9 Important tips on buying a Holiday let in St Ives 6
Where is St Ives?
St Ives, with its clear azure blue seas and golden sands is actually located on the north coast of west Cornwall. Generally tour sea facing holiday property will be North facing resulting in shady evenings on a balcony. Recently many of the stylish modern apartment blocks have been built along the Porthminster beach and harbour area without taking this into consideration. Guests don’t think about a building’s orientation either, until they are wrapped in blankets on a bright sunny evening trying to enjoy a sundowner.
Why buy a holiday let in St Ives?
The initial popularity of this beautiful harbourside town was due to the influx of artists in the 60’s, they flocked here to enjoy the extraordinary light and landscape. Many of them settled here and, as they showed their art thus showcasing the beauty, people started visiting the area. Houses are not cheap in St Ives by any means however, they are unique and picturesque. Therefore with a bit of money and some imagination, these, once fisherman and minor homes can be transformed into unique spaces on the shores of lovely beaches and cobbled streets.
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St Ives Beaches
Let’s start at Lelant, this is not St Ives but it is the start of the huge stretch of white sand that hugs the coastline and peninsula that is The Island. You will be awestruck by the colour of the sea; azure blue and crystal clear. From Lelant village head down a leafy street to St Uny Church and the Links golf course. The beach (Porthkidney Sands) is accessed by a path that runs through the course down some steps and there it is the start of the amazing coast.
This beach is about a mile long, dog friendly throughout the year and so huge that you will never need to share your towel with the person sitting next to you. Pass the headland (Hawkes Point) next stop Carbis Bay, unfortunately the beachside here has been overtaken by a hotel and numerous luxury cabins, and nowhere to park either (unless you are a guest at the hotel), such a shame.
Just past here you are nearly in St Ives itself where the first beach you will come to is Porthminster with its popular beachside cafe and safe swimming. The harbour is next, again, safe swimming and plenty of beach at low tide but no beach at all at high. Around another headland are Bamaluz beach, a dog friendly, but small area of sand and sea.
Porthgwidden is next, lovely on a hot day but not patrolled by lifeguards. Last but not least, Porthmeor beach, huge and bustling with a popular Porthmeor cafe for a delicious lunch or a takeaway for the beach. Surfers flock here and there are lifeguards from April to October.
The dream destination
There’s not much to dislike about St Ives, especially if you are investing in a holiday let. Come out of season when the town is at its best, let it in the high season when the demand for accommodation is high and you can command high rents too. There’s nothing to lose.
St Ives food culture
With its popular food festival held in May, the town is just starting to wake up after the sleepy winter and comes alive to the taste of local produce and all that’s new to the food and drink scene. Bands perform and people relax knowing that the long awaited summer has arrived.
stoned wood fired pizza st ives
St Ives things to do
Where to start? Walking, snorkelling, water skiing and just about any water sport you could wish for. Have you tried paddleboarding? I have, without success however I envy the youngsters and oldsters who can master it. Paddling across the harbour at high tide is probably one of the most relaxing things to do. If you love a bit of culture there is so much to do in St Ives, there are galleries galore, some great, some not so.
The Tate stands proud and overlooks Porthmeor beach, perhaps a light lunch at the Porthmeor cafe watching the surf before a tour of this iconic building showcasing some sometimes weird but always wonderful exhibitions. If walking is your thing (it is mine!) The walks from here along the SW coast Path are amazing, sometimes a bit hair raising and sometimes neigh on impossible but worth the effort!
Try St Ives to Zennor – there are two levels, one higher which is much easier, however the lower coastal path is a hard walk with a few obstacles such as huge boulders to scramble over. Take a swimsuit as you will pass through some unique coves with fairy pools and rock pools.
St Ives is rated amongst the best locations in the UK
Its popularity is justified, cobbled streets, beautiful characterful cottages and of course the beaches. When on holiday here you have something for everyone. Water sports, shopping, galleries and of course sandcastle building and safe swimming. The only thing that can mar your holiday can be the weather. May and June are the best months to visit, St Ives isn’t too busy but still has much going on and isn’t the ghost town that it is in the winter. Due to the protection of The Island in the west, you can head north around the headland to shelter from a westerly and vice versa if its a northerly
Other great locations nearby
The B3306, once voted one of Britain’s most scenic trails, running from St Ives to Land’s End passing through moorlands and coastal paths. Engine houses and old mines a plenty too. The crofters crofts, tea rooms offering a home baked cream tea and views of old stone walls and the Atlantic Ocean clearly visible throughout your journey. The iconic Gurnards Head restaurant and pub are en-route, worth stopping off for a light lunch or gourmet meal. Zennor is a really lovely little hamlet along this road, a cafe, walks and the Tinner’s Arms.
Where’s the best location to buy a holiday let in St Ives
If your budget allows, sea views are quite the thing but if you can’t stretch to that try to get something with a little outside space (not often possible in this town) just enough for someone to enjoy a coffee or a glass of something cool in the evenings. With the beaches being so accessible guests do just wander down there for an evening picnic. Porthmeor is sheltered and west facing so not quite as cool as Porthminster and the harbour.
