Carbis Bay

Carbis Bay Beach

The beach at Carbis Bay is a great spot for swimming, and the cliffs provide welcome shelter on a breezy day. If you fancy trying your hand at any water sports while you’re in Cornwall, Ocean Sports on Carbis Bay beach offers kayak and SUP lessons and a hire service for more experienced water babies.

You can even see St Ives from the water by booking an Ocean Sports guided tour from Carbis Bay. Exploring the coast on the 8-person Mega SUP is definitely a holiday highlight. Forgotten your wetsuit? No problem: Ocean Sports offers a wetsuit hire service (plus deck chairs and windbreaks for those who prefer a chilled-out day on the beach).

Carbis Bay beach does have some dog restrictions but nearby Porthkidney Sands welcomes dogs all year round.

Walking at Carbis Bay

This section of the South West Coast Path is mostly gentle, with a couple of short climbs, and meanders above the railway line. The view of Carbis Bay is especially wonderful if you arrive from the coast path – when you emerge from the trees and catch your first glimpse of the beach.

You can walk all the way from Carbis Bay to St Ives (about 1.5 miles), taking in fascinating ancient relics, including prehistoric field systems, a medieval chapel, and a fishermen’s lookout. If you don’t fancy the walk back, you can hop on the train back from St Ives to Carbis Bay.

The Coast Path is a great dog walk, and we have dog-friendly holiday cottages in Carbis Bay to accommodate you and your four-legged friends too.

Golf at Carbis Bay

Fancy a round of golf?  Tregenna Castle Resort in Carbis Bay has a 9-hole course open to non-residents. The views from the course are spectacular, and the 9th hole is in a fabulous setting. It currently costs £10 on a pay-and-play basis, and you can also hire or buy equipment.

They also have indoor and outdoor swimming pools and tennis courts for those who don’t fancy joining you on the course, which makes a visit to Tregenna Castle one of the best Carbis Bay attractions.

Carbis Bay Trains

One of Britain’s most scenic train rides, the short St Ives branch line runs along the Hayle estuary and the coast, stopping at Carbis Bay and the village of Lelant.

Carbis Bay has very little parking, so catching the train to the beach is often the easiest way to travel. Park in St Erth and a short, picturesque rain ride later, you’ll embark at Carbis Bay station.

The beach is quite a steep walk down from the station, but the soft white sand and turquoise water makes it worth the walk!

If you don’t fancy the steep climb, you can take the train to St Ives and walk to Carbis Bay along the South West Coast Path. The walk should take about 25 minutes, and the views out over the coast are spectacular.

Heritage in Carbis Bay

This beautiful area, originally a mining town, has a lot of heritage. With fabulous tales of fishermen and shipwrecks, there’s plenty of history to soak up.

On the coast path between St Ives and Carbis Bay is an old white-painted building called The Baulking House. The early 19th-century building once played an important part in the local fishing industry. The “Huer” would stand up here, looking down at the sweep of the Atlantic below. When he spotted a shoal of fish, he would shout down, “Hevva, hevva!” to the waiting fishing boats, who would then head for the catch. Pause a while on one of the benches by the lookout, looking out across the sea. You can see why this was such an excellent vantage point for the fishing fleet.

Knill’s Monument is an obelisk built in the late 18th century by Collector of Customs, mayor and possible smuggler, John Knill, as a mausoleum for himself. Every five years, on St James’ Day, ten local girls (ideally from fishing families) dressed in white dance up to the monument while onlookers sing the 100th Psalm. While you’re there, explore the surrounding Steeple Woods, home to a 40-acre nature reserve – making it a great spot for a dog walk.

Food and drink in Carbis Bay

Carbis Bay has several great places to eat and drink to complete your day by the beach. Take a look at the best places to eat in Carbis Bay in our food and drink guide.

Stay in Carbis Bay

Have you already booked your dream Cornish Escape or do you need help picking from one of our wonderful Carbis Bay Self-Catering Cottages? Discover our full range of great places to stay in and around Carbis Bay and enjoy a dream holiday in Cornwall.