About St Ives

St. Ives is a picturesque old fishing town, almost surrounded by superb silver sand beaches and stunning coastline with the seas delightfully clear and a brilliant hue of blue.

Sunnyhaven holiday cottage is in within 5 minutes walking distance from all these main attractions.

Main attractions within St Ives:

Art: Due to the wonderful light the town enjoys, St. Ives has long been a favourite of artists and there are many still working in their studios around the town. There are also plenty of local art galleries to admire. The town boasts the Tate Gallery, which overlooks Porthmeor beach, as well as Barbara Hepworth's house and studio, which is now a museum and garden where you can view and touch her world famous sculptures.

Porthmeor beach: premier surfing beaches enjoying the Atlantic swell which produces great surf all year round. There is an onsite surfschool with British Surfing Association qualified instructors and surfboard, bodyboard and wetsuit hire is also available. Porthmeor is a blue flag beach with a restaurant, cafe, toilets, changing rooms and showers.

The Island: From Porthmeor beach walk around or to the top of 'the island' where you enjoy stunning views of all the beaches and town.

Porthgwidden beach: From 'the Island', walk down onto this little cove beach. 

Porthminstor beach: long white beach, usually with no waves. At low tide you can walk along the beach into the harbour. Blue flag status and great facilities.

Harbour: lovely interesting beach & harbour with working fishing boats. You can go out on mackerel fishing trips or fish off the end of the piers or swim with the local seals that hang out in the harbour. Enjoy a drink or a meal overlooking the harbour in one of the many pubs & restaurants.

Gardens: The gardens at Trewyn in the heart of St. Ives offer very pretty and peaceful surroundings in which to take a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the town and beaches.

Leisure Centre with gym & large indoor pool.

Food, Restaurants & pubs: St. Ives has a wealth of welcoming pubs, cafes and sophisticated restaurants, many with outdoor seating. There is something for every taste from locally caught fresh fish to a simple but tasty pasty! If you prefer to cater for yourself there are shops that can provide for most needs, as well as newsagents, provision shops and a nationally known supermarket all within easy reach.

Cliff walks: if you love walking along miles and miles of protected, untouched coastline with dramatic cliffs & coves, then St Ives is the perfect place to start from.  Superb cliff/headland walks from Porthmeor beach west to Zennor, and far beyond or in the other direction from Porthminster beach to Carbis bay.

Close to St Ives:

Excellent golf course with incredible sea views 2 miles from St Ives

Minack theatre - Cornwall's best known theatre, with a stunning open air location on the cliff tops, near Land's End. Seventeen weeks of plays and musicals throughout the summer. http://www.minack.com/ 

Land's End - Beautiful, exciting, enchanting... enjoy an unforgettable day's visit to this most famous landmark.

Flambards - All weather family leisure park with a unique mix of internationally acclaimed exhibitions, rides, playgrounds, shows, entertainment, gardens, Victorian village and Britain in the Blitz.

Bottalack Mines- Bottalack mines are precariously sited on rocks just above the sea. Their dramatic setting has inspired generations of writers, artists and photographers. http://www.cornish-mining.org.uk/sites/botallack.htm