2 Meadow Villas also puts you right next to the Tate Gallery, making it a perfect choice for the art lovers among you.
3. Porthgwidden Beach, St Ives
A small but beloved beach, Porthgwidden Beach is one of the great treasures of St Ives, boasting a host of activities that are bound to be popular with families on holiday. Snorkelling and rockpool exploring are among some of the best activities to partake in here and the beach also has a dog-friendly policy for ten months of the year.
To help you make the most of the beach area, we offer holiday cottages nearby so that you can enjoy as many of the beachside activities as possible during your stay in St Ives. Upper and Lower Seaview both have great access to the beach and can be rented out together if you’re a larger group, able to house eight people combined. They are also both close to Porthmeor Beach.
4. Harbour Beach St Ives
St Ives Harbour Beach offers some quintessential coastal town scenery with the beach framed by two piers. A protected spot for swimmers, during the summer you will be able to spot scores of colourful boats coming around Smeaton’s Pier to take refuge in the calm waters of The Harbour. It is the perfect beach to take a walk while enjoying an ice cream or visiting the restaurants and cafes that line the picturesque harbour.
The proximity to the heart of St Ives means you have a good choice of cottages to choose from for your holiday, giving you great access to both the beach, the harbour and the town proper. 1 and 3 Sunnyside give you the best views possible of the wharf and surrounding harbour area, allowing you to always wake up to the quintessential atmosphere that St Ives is known for.
Crows Nest also gives you great views out over the Harbour Beach with the penthouse studio apartment having room for four people to enjoy the best of harbour life in St Ives.
5. Lambeth Beach, St Ives
Lambeth Beach is a pebble and sand beach right in the heart of St Ives. It’s most notable in the area for being a year-round dog friendly beach so if you’ve brought your dog on holiday with you, Lambeth is the perfect place to take them for a walk whatever time of year it is.
Lambeth Beach is situated pretty close to Harbour Beach making some of our properties near the harbour the perfect choice for your holiday. Our Lambeth property is about as close to the sea as you can get and Sandhamn and 10 The Warren offers great views across the pier and the harbour, providing a fresh and modern escape for those who want to drink in the historic scenery of the town.
For a dog friendly property choice, you can make the most of Step ‘N’ Sea, a quaint couple’s apartment with a warm and welcoming interior. It’s only a few minutes walk from both the harbour and the town’s centre making it a great cottage for those of you who want to stay in the heart of the St Ives action.
6. Carbis Bay, St Ives
Carbis Bay Beach is a family friendly beach that is perfect for relaxing on in sunny weather. It is also dog friendly although there are some restrictions so do check before venturing down. Whether you want to swim, boat or play tennis on the sands, there’s something for all the family to enjoy.
For the most fulfilling time in the Carbis Bay Beach area, you can rent a house nearby so you can spend as much time as possible drinking in the sights of Carbis Bay. Gwaynten is within walking distance, allowing you to enjoy a stroll along the golden sands and guaranteeing a relaxing time in the sun when you reach your destination.
7. Porthkidney Beach, St Ives
Stretching from the River Hayle in Lelant all the way to Hawkes Point in Carbis Bay, Porthkidney Beach lies on the edge of St Ives and is one of the town’s most picturesque getaways. It’s one of the more quiet beaches, due to the long expanses of rolling dunes and is the perfect beach to walk your dog or view from the South West Coast Path that leads all the way to St Michael’s Mount.
It is the neighbouring beach to Carbis Bay and provides fairly easy access to both St Ives and Lelant, allowing you to expand your holiday along the coast if you so desire. There is also a nearby golf course, adding an extra element of adventure to your trip.
Renting one of our properties in St Ives or Carbis Bay will allow you great access to transport and other beaches in the area. You may have to walk a little while but the Cornish scenery makes the trip worth it and you can savour a relaxing moment on the sands at the end as a reward.
Beaches near St Ives
There are plenty of other beaches around the St Ives’ area that you can also enjoy if you’re looking to expand your holiday to the surrounding area, helping you to make the most of the scenic Cornish countryside and coast and make good use of the many coastal paths along the cliffs.
You can also head over to nearby Hayle to experience the very best of their golden beaches. Black Cliff Beach, Mexico Towans Beach and Hayle Towans Beach are large stretches of sand that are perfect for any holiday-goer to visit. They are especially perfect for those looking for a quieter beach to relax on. These beaches are known for their vastness, making them the best secluded spots to spend quality time with the family.
Whatever you’re looking for in regards to your Cornish holiday, you’re sure to find it in St Ives and Carbis Bay where you can explore our beaches and relax by the coast. Here, you have the freedom to craft your coastal holiday into the perfect one for you.
