St Ives tips please

[NancyJoan]

We are going to St Ives on Fri for Half Term. Me, DH, DD (10) and DS (7).

Hoping to do beaches, weather permitting, and Barbara Hep, the Tate is closed until next year so we can't do that, where else should we go? Days out and eating suggestions welcomed, as well as little gallery/shop recommendations for me, should I escape for an afternoon to myself.

We have NT membership, so keen to get money's worth from that.

Cheers!

[nicolasixx]

St Michaels Mount isn't far (NT)

[Mrscog]

The NT beaches just up the road at Godrevy (Hayle) are STUNNING, so that's one place to definitely go. For food, I can really recommend the Seafood Cafe, and The Hub for burgers/beer/cocktails. If you get the train one stop up the coast to Carbis Bay, the beach there is also fantastic - on a calm day it's just like a swimming pool.

Green with envy - we've been 3 years running, but have gone with Bluestone this year and I just hope it's ok!

[austenozzy]

The Minack theatre and the telegraph museum (better than it sounds) are just up the road. The coastal drive from zennor round lands end is pretty special. Lots going on over here on the south coast too, have a good click about on visit cornwall.

[Pinkheart5915]

Lands end?
St Michaels mount?

[OrangeNoodle]

Sunday lunch at the Gurnard's Head or a drive down to Sennen Cove (excellent beach cafe overlooking the cove) if you fancy getting out of St Ives at all.

Each of the St Ives beaches (Porthminster, Porthgwidden and Porthmeor) have excellent cafes. Glass of wine and takeaway bbq'd mackerel bap at Porthminster is one of my favourite evening things to do.

South coast is 20 mins away so you could do St Michaels Mount for a day out.

Godrevy and Gwithian lovely for beach/headland walk and cafe.

Carbis Bay is a lovely beach but IMO it's recently been ruined by the Carbis Bay Hotel who have dominated the beach with an American style decked beach club. It's wasp and emmet city.

Have a wonderful holiday x

[purpleporpoise]

Kynance Cove is stunning and a NT beach so you won't have to pay for parking
Lost gardens of Heligan are good
Minnack and Telegraph museum
Lands End and Sennen Cove
Padstow
Mevagissey
Penzance
In St Ives we love the Seafood Cafe and eat there on our first and last night. We also like the Queens and Harbour Inn. Don't forget Pengenna Pasties either, they are the best in Cornwall

[EarlGreyTeaPlease]

Have a Moomaid ice cream from their shop by the harbour!

[BloomingAzalea]

I love the Lizard. The walk from the village to the peninsula is stunning. Cream tea at the cafe by the lighthouse/peninsula is a must; sit outside on the veranda -the sea view is magnificent.
I agree with Kynance cove recommendation.
Penzance is a great for a cycle ride between the railway line and the beach-quite a flat cycle, great for kids...lovely views out to sea and St Michaels Mount +Marazion.
Also Falmouth is good for a day trip; Maritime museum interesting and Rick Stein' s fish and chips ....delicious!
Have a lovely time!

[OrangeNoodle]

Oh I don't know about Pengenna's. They make their pasties the Devon way.

Philps in Hayle are excellent. They have just opened a shop in St Ives too.

[austenozzy]

Agree, orange. Best I've had recently are from gear farm near helford. Tickleyertastebuds of Falmouth take some beating too.

[stubbornstains]

Gear Farm love........I know them and did their signs!

But anyhoo....my top St. Ives tip? Do. Not. Drive.in. St.Ives.And if you must drive? Don't try to park!

And here's an actual, sensible tip: Levant Mine, with its stunning location and working beam engine..or Geevor, where you can still go underground.

St. Just is an interesting town, with several galleries and a rather strange air....If you walk back in the St.Ives direction from there, you'll come across the engine houses at Botallack, which were in Poldark (the stunning ones next to the sea).

The beautiful Jubilee Pool (1930s sea water lido- stunning!)in Penzance is reopening on the 28th May, with free entry and various stuff going on (it was severely damaged in the bad storms of 2 winters ago).

[stubbornstains]

(Ooh, forgot to say- Levant Mine's NT! As is St. Michael's Mount, which I thoroughly recommend especially if you don't have to pay)

[sleepwhenidie]

There's a new restaurant on Fore St called 57 Fore St, gorgeous Cornish tapas.

As pp said, all of the beach cafes are great, you can't beat breakfast at the Porthemeor Beach cafe or lunch on the terrace at Porthminster (book as far ahead as you can), it so lovely relaxing with wine and watching your kids play on the beach below you!

Take a picnic and walk out to Clodgy, beautiful views. Or make it more of a trek and go to Zennor and have lunch at the Tinners

Drive out to the Gurnard's Head for a walk and then fabulous lunch or dinner.

There's mini golf at the far end of Porthmeor Beach, just up the hill.

Book surfing lessons (from age 8) on Porthmeor.

If it rains, the cinema always has something on and the swimming pool at the leisure centre is fun (small slide for kids).

If you get several days of bad weather and need to get out, then there's a maritime museum in Falmouth.

Other day trips if you cba are Eden Project and Flambards.

[BloomingAzalea]

Flambards.....was very unimpressed
Admittedly was 5years since we visited, but thought it was an expensive waste of money.

[Petal40]

Oh wow,I used to live in st Ives...feeling homesick for it now...I've got to go back and visit soon

[morvoren]

I live here... Just home from a fab evening at Porthmeor Cafe Bar. Highly recommended!!

You might want to book if going out for an evening meal, it isn't crazy busy yet like the summer holidays but still expected to be busy next week. Hardly a bad place to eat in town, standards are pretty high for casual dining, I think.

All the suggestions you had sound great to me. I'd check out Jubilee Pool in Penzance if you get a hot sunny day. Quite excited about it opening again!!

If your kids are the active kind they would probably love a surf lesson. The St Ives mermaid is expected to be seen at Porthminster Beach on Monday. For grown up time you might just enjoy a wander along Fore Street and round the Harbour, lots of little shops to explore.

Personally I'd avoid many long drives as you will find plenty to do in St Ives and Pz area and won't get stuck in holiday traffic. Having said that, they are doing 'Wild Week' at the Lost Gardens of Heligan which has been great for kids in the past couple of years... If you don't mind the drive/cost.

Have a lovely week!

[stubbornstains]

Yes, I'm not keen on Flambards either, and wouldn't recommend. I've heard that Paradise Park in Hayle is good if you want a Big Day Out. (bird park with soft play etc etc).

[nicolasixx]

Yes Paradise Park is a nice enough way to spend a rainy day.