Looking out into the bay you may see an Island, this island is called the Pendinas and was once a fort to defend from the french invaders, was once also known to be connected to the mainland. If you look at the skyline of St Ives you’ll notice dominating the skyline is the Church of St la, built in the early 15th century this church is well worth a visit as it holds to Madonna and Child carving by Barbara Hepworth, created in memory of Hepworth’s son, Paul, who died in a plane crash in 1953.
Overlooking the town of St Ives is the Knill Monument, built in the 18th century by John Knill who was mayor of St Ives in 1767. To fulfill the terms of his will, every 5 years 10 young girls dressed in white dance through the streets and up to the tower, At the top, they are joined by 2 widows and the mayor who dance around the monument with them whilst spectators sing the 100th psalm. Another tradition in St Ives is Hurling the Silver Ball, held on the first Monday of February, the Mayor throws the ball from the church wall in the middle of the morning, then thrown from person to person, through the streets and down to the beach, until noon when the last person holding the ball receives a prize.
St Ives by Train
When visiting St Ives we find the best route into the town is by train, from St Erth you can catch the train into St Ives but the train ride goes along the coastline with picturesque views across Carbis Bay, maybe one of the most scenic train journeys you may ever go on. You arrive just above Porthminster beach on the train where it’s a short walk into the town, from there you can explore the town’s cobbled winding streets and old whitewashed cottages. In the town, you’ll find tasty pasty shops, amazing art galleries, and lovely local shops from homeware, clothing to bookstores.
St Ives is well known for its multiple beautiful golden sandy beaches that surround the town, in the eastern lee of the island is Porthgwidden Beach, a great place for swimming. Around the corner is large and sandy Porthmeor Beach, one of the bigger surfing beaches in St Ives. On the front of St Ives at low tide is the Harbour Beach then just over the harbour is Bamaluz Beach, fantastic to sit and watch the turquoise water crash into the golden sand. Just outside the train station is lovely Porthminster Beach with a great cafe serving up cold drinks and delicious food. St Ives holds an annual September Festival which includes a range of arts, music, and literature, established around 30 years ago the festival now attracts people in their thousands from all over the world, and more recent popularity in the town is New Year’s Eve in St Ives, it sees thousands turn up in fancy dress celebrating the new year throughout the town.
As St Ives has many sandy beaches meeting the turquoise sea, it’s perfect for beach days with the family, although we’d recommend getting down to the beach early enough to grab a spot as it can get busy during the summer months. Other beaches in the nearby area are Carbis Bay Beach, open to the public but privately owned by the Carbis Bay Hotel. Another beach a short drive away is Porthkidney Beach, around a mile long, and at low tide, the sea goes out a long way leaving a vast expanse of usually almost deserted sand.