There’s no doubt that St. Ives is one of Cornwall’s most popular holiday destinations. Every year the quaint seaside town hosts thousands of visitors, all lured in by the golden sands and turquoise waters that this little corner of Cornwall has to offer.
Of course, lazy beach days and BBQs are a must when you’re visiting St. Ives, as is a wander through the cobbled streets and alleyways, where you’ll uncover unique little independent shops, alongside popular retail chains, as well as plenty of surfs and souvenir shops.
Places to eat in St. Ives
St Ives has its fair share of foodie gems too. From yummy local bakeries such as St Ives Bakery who serve handmade pasties (of course!), artisan bread and a range of delicious pastries (their cruffins are a must!) to hip restaurants such as the Beer and Bird – a great family run business with a passion for craft beer, fried chicken and great service! If you like seafood, The Rum and Crab Shack on the harbour front is a popular food hot spot, serving up fresh fish and shellfish and well….rum!
Or maybe you’re just after a pint in which case the Sloop Inn on the harbour front is a popular pub with lots of outside tables which are always jammed packed in the summer. Tables here are like gold dust, so you need to time it right!
These are just a few highlights, but there are loads of places to eat in St. Ives, so be sure to explore the seafront as well as the back streets to see what takes your fancy.
A word of warning though – DO NOT EAT ON THE MOVE AND BEWARE OF PICNICS ON THE BEACH! Pasties, sandwiches and ice-creams are a firm favourite with the local seagulls and as soon as you step into the street with food in your hand, you’re fair game for public enemy number one!
If you’re looking to soak up the art and culture scene, there’s also the more well-known arty places to visit such as Tate St. Ives overlooking Porthmeor beach, Barbara Hepworth museum and Sculpture Gardens, St Ives Museum and just a short walk up the hill from the main town to Higher Stennack, is the revered Leach pottery. St Ives is a haven for artists of all kinds, if this is your thing, there’s plent to sink your teeth into!
Food, drink, beaches, galleries and shops aside, there’s much more to explore when you’re staying in St. Ives, especially if you’re the adventurous type, so here’s our top five things to do for an outdoorsy kind of holiday in West Cornwall.
1. All aboard Nemo for a sea safari experience
Get your sea-legs on and head out on a boat trip like no other, from St Ives harbour and check out the local wildlife. Nemo is the town’s first and only glass bottomed boat and it’s underwater sea safari will take you out towards Godrevy Lighthouse or Seal Island – which way you go will depend on sea conditions on the day. Wherever you end up though, you’re sure to see some sea and bird life, including Atlantic grey seals, cormorants, gannets and plenty of gulls! There’s also the chance you’ll get to Sunfish, Basking Shark or Common Dolphins. Woo hoo! During your trip, you’ll have time below deck to look through the glass and take in the beauty of life beneath the Cornish waves.
Adults, children of all ages and even dogs (under ones and dogs are free) are welcome aboard Nemo. Each trip lasts for 1 hour 15 minutes. A great day out for all the family!
2. Discover St. Ives on foot
If a good ‘stank’ (how the Cornish refer to a walk!) gets you going, then there are a variety of guided walking tours available in and around St. Ives. Some take you through a potted history of the town itself, others explore the countryside and coastline, so there’s something for everyone!
Shanty Baba
Shanty is St Ives’ resident storyteller. Original and very entertaining, he offers a number of different walks throughout town – all of which are fun and educational; some of which are scary! One of his most popular walks is the Lantern Ghost Story Walk which explores the darker side of St.Ives. Check out the most haunted places in town, spookiest alleyways and find out where the dead remain restless (graveyards where paranormal activity is still experienced today). Not a walk for the faint hearted!
Shanty’s other walks include St Ives Story Walk, Full Moon Story Walk, St. Ives Pirate Walk and the Cornish Folklore Walk, Whichever you choose, you’re sure to be educated and entertained! Numbers are limited and places go fast in the summer, so book online to secure your place.
