Bored in St Ives

[Donaldduck22]

Here until Saturday - came to stay with a family member who has found herself busy with other things. I've wandered round the shops a few times, been for fish and chips, had a crab sandwich on the harbour. I'm not into art galleries or museums. The weather isn't really good enough for whole beach days and I'd be on my own which is a bit sad/boring. How can I fill the time until I go home? I don't have a car here

Do you walk? For a short walk, have you walked on the path around the Island? From the road it looks like a car park but a there's a good walk round the outside of it – we saw dolphins on Christmas Day from there.

If you head to Porthmeor Beach and head west/left you can hit the South West Coast path.

Go and find a book to read in the St Ives Bookshop and then find a nice cafe and read it there.

Go to the cinema. st-ives.merlincinemas.co.uk

Land's End Coaster - St Ives to Penzance and beaches in between. Particularly recommend Sennen.

Walk to or get train to Carbis Bay - great walk straight out of the station, along the cliffs, heading east.

As PP said the Barbara Hepworth garden is worth a visit, even if you don't like art.

Go for lunch in a pub.

Find a lovely recipe or two, go to the supermarket, get the ingredients, and cook something lovely for you and your family member to have for supper.

Learn Cornish

You are basically on my ideal holiday - on your own, in St Ives, no responsibilities. HOW are you bored?

Anyway. You have plenty of suggestions already. I would say though, don't go to Land's End as it's a dump - get the bus to Sennen and walk along the cliffs. It's heavenly.

@UpTheHuff
Smug, much? Helpful, not.

If the weather permits, wrap up and go build a giant sand castle/labyrinth on the beach while listening to a podcast or good music.

Find seven cats.

I'd probably take a boat trip, go for walks and go for a gorgeous meal/read in the pub

I do it all the time!

I really hope your family member's 'business' is worth it. It is rude to invite people to stay with you with the expectation that you will spend time together and then bugger off.

St Ives is lovely OP, but I get you, not everyone is into alone tourism.

True !

I’d go for a walk and end up in a pub or cafe, what do you enjoy doing normally?

Join the local polygamy society to meet the man with seven wives.

YY - it's one thing to plan an 'alone' trip and another to be landed with one - especially without a car.

I'd sit on the beach and read - wearing jumper/jeans/coat if needed. Have the odd paddle and break for a pasty. St Ives is bameautiful and I would love it.

Life can go on even if you don't have a car; there are trains and buses from St Ives.

This is reminding me of a time I was in a shop in Dorchester on Thames and two baffled Americans came in wondering ‘where all the Thomas Hardy stuff’ was.

Of course they do! Give it a try and enjoy!

It can but why should it? OP was expecting a holiday with her relative, not wandering about on her own.

Buy yourself a pasty on the go and see if you can outsmart the seagulls.

I go on holiday alone and regularly do this! It's great!

a) was she expecting her relative to chauffeur her round everywhere?
b) but things have changed. Not ideal, but that's life; she could just sit around feeling sorry for herself, or she could find interesting things to do and have a nice time.

I think stacking rocks on beaches is very much discouraged.

I’d just lie on my bed and read if weather not great.

Sit in a beach bar and read if warm enough.

@Donaldduck22go down to the harbour & go on a seal trip to see very fun & inquisitive seals!! Lovely to get out on the water & see some wildlife. Same for bird watching or boat trips around the coast.
I’d kill for a few days in St Ives! And would be making for a bee line for the Tate & Barbara Hepworth museum too.,

If you're after arcades and bingo St Ives isn't the place (although there is actually one small arcade there 😂). How exactly were you expecting to fill your time?

I holiday in St Ives every year and never get bored. We walk loads though and the beaches and scenery around there are stunning. Walk right up to the bus station and sit in the Barbara Hepworth memorial garden there and enjoy the view with a coffee. Go to Porthgwidden/porthmeor beach for lunch with a good book. Go on the Barbara Hepworth gallery or the Tate. Go and look around the many shops. Take the train to St Erth and back. Go on a boat or rib ride to see the seals. Go and browse the second hand books in Zion church (all profits go to charity) or the charity shops. Go to seven bar or the Sloop Inn both of which have views of the harbour and beach and have a glass of wine or a cocktail. Try and get a table to eat at the Mermaid or one of the other many fantastic restaurants. Go for a kayaking lesson off Porthminster beach. You are there at the absolute best time before the schools break up - I'd give anything to be there now.

There's so much to do I just don't understand how you can get bored 🤷‍♀️

Oh another one, get a bus to Hayle (about 20 mins) and go to Paradise Park - it's fantastic and the bird show is a must.