Springtime on the Cornish coast breathes life and colour back into the countryside as the flowers bloom, the skies turn blue, and the seas begin to warm again after the stormy winter season.
Spend spring in St Ives and make the most of the fresh weather, the beaches and the many artistic and cultural attractions. Visiting in spring means you get ahead of the summer bustle, allowing you to enjoy St Ives at your own relaxing pace.
The St Ives’ coast in spring
Spring is the best time to walk along the coast, drinking in the sea air and taking some time to observe the flora and fauna that bring the countryside back to life after the long cold winter.
In the early spring, you will be able to spot a wide variety of diving birds taking shelter on the cliffs, including:
- Great northern diver
- Black-throated diver
- Red-necked grebe
- Slavonian grebe
Looking further out to sea, you may also be able to catch sight of Atlantic grey seals and dolphins and even whales. Dolphins are often best seen in April forward from either St Ives Island or Sennen Cove. Choose a coastal walk that takes you through one of these places and keep your eyes peeled.
Some of the main species of dolphins you will be able to spot on a coastal walk are:
- Common dolphin
- Bottlenose dolphin
- Rissos dolphin
- Harbour porpoise
Take your dog with you on your coastal walks to give them some exercise that will leave you both feeling invigorated and ready to head back to town for a warm and filling meal.
Coastal Walks in St Ives
There are a number of different coastal walks you can take in St Ives, all up and down the South West Coast Path.
Some of the walks are longer and more arduous than others, but the reward is well worth the hike, whether you’re looking for the most spectacular view or aiming to stop off in a pub or nearby village to relax and recuperate before heading back.
Some of the more popular walks in the area are:
- St Ives to Zennor
- St Michael’s Way
- St Ives to Lelant
- St Ives Island circular walk
- Godrevy Head
Gardens of Cornwall guide
With the springtime flowers in bloom, there is never a better time to wander the gardens in Cornwall and admire the vibrancy of the countryside with your loved ones.
While daffodils can begin to bloom as early as January or February, the springtime months bring their own beautiful yield. You don’t even have to go to a garden to see some of the flowers. Taking walks along the coast or through the woods will grant you lots of opportunities to observe wildflowers.
The Island in St Ives is also blanketed in flowers during spring, which is great for photographing lasting memories.
Some of the wildflowers you can see in the St Ives area are:
- Sea campion
- Thrifts (or sea pinks)
- Common mallow
- Sea mayweed
- Buttercups
- Cats ears
- Birds foot trefoil
- Bluebells
- Magnolias
- Gorse
The Lost Gardens of Heligan
One of the most popular nearby attractions is a must-visit in the spring. A magical Victorian garden, it became lost during World War One when the workers went off to fight. At the tail end of the 20th century, the gardens began to be restored to their former glory with diverse woodland and wildlife.
The woods at Heligan are home to an array of sculptures, with the Lost Valley blanketed with bluebells in the spring months.
The Lost Gardens of Heligan are an hour away by car. While staying in one of our holiday cottages, why not set a day aside for a trip down to the garden?
Forests to visit in Cornwall during spring
While St Ives is famous for its coastal beauty, it’s always worth looking inland once in a while and exploring the woods in the countryside surrounding the town.
Steeple Woods is a 40-acre site around Knills Monument. It is within walking distance if you want to spend the day drinking in all the scenery the countryside has to offer. With plenty of woods and heathland, the area is diverse and perfect for a range of activities such as:
- Picnics
- Photography
- Art
- Bird spotting
- Dog walking
If you want to take your dog for a walk in the woods, it may be a good idea to keep them on a lead, an important precaution especially considering there are old mine shafts in the area.
If you walk along the coastal path from St Ives to Lelant, you can also take some time to visit Anne’s Wood, a small wood nestled between Lelant and the Hayle Estuary, perfect for a peaceful getaway from the hustle and bustle of town. Plenty of flora keeps the forest looking vibrant in the spring.
Beaches to visit in St Ives in the spring
For excitement, a little closer to your holiday home, visit one of our award-winning and renowned beaches, perfect for family fun and watersports enthusiasts alike.
