Our Guide to St Ives Beaches
St Ives is famous for its beautiful beaches, each with its own character. If it is your first holiday in St Ives, how do you know which beach is the best for you?
We recommend you try them all during your Cornwall holiday; however to get you started, we have written a guide to the beaches in St Ives. Which beaches get our Best In Class vote?
Harbour Beach: Best for the Morning Sun
If you are lucky enough to be staying in St Ives, one of life’s pleasures is to head down to the harbour first thing. Harbour Beach (also known as Town Beach) is the photogenic sandy beach and working harbour in the middle of town, backed by the shops and cafes along the Wharf.
The sun comes early to Harbour Beach and thanks to the sheltering arm of Smeaton’s Pier, it is often the sunniest spot in town. Skip over the rows of ropes towards the sea or lean against the warm harbour wall, enjoying a take-away coffee or Cornish ice cream.
There are lots of welcoming eateries overlooking the beach and boats, and we have written about a few of them in our blog about St Ives restaurants. Find a pavement cafe or window seat for breakfast, watching the town and harbour bustle into life.
Porthmeor Beach: Best for Sunsets
And at the other end of the day, we head to St Ives’ westernmost beach, Porthmeor. It’s a lovely long beach, its golden sands stretching from the rugged Man’s Head at the west end to the busier eastern side near Tate St Ives.
Porthmeor Beach is often busy and it keeps its lively atmosphere going well into the evening, with people picking up takeaways from the fab beach cafes and families setting up barbecues. Enjoy a late-evening dip or paddle, snuggle up in your robe and watch the sun go down while you enjoy your mackerel roll.
It is our favourite place in St Ives to watch the sun set, either from a blanket on the sand or from the footpath around the back of the “Island” (actually a headland). Watch the evening surfers as you wait for the sky to put on a show – the perfect end to a sunny day.
Porthminster Beach: Best for Swimming
Along with Porthmeor, Porthminster is one of the town’s star beaches, long, sandy and beautiful in all weathers. Backed by woods and elegant sub-tropical planting, and with views that curve around to the harbour, this really is one of West Cornwall’s most beautiful places.
The sea here is always azure, including on dull days, and even the fair-weather swimmers among us are drawn to the clear waters. It is clean and sheltered here for swimming and because it is lifeguarded in the summer, it is a popular bathing spot for families.
There are great facilities at Porthminster Beach including one of St Ives’ best-loved restaurants. If you want a family day at the seaside or fancy an early-morning swim with the place practically to yourself, versatile Porthminster is the beach that can do it all.
Bamaluz Beach: Best for Dogs
And now we come to the choice for the most important member of the family – the best dog beach in St Ives. Bamaluz Beach is a rocky and sandy cove between Harbour and Porthgwidden beaches that is dog-friendly all year.
You and your dog are bound to make friends among the welcoming canine community that visit this beach and you will definitely enjoy exploring the rockpools together. Just please note that access to Bamaluz is not easy and the steps are steep. We have written a guide to other dog-friendly beaches in Cornwall, which includes places with more level access.
St Ives has two other year-round dog beaches: Lambeth Walk beach to the east of Harbour Beach and Breakwater Beach, a secret spot on the other side of Smeaton’s Pier. Both vanish at high tide.
Carbis Bay Beach: Best for Paddle Boarding
If you prefer calmer waters, head for St Ives’ nextdoor neighbour Carbis Bay. The sheltered beach is perfect for swimming or you can learn to paddleboard with help from the brilliant Ocean Sports Centre.
Like the surf school, Ocean Sports is right on the beach. They offer stand up paddleboarding (SUP) and kayaking lessons for all levels, and there is a hire service for seasoned paddlers. If there is a group of you on holiday, hire their eight-person Mega SUP for a fun trip around the bay or book yourselves onto one of their guided safaris.
If you are staying in St Ives, you can catch the branch line train from Porthminster Beach into the small station close to Carbis Bay beach or walk just over a mile along a paved stretch of the South West Coast Path.
Porthgwidden Beach: Best for being simply lovely
Finally, “the one with the beach huts” gets a well-deserved mention. Porthgwidden Beach does not have the relaxed glamour of the larger beaches or the postcard-prettiness of the harbour; however it is many people’s secret favourite. Why do so many people love this little cove?
Firstly, it is nestled under the Island and faces east so is sheltered from the prevailing wind. It is also a bit of a sun trap, so if you are craving warm sands, this is the beach for you. Because it is a longer walk from the town centre and is a bit more hidden, it is generally a bit quieter and has a more intimate feel.
On a calm day, Porthgwidden is good for a paddle or a gentle swim, but please bear in mind that it is not lifeguarded. The cafe is the perfect place for a relaxed lunch or snack, where you can enjoy a drink and fantastise about hiring one of Porthgwidden’s charming little beach huts.
Book your Beach Holiday in St Ives
There is a beach here for every day of the week (plus an extra one if you visit all three dog beaches), so you clearly need to book a holiday in St Ives! Take a look at our selection of luxury holiday cottages in St Ives, all of them just a short stroll from the town’s beautiful beaches.
