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Original poster

Oh my! St Ives is absolutely stunning isn’t it!

135 replies

imaginethemdragons · 13/06/2021 17:43

Just watching the news all about G7, lots of shots of St Ives that looks like it could be abroad it is so utterly gorgeous!
I’ve never been to that neck of the woods, but my goodness, no wonder people say that Blackpool is a hole, when you compare the two!
I expect it’s an absolute fortune to visit for a holiday. But would absolutely love to go there.
Any one been? Was it a fortune?
Smile

OP posts:
fellrunner85 · 13/06/2021 20:09

I've been several times as close friends of ours live nearby. It's quite pretty and all, but there are far nicer places in Cornwall and elsewhere in the UK (thinking Anglesey, Northumberland) that I'd choose to go to instead.

It is ridiculously overpriced though, yes. And almost impossible to get around in the summer.

Thirtyrock39 · 13/06/2021 20:21

The seagulls are terrifying there - when we went everyone had a seagull attack tale to tell and you literally couldn't eat in the open air because of them . We found a very narrow alley near the beach and had to eat there as it was to narrow for seagulls to fly in. It really put me off the place to be honest !

Knittingnanny · 13/06/2021 20:26

@NecklessMumster, an ancestor of thug seagull snatched and ate my uncles sandwich straight from his hand by his mouth on St Ives beach. It was June 1962 and I was 5 years old. I can still recall how terrified I was.
I love St Ives though

GloriousMystery · 13/06/2021 20:30

@fellrunner85

I've been several times as close friends of ours live nearby. It's quite pretty and all, but there are far nicer places in Cornwall and elsewhere in the UK (thinking Anglesey, Northumberland) that I'd choose to go to instead.

It is ridiculously overpriced though, yes. And almost impossible to get around in the summer.

Where do you think is nicer in Cornwall, out of interest, @fellrunner85?

I love St Ives. We went there in October the year before we had DS and then went annually in early summer before he started school (when it’s somewhat cheaper than in school holidays). I get entirely why people would want to stay elsewhere where it’s less expensive, but so much of the crowdedness comes from day trip people that one of the loveliest things about staying there was being there very early in the morning and late at night. And the light, and the lichen. And being able to go multiple times to the Tate, the Barbara Hepworth museum etc. And my favourite bit, walk the coastal path to Zennor and eat in the Gurnard’s Head.

Malteser71 · 13/06/2021 20:31

How long does it take to walk to the Gurnards Head?

HeronLanyon · 13/06/2021 20:31

I once bought an ice cream there, was lifting it to my lips when a gull swooped, plucked the ice cream away. It was done so quickly and expertly. I was left with an intact empty cone.
The stall we’d bought them from had a sign warning of gulls. We had laughed when we saw that. Two steps and I was a victim Confused

Thisusedtobeaniceneighbourhood · 13/06/2021 20:33

It is truly truly lovely. Paradise. But the crowds can spoil it a little. I grew up in West Cornwall and we tend to try to go back every year. We have two types of holiday we enjoy: the first is to stay in St Ives itself, just forget the car, and immerse ourselves in the town and surroundings. We have young children who especially love the ability to be on the beach in seconds and on/off all day. Back to the cottage to lunch, pop to the artisan bakery, grab a bite to eat. It has a massively arty and foodie culture and there are multiple beautiful beaches to choose from. Carbis Bay is one of the best swimming beaches in the whole world.

The other type of holiday we like in West Cornwall is the opposite. To stay somewhere really rural and rely on the car to do the rounds of different beaches. This is similar to our lifestyle at home where we are 45 minutes from the beach: up early, spend 4-6 hours on the beach, do something else in the afternoon. This year we will stay near Porthcurno, which is my absolute favourite place in the world. And we have chosen this because St Ives this year is likely to become a covid hotspot (in fact it already has thanks to G7).

We normally spend £800-1400 on a cottage depending on where it is and which week we choose. It’s not a cheap holiday and prices this year are up significantly on last year. But then again, people spend similar going to places like centre parcs and I know what I would rather!

Kezzie200 · 13/06/2021 21:07

It is beautiful but the water is cold!

LettyLoman · 13/06/2021 21:08

You should holiday in South Wales. I’ve traveled to a lot of places and I might say New Zealand is my top stunning destination but really it will always be South Wales. Wales has such lovely people, open spaces, lots to do if your sick of looking of views and places to park!

BiscoffAddict · 13/06/2021 21:26

I’ve been thinking exactly the same thing and I can see why it was chosen for the summit ! I’ve never been to Cornwall, but have been desperate to go for a long time.