Our cottages are spread out over St Ives, Lelant and Hayle, guaranteeing that wherever you stay, you’ll be only minutes away from one of our beaches. Some of our cottages will even put you right on the waterfront. The golden sands and blue waters will be the first thing you’ll see when you wake up in the morning, creating the perfect holiday atmosphere for you to relax in.
The beaches you can find in St Ives are:
- Porthmeor
- Porthgwidden
- Porthminster
- Carbis Bay
- Harbour Beach
- Bamaluz
- Lambeth
- Gwithian
- Porthkidney
- The Towans
Porthmeor Beach is a Blue Flag beach lauded for its cleanliness and water purity. The high level of safety associated with a Blue Flag beach makes this one a perfect choice for a family day out in the spring, and you won’t have to deal with the heavy summer crowds either.
Are St Ives’ beaches dog-friendly?
Lambeth Walk and Bamaluz Beach are dog-friendly the whole year round, so if you have a pet, this beach is the perfect spot for walks in the spring.
Bamaluz is a well-kept secret amongst the locals in St Ives and isn’t as large or showy as some of the other beaches. The sandy, rocky cove is sequestered away between the harbour and Porthgwidden Beach.
Other beaches have seasonal dog bans in place. Harbour Beach and Porthgwidden allow dogs onto the beaches during spring in the day, with the seasonal dog ban taking place between July and September.
Carbis Bay, Porthmeor and Porthminster have seasonal dog bans in place between 10 am and 6 pm from 15th May to the end of September. If you’re visiting with your dog and want to visit the beaches with your dog, arrange your visit for the earlier months of spring.
What watersports are there on St Ives beaches in the spring?
The seas are usually cooler in the spring months, and the waves can be large and rough, especially in the earlier part of the season. This makes the seas perfect for surfers looking for more advanced and thrilling waves.
You can also try out:
- Bodyboarding
- Standup paddle boarding
- Sea kayaking
- Snorkelling
- Swimming
The St Ives Surf School on Porthmeor Beach is your one-stop shop for the best watersport activities. They offer surfing and paddle boarding sessions and kayak tours with group sessions, allowing you to experience St Ives together in a whole new way. And if you book your holiday with us, you will receive a discount code to spend on all of the Surf School activities.
They also offer coasteering experiences that are perfect for the more adventurous members of your family. Dive into everything from jumping off rocks, swimming in the sea and exploring caves along the coast.
Other places to go in St Ives Cornwall
There are plenty of indoor activities to try as well in between beach and countryside visits, allowing you to warm up if the weather is a little unpredictable.
Apart from its beaches and coastal beauty, St Ives is famous for its arts and culture scene and has been an inspiration for many famous people over the years from Barbara Hepworth – who has her own dedicated museum and sculpture garden in town – to Virginia Woolf who was inspired to write her novel The Lighthouse from views out to nearby Godrevy Lighthouse.
Tate St Ives
The Tate St Ives is a popular destination for art lovers, showcasing local art and diverse exhibitions. The modern and contemporary pieces range from paintings to pottery, offering something for everyone, as well as workshops to get your kids some hands-on experience with art.
It also has a premium spot overlooking Porthmeor Beach, adding a sense of coastal beauty to the gallery that encapsulates the best of everything St Ives has to offer.
The gallery is paired with the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden where you can learn about the life of St Ives’ famed artist before heading out to explore her garden, with the sculptures kept in the same place she originally placed them.
St Ives Museum
For those with an interest in the history of the area you can visit the St Ives Museum, located between Porthgwidden and Bamaluz Beach. The museum reopens on the 1st April, making it the perfect stop for a mid-spring break.
Each area of the museum covers a part of St Ives’ rich history, with rooms including:
- The Cornish Kitchen
- The Pilchard Press
- Mining
- Fishing
- The Railway
For the most avid history nuts, you can also visit the Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton Museum for a deep dive into the explorer that brings him to life in a way no other museum has done.
Stay in one of our St Ives holiday cottages this spring
We have over 65 holiday cottages and apartments spread all over St Ives, putting you within walking distance of beaches and public transport and putting the whole of West Cornwall at your fingertips.
Check out our properties on our website to find the perfect one for you, with benefits such as:
Book your spring holiday today and get ready to enjoy your time in Cornwall’s coastal gem.
