{"id":4568,"date":"2022-02-24T15:30:05","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T14:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homesandantiques.com\/?p=11790"},"modified":"2022-02-24T16:16:15","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T15:16:15","slug":"st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/rss_feed\/st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend\/","title":{"rendered":"St Ives travel guide: how to spend a weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Sophie Hannam\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 24 February 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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With its sandy\u00a0beaches, mild\u00a0climate, sea views\u00a0and captivating light,\u00a0the West Cornwall\u00a0fishing town of St Ives has drawn in\u00a0travellers in search of peace and\u00a0renewal since the railway first came to\u00a0town in 1877. For 100 years it has also\u00a0been a magnet for artists: Bernard\u00a0Leach, \u2018the father of British studio\u00a0pottery\u2019, and Shoji Hamada established\u00a0the Leach Pottery here in 1920, and\u00a0Barbara Hepworth and her husband\u00a0Ben Nicholson settled here at the\u00a0outbreak of the Second World War.\u00a0Through the 1950s and 1960s,\u00a0St Ives was a centre for abstract British\u00a0art. Today, it continues to support a\u00a0thriving artistic community and is\u00a0home to the recently revamped and\u00a0expanded Tate St Ives.\u00a0Avoid the pitfalls of bringing a car\u00a0and arrive instead as those first\u00a0holiday-makers did \u2013 by train. All the\u00a0main lines come into St Erth where\u00a0you change for the 20-minute branch\u00a0line journey along cliffs and through\u00a0dunes, with spectacular views of the\u00a0sea. It is one of the prettiest train rides\u00a0in the country and will deposit you at\u00a0the station at the top of town, rested\u00a0and raring to go.<\/p>\n

What to do in St Ives<\/h2>\n
St Ives harbour<\/h3>\n
Begin your day with a leisurely\u00a0morning stroll around the harbour\u00a0and shore to get your bearings. There\u00a0are four lovely beaches encircling the\u00a0town: Porthminster, the closest to the\u00a0train station; Harbour Beach, with its\u00a0fishing boats and lifeboat launch; the\u00a0small, family-friendly Porthgwidden\u00a0and west-facing Porthmeor, favoured\u00a0by surfers.\u00a0From Smeaton\u2019s Pier, you can watch\u00a0the fishing boats come in with their\u00a0morning catch, often followed by a\u00a0nosy seal or two. Seals and dolphins\u00a0can be seen in the bay all year round\u00a0and there are boat trips from the\u00a0harbour to Seal Island, just a few miles\u00a0out, where you can watch the residents\u00a0basking on the rocks.<\/p>\n
Visit Trenwyn Studio in St Ives<\/h3>\n
A hop and a skip behind the lifeboat\u00a0station you\u2019ll find Trewyn Studio, on\u00a0Barnoon Hill, home to the Barbara\u00a0Hepworth Museum and Sculpture\u00a0Garden where the artist lived and\u00a0worked from 1949 until her death in\u00a01975. Preserved much as it was when\u00a0she lived here, it is a fascinating and\u00a0atmospheric place to visit and holds\u00a0the largest collection of her work on\u00a0permanent display.<\/p>\n
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UIG via Getty Images<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
Explore Tate St Ives<\/h3>\n
A five-minute walk away is Tate St\u00a0Ives<\/a>.\u00a0Winner of the Art Fund Museum of\u00a0the Year 2018, the newly expanded\u00a0gallery showcases the work of 20th century\u00a0artists connected with St Ives,\u00a0including Ben Nicholson, Peter\u00a0Lanyon, Barbara Hepworth, Naum\u00a0Gabo and Patrick Heron, along with\u00a0temporary exhibitions. The exhibits\u00a0are enhanced by breathtaking views of\u00a0the Atlantic Ocean seen through the\u00a0gallery windows. Make the most of the\u00a0views by stopping for a spot of lunch at\u00a0the rooftop cafe.<\/p>\n
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John Harper \/ Getty Images<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nShopping streets in St Ives<\/h3>\n
After your morning\u2019s dose of culture,\u00a0spend an hour or two moseying around\u00a0the pretty cobbled streets and\u00a0fishermen\u2019s cottages of the \u2018Downlong\u2019\u00a0area, just behind Harbour Beach.\u00a0Starting on Fore Street and\u00a0spreading away from the sea, the area\u00a0is packed with shops, boutiques, craft\u00a0galleries and rest stops, offering all\u00a0manner of tempting treats. For\u00a0traditional Italian hot chocolate, try\u00a0The Pier Coffee Bar on Quay Street,\u00a0while the Cornish Deli<\/a> has a good choice of sandwiches,\u00a0local cheeses and home-cured meats. If\u00a0you want to escape the crowds, head\u00a0over to Olive\u2019s<\/a> in\u00a0Island Square, for a delicious Cornish\u00a0cream tea.\u00a0Revived by your scone and ready to\u00a0work off that clotted cream, take a\u00a0brisk stroll up the hill to the Leach\u00a0Pottery<\/a>, at Higher\u00a0Stennack. It\u2019s a half-hour walk from\u00a0the harbour (you can also get a bus or\u00a0cab there) and the views are fabulous.\u00a0A place of pilgrimage for ceramics\u00a0lovers, Leach\u2019s studio was established\u00a0almost 100 years ago and is still a\u00a0working pottery. As well as the\u00a0original kiln and studio, there are\u00a0exhibitions, pottery demos and\u00a0workshops, and a well-stocked shop.<\/p>\n
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Visit Cornwall \/ Matt Jessop<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nPorthmeor beach in St Ives<\/h3>\n