ICanSmellSummerComing · 13/06/2021 21:27

I must say the UK has been shining on those g7 pics!
The UK looks fabulous.

Malteser71 · 13/06/2021 21:31

Well it is, of course!

carlywurly · 13/06/2021 21:32

We live locally and go and stay in winter a lot. It's beautiful all year round.

Like others have said, the light is magical and the sea is piercingly turquoise against white sand.

Last time I went we stayed in the tregenna but I doubt that will be a cheap option after all this.

I've loved this weekend - we've been pretty involved in the action due to family connections, but st Ives didn't really need promotion and it will be even busier down there now.

Malteser71 · 13/06/2021 21:35

Funny though, the tregenna has always been a bit run down (in recent years)

emmetgirl · 13/06/2021 21:38

I live in Penzance- I love living here; I adore visiting St Ives but tend to avoid going in June July or August! It's just as beautiful in the winter but much quieter!

toocold54 · 13/06/2021 21:39

I live in Cornwall but only been to St.Ives a couple of times as it’s quite far from me. It’s lovely but like most of Cornwall it’s either rammed if it’s nice weather or nothings open in the winter.

dexterslockedintheshedagain · 13/06/2021 21:46

If you're into camping, there's an amazing site called Polmanter, and you can walk down into St Ives. They also have a couple of apartments on site but they're usually booked up quickly. Dog friendly too - pretty much most of St Ives is. It's truly a special place, we love it.

elsaesmeralda · 13/06/2021 21:49

We have family there and go every summer. It's stunning, great restaurants and the beaches you could easily think you were abroad. But it's so bloody busy you literally can't move sometimes. We go through all the back streets to the beaches and try and avoid the town if possible.
And yes the seagulls are absolute thugs there.

Divebar2021 · 13/06/2021 21:50

I’ve been visiting regularly for about 16 years as BIL / SIL live in St Ives and FIL / MIL lived in Carbis Bay ( now deceased). I used to enjoy visiting in June or September ( they have a music festival ) but having to go in the summer holidays is torture with huge crowds. The beaches are lovely but probably not nicer than some beaches in Northumberland. There’s lots of galleries and touristy type shops but I’m not sure it would have everything you want as a resident. The very quaint Fore Street has gradually been taken over by big brands like Superdry which is a shame. The Tate is good and I usually go each visit as I’m a member but it’s not that big so I’m not sure warrants multiple visits.
New Years Eve is also a big celebration and everyone dresses in fancy dress and congregates around the harbour front. We will probably not have access to the Carbis Bay flat after this year and I’m not sure where we will be staying on our further visits. My DH would probably want to stay in St Ives but I’d rather go elsewhere and get the train over for family visits.

rosy71 · 13/06/2021 21:52

Dp & I went 20 years ago. Loved it. We stayed in a B&B. I seem to remember it was on a hill. We had to park in a car park on the top of the hill & walk down steps through the houses. B&B was about half way down. The town was at the bottom. All the shops were open all evening, a bit like they are in Tenby. We've never been back because it's such a long drive!

elsaesmeralda · 13/06/2021 21:53

Postcard type pic

Oh my! St Ives is absolutely stunning isn’t it!
LizzieVereker · 13/06/2021 21:53

No it’s absolutely horrid. Like an apocalyptic wasteland. You DEFINITELY don’t want to holiday in St Ives or in fact definitely the whole of Cornwall. 😉

randomkey123 · 13/06/2021 21:53

We went one March, and absolutely loved it but jeez it was busy even then. The weather was unseasonably warm, and the crowds were too much for me....... I can't imagine it in peak season. The seagulls were terrifying and I can't believe anyone was brave enough to try and eat with them about. We found this amazing little cafe though that we took our dog in, we had fantastic coffee and they brought the dog a little bowl of his own water and some dog biscuits on a little plate.

The beaches are extraordinary, something very magical about the place.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 13/06/2021 21:55

St Ives is beautiful, but Oh My the crowds.

I remember going one summer, every shop had huge huge queues, and there was nowhere to sit. Anywhere. Not even in the floor. People were already sat there.

shallIswim · 13/06/2021 22:02

Beautiful.
Weird place to live, mind. Most cliquey place I've ever been to. Partly because congestion and difficulty getting in and out make it a bit of an 'island'. Very sharp rich/poor division. Houses properly unaffordable for people doing normal jobs. Need family money/inheritance to get anything half decent.