St Ives, Cornwall

Located 30 miles further west of Newquay but still on the north coast of Cornwall is the very popular tourist area that is St Ives. During the summer the town is very busy with visitors many of whom stay in the one of towns hotels or bed and breakfast's, finding somewhere to park can sometimes prove to be tricky so it is a good idea to arrive early in the morning. St Ives has three beaches of golden sand and a harbour beach which is popular with young families.

Porthmeor Beach - St Ives, Cornwall

Found towards the north of the town is Porthmeor beach which is the most well known surfers beach that St Ives has to offer. Depending on the conditions of the sea the beach usually has two different types of users. When the swell is big and the waves are crashing in on the beach the surfers descend on the beach from the surrounding areas. At other times the beach is good for families who like to take small children into the sea as there is a full lifeguard service during the summer months and dogs are also banned from the beach.

Porthgwidden Beach - St Ives, Cornwall

This beach is much smaller than Porthmeor and situated between 'The Island' and the old pier, because of this it is a much safer beach for swimming and families and is known locally as 'The Island Beach'. It is protected from prevailing winds by the cliffs on both sides and has a range of beach huts for bathers to use.

Porthminster Beach - St Ives, Cornwall

Located to the south east of the town can be found Porthminster beach. The beach is the longest that the town has to offer and measures approximately ½ mile in length. It has good facilities to offer families in the way of beach huts, deck chair hire, a food outlet and many other useful amenities. There is a lifeguard service in operation during the summer months and the sea is generally calm and a good place to take the kids for a swim.

The beach can be reached by walking through the town or a pleasant stroll following a footpath along the coast. To the rear of the beach are the town's railway station and a car park, these get extremely busy during the summer months. The branch line runs between St Ives and St Erth where you can catch a train to the rest of the country. This is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the whole of the country and it is well worth leaving the car at St Erth and using the park and ride service which operates during the popular months.

The Harbour Beach - St Ives, Cornwall

Located in the centre of the town the beach is popular with families who enjoy walking around the town and then visiting the beach to keep the kids happy. At high tide there is not a very big expanse of sand but as the tide retreats more and more golden sand gets exposed. The harbour is a fully working and thriving business as such there are times when it is dangerous for small children and it is best that they are not left unattended. From the harbour it is possible to hire out self drive boats which are fun for the whole family or go on various trips around the nearby coastline.

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