The countryside outside is also nice but parking in St Ives can be a nightmare so if visitors have to drive into the town each day it can put them off. Of course if you can get somewhere with a parking space you are quids in even if the parking space is a fair distance away from your property.
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Where to avoid buying a holiday let in St Ives
There are some areas on the outskirts of St Ives which are not really suitable for holiday letting. Avoid estates as well as properties that open directly onto a road (not everywhere has a pavement!) Is it a nice area? Is it noisy i.e. close to a pub, road etc? These are all things that should be taken into consideration, along, of course, with your gut feeling. Would you stay there for a holiday?
Property features to look out for when buying a holiday let in St Ives
Wood burners are really good for getting the out of season bookings, photos will be selling the holiday so if there’s a roaring wood burner in the photos it will entice guests looking for a coastal walking holiday in the winter. Modern kitchens and bathrooms are one of the things guests look out for too.
Parking
So important but not very easy to find, especially in the centre of the town. There are numerous car parks dotted around and, with apps such as Just Park people are hiring out their driveways (at a huge cost to customers!) Buying a permit, even if it is a fair distance from the house, is a selling point as the property will be advertised with parking, one of the main things guests will be looking for.
Sea Views
Of course! Who doesn’t want a sea view, even a sea glimpse is going to encourage bookings. St Ives is an old town so a view across the rooftops is very quaint. I have a lovely house in my portfolio, no sea views but it is just 200 yards from the harbour down a pedestrian alley. Bear in mind too that the main beach is north so your sea view from your lovely property will be nice but the property will be north facing.
Accessible
This facility is nearly impossible in a quaint cottage in the town. I would strongly suggest staying away from trying to get the property listed as accessible. The rules and regs for this are endless and once you start down the route it is never ending and can be very costly. That said, if you have the opportunity of buying a property with a ground floor bedroom and a walk-in shower on the same level, it would be suitable for someone with limited mobility.
Garden space
A garden can only be listed as a garden if there is an area of lawn for trades description. However, a nice terrace for guests to enjoy a coffee or something stronger in the evenings is a great asset, especially in St Ives where outside space is rare.
Interior decor
This is not too important as the property should be a blank canvas for you to put your stamp on. Please remember though Less is More! This goes for your guests who will be bringing their own pile of “stuff” and for your housekeeper – think of them cleaning up around lots of bits and bobs, ornaments and dusting that willow heart that has been hung for ages and is gathering dust and generally letting the cleaning score down.
Hot Tub
Great if you have one and have the space – this will really encourage bookings in and out of the high season. I always suggest investing in this very sought after luxury. Guests really do love them, no matter what your thoughts are – if you can, then Do!
How many holiday lets are in St Ives?
There are more than I can count that’s for sure. Most properties are let in the summer as the town becomes a metropolis of holiday makers. There is so much on offer in this town, stunning beaches (even Bondi Australia doesn’t match Porthminster or Porthmeor. White, perfect for building sand castles, sand. Azure blue seas. Restaurants and the hustle and bustle of a thriving town which, in winter becomes almost a ghost town but the sand and sea remain the same – beautiful.
Why is St Ives so popular with Holiday lets?
This lovely town has everything: beaches, restaurants, sea. Perfect for every age. Galleries for the cultured, surf and coastal walking for the energetic as well as boat hire and paddle boarding for every persuassion. Good restaurants, beach bars and best of all The Sloop, sit with a nice glass of something cool and watch the world go by. It really is a great place for a holiday.
St Ives at night
Find a St Ives estate agent
There are numerous agents in the town, all of which can be found on the internet. Some holiday letting agencies also list properties for Owners who are no longer letting but have perfect established holiday homes.
Other popular holiday let locations to St Ives
The list is endless and there are some places to avoid – but for another time. Mousehole, for the romantic weekends away. Sennen for the surfers and thrill seekers. Marazion, with St Michaels Mount, Chapel Rock and the causeway, safe swimming – perfect for young families. Porthleven is renowned for its excellent harbourside restaurants, The Mussel Shoal on the waterside and of course The Ship, a quintessential pub which faces the clock tower – featured in the national press when there’s a storm and the waves are crashing in.
Carbis Bay & St Ives holiday letting agents
There are a few local agencies left but the majority have been taken over by the hedge funders and national conglomerates. The smaller agencies, like Cornwall Retreats can go that extra mile to make your life as an owner easier and ensure that the guests, if a problem should arise, are placated and the issues solved quickly.
The best tips on holiday home ownership
Comfort and cleanliness are the first and foremost things to address. Would you return to a holiday cottage if it was tired, grubby and you hadn’t slept on the lumpy mattress for your entire stay? Invest as much as you can in the bed and bed linen.
If space is limited, provide a sofa, in lieu of armchairs, people like to cuddle up.
Guests prefer a shower to a bath. Washing machine or dishwasher – washing machine. Dogs or no dogs – dogs, providing you have an outdoor area and are not on the edge of a road or in an apartment. Two tiny bedrooms or one large?
Although you will only accommodate two guests with the one bedroom you will be able to provide a king, super king or zip and link beds. The price will be the same but the guests will have a luxurious stay. Couples have no school holiday restrictions either and are more likely to come away out of season.