Daylight stretches well into the\u00a0evening at this time of year, so make\u00a0the most of the long days and head to\u00a0Porthmeor Beach for a sundowner.\u00a0Here, you\u2019ll find the Porthmeor Beach\u00a0Cafe<\/a>, where\u00a0you can dine on tapas and seafood or\u00a0sip a cocktail while watching the sun\u00a0set over the sea.<\/p>\n
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LightRocket via Getty Images<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\nCoastal walks and buses around St Ives<\/h3>\n
Spend your second day exploring the\u00a0fantastic coastal scenery of this part\u00a0of western Cornwall. The South\u00a0West Coast Path covers 630 miles of\u00a0walkable coastline and the stretches\u00a0around St Ives are some of the most\u00a0stunning. As you don\u2019t have time to\u00a0walk all the way to Land\u2019s End,\u00a0combine a shorter walk with a ride on\u00a0the open-top bus, run by Kernow<\/a>. From\u00a0St Ives, the service heads south along\u00a0the coast through Zennor, Gurnard\u2019s\u00a0Head, St Just and Sennen before\u00a0reaching Land\u2019s End. You can then\u00a0return by the same route, or hop on\u00a0another bus down to Porthcurno,\u00a0home to the famous open-air Minack\u00a0Theatre<\/a>, and back round to St Ives.\u00a0As this is a jump-on, jump-off\u00a0service, you can spend as much time\u00a0as you like at the various stop-offs.\u00a0For a spot of antiques shopping, head\u00a0to Chapel Street in Penzance, home to\u00a0the likes of Daphne\u2019s Antiques,\u00a0Steckfensters and Chapel Street\u00a0Arcade, among others.<\/p>\n
$\""Travel\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Mathew Roberts Photography \/ Getty Images<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n
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Lunch with views over St Ives<\/h3>\n
Whatever your route, be sure to factor\u00a0in lunch overlooking the sea. Cheese\u00a0on Coast<\/a> in St Ives, will rustle up a cheeseboard\u00a0or picnic to take away, or for\u00a0something a bit more substantial,\u00a0 The Gurnard\u2019s Head<\/a> does great pub lunches\u00a0and is on the coastal path.\u00a0From nearby Zennor, (one stop up\u00a0from Gurnard\u2019s Head on the return\u00a0leg of the bus route) you can take a\u00a0bracing four-hour walk along a\u00a0spectacular rugged stretch of the\u00a0coastal path back to St Ives. Once\u00a0there, call into the SILCo. Searoom\u00a0Gastrobar<\/a> for a\u00a0well-earned St Ives Gin and tonic\u00a0before heading home.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in St Ives<\/h2>\n
St Ives Harbour Hotel & Spa<\/h3>\n
St Ives Harbour Hotel & Spa<\/a> is one of St Ive\u2019s most luxurious hotels. With a range of rooms and boasting views over Porthminster Beach, it\u2019s a perfect location for exploring the surrounding areas.<\/p>\n
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Flat 3<\/h3>\n
Flat 3<\/a> is a two bed self-catering apartment with sea views in the centre of St Ives. A great choice for anyone who wants to feel like they\u2019re in a home away from home.<\/p>\n
$\""Flat\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\nAyr Holiday Park<\/h3>\n
Ayr Holiday Park<\/a> is a camping and caravan park by Porthmeor Beach. A fin choice for those who like to be amongst nature or for families and children visiting St Ives.<\/p>\n
$\""Ayr\"$ <\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><\/body><\/html>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Sophie Hannam Published: Thursday, 24 February 2022 at 12:00 am With its sandy\u00a0beaches, mild\u00a0climate, sea views\u00a0and captivating light,\u00a0the West Cornwall\u00a0fishing town of St Ives has drawn in\u00a0travellers in search of peace and\u00a0renewal since the railway first came to\u00a0town in 1877. For 100 years it has also\u00a0been a magnet for artists: Bernard\u00a0Leach, \u2018the father of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":4569,"template":"","categories":[1,30],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"6"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2022\/02\/st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend.jpg",1086,1600,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2022\/02\/st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2022\/02\/st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend-204x300.jpg",204,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2022\/02\/st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend-768x1131.jpg",768,1131,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2022\/02\/st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend-695x1024.jpg",695,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2022\/02\/st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend-1043x1536.jpg",1043,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/49\/2022\/02\/st-ives-travel-guide-how-to-spend-a-weekend.jpg",1086,1600,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Sophie Hannam Published: Thursday, 24 February 2022 at 12:00 am With its sandy\u00a0beaches, mild\u00a0climate, sea views\u00a0and captivating light,\u00a0the West Cornwall\u00a0fishing town of St Ives has drawn in\u00a0travellers in search of peace and\u00a0renewal since the railway first came to\u00a0town in 1877. For 100 years it has also\u00a0been a magnet for artists: Bernard\u00a0Leach, \u2018the father of…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/4568"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/homesantiques\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}