With an ever-growing portfolio of self-catering properties in St Ives, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to planning your holiday. With a mix of traditional and modern properties from quaint fishermen’s cottages to contemporary apartments, from stylish villas to good, honest and basic studio accommodation; whether you want sea views, a garden, a balcony or just a bench where you can sit and enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine, Cornish Riviera Holidays has something for everyone. In the coming months, look out for new locations as we are growing and expanding into new markets in and around St Ives. It’s very exciting!
Why book a self-catering holiday
St Ives is one of Cornwall’s most popular tourist destinations and is often referred to as the ‘jewel in Cornwall’s crown’ and has a lot to offer the self-catering visitor. Enjoy the unlimited freedom and choice that having your own front door key gives you. You can come and go as you please. Choose to dine out in one of the many wonderful restaurants in St Ives or, if you prefer to cook in your home-from-home, buy locally sourced produce from the independent shops dotted throughout the town. You can even buy fresh fish and crab direct from the fishermen if you are lucky to catch the fishing boats landing their catch on Smeaton’s Pier! Or go online and buy direct from the local fishermen www.atasteofstives.com/ or Matthew Stevens, the internationally renowned wholesaler of locally caught fish www.mstevensandson.co.uk/. Self-catering gives you the freedom and choice you deserve.
What’s included in your self-catering holiday?
Collect your key from a safe box at your chosen property, turn the key and walk into your lovely, bright and clean holiday home where you will find all the beds made up with freshly, laundered linen with soft towels plus a few essentials like toilet roll also provided! As most properties have fully equipped kitchens or kitchen areas where you can prepare your own meals, unpack your groceries, and pop your wine in the fridge to chill. Once you’ve unpacked, flick on the kettle and make yourself a reviving cup of tea or coffee while you get to grips with the facilities in your holiday home and then get ready to go out and explore.
What’s the shopping like in St Ives?
Most self-catering visitors will bring the basics with them but if you need to top up your groceries, why not shop local and support the local community? There are lots of independent delicatessens, corner shops, greengrocers, butchers, bakers – yes, even candlestick makers! Every Thursday, you can explore St Ives’ Farmers’ Market for fresh, local produce too. There are also 3 Co-Op supermarkets in St Ives itself and a Tesco, Asda and Lidl all within a few miles. Some visitors even book supermarket deliveries to go straight to their holiday home but do make sure you are in to accept delivery!
As well as the essentials, there are lots of other shops in St Ives’ town too where you can buy everything from gifts to clothes, specialist surfing gear to beach wear and jewellery plus the staples like hiking, fishing and wet weather gear. And don’t forget the art! So many galleries, too many to mention, where you can buy anything from a print costing just a few pounds to fine art selling for thousands.
How to make the most of your holiday
Our advice is to get out and explore! There are 5 exceptional beaches surrounding the town with white sand and crystal-clear water, perfect for surfing, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking or just flopping on the sand to top up your tan.
There are countless art galleries celebrating Cornish artists including both the famous Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum where you can lose yourself in the beauty of the huge variety of art on display. If you’re feeling inspired, book yourself onto a course at the famous St Ives School of Painting or even the Bernard Leach Pottery.
Explore the South West Coast Path from St Ives and head south towards Zennor or north towards Gwithian and beyond – the coastline is spectacular with hidden coves, cafes and pubs. If you’re feeling less energetic, hop onto one of the pleasure boats in the Harbour and view it all from the sea or jump on the open top bus and take a round trip from St Ives to Lands End and back again. You can hop on and off to explore Penzance, Newlyn, Mousehole, Porthcurno, Lands End, Sennen, Zennor and all the other places in-between – a great way to spend the day.
And there’s so much more from horse-riding to coasteering, from fishing to diving and golfing to kite-surfing to name but a few. Go on, explore and enjoy yourself!
When it’s time to leave, sigh
All good things have to end, sob! Once you’ve packed up, don’t forget to leave your holiday nice and tidy, bag up your rubbish and sort your recycling out. Pack up your car or leave your luggage in the Visitor Centre’s left luggage facility and treat yourself to one last coffee on the beach before heading home. It’s not all doom and gloom though: remember that if you reserve the same dates in the same property within 14 days of you leaving, we will gladly make a provisional booking for you without taking any money. Well, not until next year’s prices are released!
So, why wouldn’t you book a self-catering holiday with Cornish Riviera Holidays? Go on, you deserve it!
