Lelant

Lelant Beach

The beach at Lelant is called Porthkidney Sands. It is a vast expanse of golden sand (around 1 mile long) with stunning views across to St Ives.

It’s not a safe place for swimming, but because it’s so big and lacks facilities, it always feels nicely empty. As it is dog-friendly all year, it’s one of the best places in West Cornwall to bring your pup for a scamper! When the tide’s right, you can walk along the beach to Carbis Bay (please check the tide times first).

To access the beach from Lelant, take the path from the church down to Porthkidney Sands beach.

Golf at Lelant

For keen golfers, the links course in Lelant is home to the West Cornwall Golf Club: the oldest course in Cornwall. The sea views from the golf course are stunning!

Visitors are welcome to play here: just book online in advance. The current cost is £60 per player.

Walking in Lelant

There are some lovely walks in Lelant. In addition to the beautiful beach walk along Porthkidney Sands, you can also explore the South West Coast Path and St Michael’s Way.

St Michael’s Way is a coast-to-coast micro-pilgrimage which covers diverse holy places, from ancient Irish Saints to giants on hilltops. Lelant is a great place to begin this journey; finishing at St Michael’s Mount in Marazion, this 13-mile trail can be completed in a day.

You can also take the very scenic Lelant to St Ives walk which takes you along a moderate section of the South West Coast Path. The route takes about an hour and a half, and if you don’t fancy the walk back, you can jump on the St Ives train back to Lelant!

Lelant Trains

The short St Ives branch line that runs along the Hayle estuary and the coast is one of the most scenic train rides in Britain.

The train runs between St Erth and St Ives and stops at Lelant railway station, Lelant Saltings and Carbis Bay.

Taking the train from Lelant to St Ives is a wonderful way to enjoy the views and alleviate the stress of parking in St Ives.

Lelant Heritage

St Uny church in Lelant dates back to Norman times, although most of what you see today is later medieval. St Uny was an Irish saint. He and St Erth were the brothers of St Ia, who founded St Ives, making sainthood a bit of a family business in this corner of Cornwall!

Lelant is actually named after a completely different saint, St Anta, whose name features in Carbis Bay’s church, St Anta and All Saints, a 1920s church that replaced the previous wooden hut.

Food and Drink in Lelant

Little Lelant has a great choice of pubs and restaurants. Take the road out of the village towards Hayle, and you’ll find two real locals’ favourites: Birdies Bistro and The Old Forge. Birdies Bistro overlooks the estuary and is a great place to spot waterfowl (hence the name) and tuck into fantastic local produce. The courtyard at The Old Forge is the place to dine on a summer evening, with its relaxed Mediterranean vibe.

The Watermill, just outside the village, serves food and a good selection of local drinks and has a nice outdoor space, and there is also The Badger Inn in the centre of the village. Previous happy guests include Virginia Woolf, who must have liked it as she stayed there on several occasions!

If you go in the other direction from Lelant (down the Old Coach Road), you’ll come to Lelant Downs, a mostly rural area dotted with houses, farms and the occasional foodie gem. Overlooking the Nance Fishing Lakes, Moomaid offers its delicious homemade ice-cream along with a selection of tasty snacks including scones and toasted sandwiches. There’s also a Trink Dairy vending machine selling fresh milkshakes between 9am and 9pm, and fresh milk 24 hours a day.

Stay in Lelant

Looking to stay in Lelant? Book your dream Cornish Escape and choose from our wonderful selection of Lelant self-catering cottages. We’re here to help you plan the perfect holiday!