St Ives Walks
If you’re looking for some local insight into St Ives, then join local man Tony Farrell on one of his guided walking tours of the town. Tony’s family have been involved in fishing, seafaring and mining for generations, he has a BA Hons in English and Archaeology and was a head teacher at St Ives School for 20 years, so he knows a thing or two about the local area and it’s industry
Tony offers two different guided walks:
- Town Walk : This walk is 1h 30 minutes and takes place on Tuesdays. You will walk around town, taking in places of historical and cultural significance. You’ll learn about the development of the town and its heritage, the importance of fishing, seafaring and mining as well as the growth of tourism. Tony will talk you through the significance of St Ives as a centre for Modern Art and you’ll discover St Ives’ unique history through buildings and artefacts located in obscure places.
- Environs Walk : 2h30 walk on Fridays. This walk explores the countryside surrounding St Ives. You will visit Knill’s Monument, learn about opencast tin mining from the Medieval period and walk part way along the Pilgrims’ trail, better known as St Michael’s Way. You’ll walk through Halsetown village where Tony will explain it’s interesting origins. This walk includes part of the coastal footpath back to St Ives.
Lead your own adventure
If you prefer to explore and uncover new places for yourself, rather than take part in a guided tour, then there are a number of coastal walks you can do from St Ives.
St. Ives to Zennor
Strap on your walking boots, pack your waterproofs (Cornish weather is so changeable!) and head out on a 12 mile circular walk to Zennor and back. The scenery on this walk is just stunning and you won’t be disappointed!
You can start your journey from Porthmeor beach, where the path will take you out to Man’s Head and along the coastline past Clodgey Point. Follow the trail around the coast, watching your feet as you go and making sure you take the time to stop and take in the breathtaking Cornish land and seascapes. It’s worth bringing some binoculars if you have some as you never know what you will spot out to sea!
You’ll definitely need refuelling when you get to Zennor, so before heading back to St Ives, relax with an ice cream at Moomaid’s or find something more substantial at the Tinners Arms.
St. Ives to Lelant
This 4.5 mile walk to Lelant follows the railway track and takes in 3 stunning beaches along the way – Porthminster, Carbis Bay and Porthkidney.
Porthminster is a great beach come rain or shine. Sheltered from prevailing winds, you can find a hot spot on the sands in the summer and in the winter, it’s great just to sit and watch the waves crash into Godrevy Lighthouse across the bay. It’s also home to the lovely Porthminster cafe which, despite its name is more of a restaurant than a cafe offering a seasonal menu of local seafood and veggies to ensure freshness and flavour. It’s more of an evening destination than lunch and booking is required. However, the dog-friendly Gin and Cocktail Bar, situated between the restaurant and the putting green, is the perfect drop-in for a drink and quick bite to eat.
Next along from Porthminster are the golden sands of Carbis Bay beach, upon which sits the Carbis Bay Hotel so if you fancy a glass of fizz, cold beer or a coffee, this is a great pit-stop and the clear shallow waters make it the ideal spot for paddling or snorkelling. Don’t be in a rush to get to your destination – be sure to stop and take in the beauty of this glorious beach.
The final beach on this walk is Porthkidney which is dog friendly year round, so if you’re holidaying with your pooch, you can let them loose for zoomies here! If you have little ones, the sand dunes provide hours of fun too! Less than a mile from here is Lelant train station, so you can head back to St Ives by train (still taking in the scenery) if you don’t fancy the walk back!
3. Hire an e-bike in St.Ives and explore the Cornish coast
Looking for E-bike hire in St Ives? Well, we couldn’t do a top five of adventurous things to do without including bike hire from RideOn E-Bikes, could we! 🤪 Exploring the Cornish coastline on a Super73 is adventure with a Capital A. These bikes are just so much fun and are perfect for getting in and around the nooks and crannies of Cornwall’s little seaside towns and villages.
Start from RideOn Penzance or for a small extra cost, we can drop e-bikes to you in St Ives. Either way, you can follow the north coast and find some stunning beauty spots as you ride alongside the Atlantic Ocean! There are some great foodie stops along the way, like the Moomaid of Zennor for quick pit stop to refuel with a coffee or an ice-cream.
