Cornwall, England: St Ives: Art, Sun, Sea and Sand

Cornwall is that county that covers the south west corner of England. It has a warmer climate than much of the rest of England, has some great beaches and a wealth of history and attractions.

Whether you choose to seek out King Arthur's legendary haunts, enjoy the many water sports, set sail on a tourist fishing boat or simply relax you will find a warm welcome in Cornwall.

St Ives is on the northern side of Cornwall and is within easy reach of Marazion, Penzance, Tintagel, Land's End and more. Let's face it, the names of such places are magical in themselves.

I visited Cornwall with a group of girlfriends when I was 16. We stayed at Helston on the South coast. I did not visit this beautiful English county again until nearly 40 years later however this time I stayed at Carbis Bay on the outskirts of St Ives. This is on Cornwall's Northern side.

As St Ives was so near to Carbis Bay we visited this lovely fishing village, come town, a fair few times. St Ives has much to offer visitors, apart from just beaches. It has:-

• Lovely old quaint traditional streets.
• Some great guest houses, pubs, cafes and restaurants.
• Lots of small local art and craft galleries.
• Museums and more for those odd rainy days
• A New Tate Modern gallery.
• Shops galore,
• A busy Harbour.
• Traditional Cornish Pasties and Clotted Cream.
• Miniature Golf, by the sea.
• Regular train services.
• A great harbour area.

But yes it does also have great beaches.

Unlike most British resorts St Ives has more than one great beach. All the beaches are clean and made up of sand. Some are busier than others but you should be able to find one that suits YOU.

Water-sports are popular in Cornwall due the warmer climate. Warmer than the rest of the UK that is. The nightlife is good in St Ives without being too brash and over the top. The area is quite hilly but it is still a lovely area to walk around. Alternatively hire a car. take a bus or catch one of the local trains to explore further afield.

St Ives is a perfect location for exploring some of the other attractions available in and around Cornwall. It is also an ideal destination for all age groups. Of course it is in England and, as such, the weather is unpredictable no matter what time of year it is. However, Cornwall does fare much better than other parts of the UK, as far as weather goes, and, if you pick your vacation dates well, you should experience at least some good weather.

St Ives accommodation comes in lots of forms. Cute local cottages, hotels, Bed and Breakfasts and more are all available.

We visited in late August and were very lucky to have perfect weather, nearly all of the time.