If you’re looking for lunch rather than a snack, the Tinners Arms in Zennor offers a range of handmade sandwiches, as well as hot dishes including, of course, fresh local seafood! The ‘Tinners’ as it’s known to the locals, is a traditional Cornish pub, built to accomodate the stonemason’s who were building Zennor church in the 12th Century. It’s a pub steeped in history, which is great to visit whatever the time of year. A cosy place to hunker down in winter, with it’s roaring fireplace and in the summer, dine al fresco in the outdoor seating area, taking in the sights and sounds of a landscape that’s hardly changed for centuries.
A short cycle from Zennor, is Gurnard’s Head, home to the Gurnard’s Head Hotel, characterised by it’s bright yellowy-orange exterior. You can’t miss it! With stunning views out to the Atlantic Ocean (the next stop from here is Newfoundland), a food and drink menu loaded with local produce and a gallery space for local artists (check out the Snug for the Artist of the Month), the Gurnard’s Head is a must visit.
If you only have a couple of hours to spare, why not ride out on your Super 73 e-bike from Penzance HQ, along the promenade to the famous fishing port of Newlyn where you can see boats coming and going and the busy fish market. It’ll be worth locking up your bike and taking a wander around on foot as there are some little foodie gems here including the Mackerel Skye Seafood Bar, Duke Street Cafe, Auntie Mays Deli, The Bridge and The Tolcarne Inn. There’s also the Newlyn Film House, an independent cinema and restaurant, (converted from an old granite fish house and smokery in 2016) which is open for lunch a dinner.
There’s a variety of shops and art galleries to discover in Newlyn too. If you like a rummage through old stuff, The Strand is an Aladdin’s cave of antiques and retro treasures or pop into Newlyn Fisherman’s Smocks if you’re looking for traditional Cornish apparel. Being a haven for artists, Newlyn also has its fair share of art galleries which are worth checking out if you’re interested in contemporary and local art.
After a meander through Newlyn, get back on your bike and head a couple of miles onwards to Mousehole, a quaint picturesque fishing village with its narrow cobbled streets and tiny harbour. The narrow windy roads aren’t the easiest to navigate by car, but riding through on a Super73 makes visiting Mousehole a breeze.
It might be a typical small fishing village, but Mousehole packs a punch with it’s great foodie outlets like the Mousehole Deli and The Ship Inn as well as some cute little independent shops like The Mowzer Gallery and Coast Gifts. On a sunny day, grab a coffee and sit on the pier or harbour wall and watch the world go by. However, like St. Ives, eating outside comes with a warning, so keep your eye out for seagulls!
If you’ve only got a couple of hours to spare but aren’t very confident riding on the road, the other option is to head towards Marazion. On leaving RideOn Penzance, take a left and head over the harbour bridge, picking up the cycle path from the Wharfside Carpark. This is a lovely ride, with expansive sea views which stretch across Mount’s Bay from Mousehole to Marazion. En route to Marazion, you’ll come across The Hoxton Special which is conveniently located on the cycle path. From the outside, it’s just a small, unassuming concrete building, but don’t let that fool you – it’s bursting with activity! You can grab a drink and snack here, sit outside and watch kitesufers (if it’s windy enough), SUPers or kayakers against the backdrop of St Michael’s Mount. Maybe it’ll inspire you to come back and book a watersports session yourself!
As you reach Marazion carpark you’ll pass The Station House which offers traditional pub grub and Jordan’s cafe which serves up hot and cold baguettes, flatbreads, burgers, cakes and bakes. Both have outdoor seating areas and are busy during the holidays!
Onwards onto Marazion, you’ll want to lock up your bike and explore this lovely little market town on foot. There’s so much here – from independent shops and galleries, to pubs, restaurants and delis. There’s even a small museum, situated on the ground floor of the Town Hall – a great insight into old-time Marazion life! The town is bustling in the summer, giving off a real holiday vibe. The carparks can get pretty chokka, but on an e-bike, you’ll avoid any parking hassles!
So whether you have a couple of hours to spare or a whole day, there’s a route for you! And you can find more suggestions here.
4. Rockpooling: fun for all the family
Rockpooling is great fun for both kids and adults! Everyone just loves exploring the mini tidal pools that are bursting with life! There’s so much miniature sea life to waiting to be found – who knows what each pool will uncover? Could be a starfish, could be a limpet. That’s the excitement of rockpooling – you never know what you will find and each tide leaves behind different underwater creatures!
The first rule of rockpooling is to check the tide times. It’s easy to while away the hours on the rocks, oblivious to the incoming tide, so make sure you known what time the tide is turning and give yourself plenty of time to get back to the safety of the beach.
For the best rockpooling experience, choose a calm, dry day. The wind and rain can stir up the pools making visibility poor. Rockpool etiquette is not to remove any rocks from pools, but to lift them up, take a look to see what’s underneath and gently lower again in the same position. Any creatures that you catch with a net should be returned to the pool once you’ve had a good opportunity to observe them. Remember this is their environment that we’re encroaching on and we need to respect it and them!
With all that said, there are many beaches in and around St Ives that are perfect for rockpooling:
- Porthmeor: there are pools on the east and west side of the island, all teeming with life. There are facilities and food outlets here too including toilets and shops which are a great support for a day of rockpooling.
- Porthminster: In front of Pedn-Olva Hotel are a collection of rocks just calling to be explored. You can access them by the steps next to the hotel. Be careful here as if you’re caught off-guard, it’s easy to get cut off by the incoming tide.
- Bamaluz: If you’re holidaying with your dog, this small, rocky/sandy cove means your pooch can get involved in all the family fun, as it’s dog-friendly all year round.
Whichever beach you end up exploring there’s plenty of potential to see all kinds of sea creatures including limpets, starfish, mussels, crabs, sea snails, shrimps and small fish.
5. Snorkelling hot spots: find out what lies beneath the Cornish waves
Rockpooling is great fun for the family, but if you really want to explore the underwater world of the Cornish coast, you’ll have to head into their world!
What will you need?
Safety is paramount when snorkelling so if you’re not a strong swimmer, don’t go out alone and don’t go out of your depth! Make sure you’re wearing a well-fitting wetsuit – not only will this keep you warm if you’re spending a good length of time in the water, but it will also act as a floatation aide.
A good fitting mask which doesn’t let the water in, snorkel and flippers ( if you want to cover a good area) are all essentials when snorkelling. If you really feel the cold, you can also wear neoprene gloves which will help to retain the heat in your hands.
Like rockpooling, dry calm days are the best for exploring the underwater world. The sun is an advantage (warmer waters and beautiful light beneath the surface), but not necessary. Always check the weather ahead of going out to ensure calm seas and no swells and always make sure somebody knows where you’re heading.
Where to snorkel?
The sheltered waters of Porthminster beach make it ideal for snorkelling. The same can be said for Carbis Bay beach a few miles east from St. Ives. Bamaluz cove is also a great snorkelling spot – you can head over the rocks in the direction of Porthgwidden beach or towards St Ives harbour.
If you would prefer to go out on an assisted snorkel with a professional, head into Penzance and book a session with qualified snorkelling instructor Katie Maggs of registered snorkel centre, Tonic of the Sea. A one-hour snorkelling experience with Katie includes an introduction to snorkelling, effective use of mask and snorkel, a safety briefing and encounters with sealife! You’ll be part of a small group of 6 people exploring the coastline off Battery Rocks or Newlyn (depending on sea conditions) and families can book at a discounted rate.
There really is loads to do and explore in and around West Cornwall – hire an e-bike in St.Ives or Penzance, pack a picnic for some lazy beach days, explore the town and coastline on foot and enjoy the local food in one of Cornwall’s many eateries. You’re spoilt for choice in Cornwall!
To hire an e-bike in Penzance or St.Ives, give us a call on 01736 888777 or book online.