Local Area
Home to Black Moon, Blue Moon and Moon Shadow, St Ives sits on the North West coast of Cornwall and boasts one of the warmest climates in the UK thanks to the Atlantic Gulf Stream. It’s easy to see why St Ives won both Best Seaside Holiday Destination and UK’s Top Beach Resort in 2011, coming 6th overall in Europe!
Originally a fishing village, St Ives has become famous in more recent times as a haven for artists attracted to the area by the incredible light and rugged coastal landscape. St Ives subsequently flourished, becoming a cultural hotspot that is today awash with boutique galleries, local art studios and several internationally renowned institutions, including the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Tate St Ives, which is one of only four branches of the Tate Gallery. As you’d imagine with a town popular with artists, St Ives also has a reputation for top-notch food offering everything from delicious home-made meals to award-winning fine dining and everything in between. A casual stroll around town reveals a multitude of local restaurants, harbour side cafés, cosy pubs and stylish bars. St Ives also boasts one of the oldest Inns in Cornwall, The Sloop Inn being dated circa 1312.
St Ives itself has no fewer than 5 fantastic beaches including Porthmeor, Porthgwidden and Porthminster beaches, which for a town that you can walk across in less than 20 minutes is something in itself. Pale sands, turquoise water and some of the best surf around ensure that St Ives is consistently considered one of the most beautiful (and in the winter fabulously raw) destinations in the UK. For those of you keen to get out and explore more of the surrounding countryside, the local area has some great walking and hiking trails that range both in difficulty and length.
For more information on St Ives and the surrounding area, please visit the St Ives Tourism Association website.
Things To Do
Beaches
For a town of its size St Ives is blessed with an inordinate amount of beaches. There are 4 main beaches within walking distance of the town, each with a different character. Porthmeor is perhaps the best known, facing into the Atlantic and backing on to the Tate Gallery. Porthminster is the second biggest and is conveniently located next to the train and bus stations. The Harbour beach is right in the centre of town and a great, safe family option. Porthgwidden is tucked away around the corner from all the hustle and bustle with beach huts available.
Tate St Ives
The St Ives branch of the Tate Gallery opened its doors in 1993. At the time the building was as much of a talking point as the gallery itself. Overlooking Porthmeor beach this building was not intended to be invisible being around 3 storeys tall with its iconic circular entrance vestibule.
As would be expected from the Tate, the gallery features contemporary art. However, there is an emphasis on the St Ives School and artists such as Alfred Wallis.
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Garden
There is little doubt Barbara Hepworth was one of St Ives’ most influential artists with works featured in prestigious locations around the world. She is probably best known for her geometric abstract sculptures in bronze, many of which have a hole, a concept she is credited with. The museum and gardens are where Hepworth worked from 1949 until 1975 when she was tragically killed in a fire. Her studios and gardens were opened to the public the following year with much left as it was. The gardens include many examples of here sculptures and are complemented by the subtropical plants that grow here.
Surfing in St Ives
Positioned where it is, jutting out into St Ives Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, St Ives is a very popular surfing destination. During the winter Porthmeor often provides some of the only surfable waves in West Cornwall with ‘the Boiler’ being a highly rated and challenging wave. But surfing in St Ives doesn’t end at Porthmeor, there are a few tucked away secret spots that produce great waves on the right day. In summer things are very different and beginners can take advantage of Porthmeor’s sheltered aspect to learn to surf. There are plenty of places to hire the gear and lessons are available right on the beach.
St Ives Boat trip to Seal Island
Seal Island is located around 3.5 miles (5km) west of St Ives and as the name suggests it is home to a colony of grey seals. Boat trips are run on a daily basis from the harbour. The trip along the coast is half the point of this excursion with great views of Porthmeor Beach, The Island and rugged Cornish coast. On arriving at seal island visitors can get fairly close to the seals and generally soak up the scenery. And it’s not just seals; on the right day there is a whole host of other wildlife to be spotted on this sea safari.
Sennen Cove
A 45 minute drive from St Ives, almost at Lands’ End, finds you at a vast and stunning destination surfing beach.
Ben Tunnicliffe
Cool and casual restaurant with a deck overlooking the unspoilt bay.
The Minak Theatre and Café
Porthcurno: A 40-minute drive from St Ives brings you to the unique Minak open air theatre and café set on a cliff overlooking spectacular Porthcurno beach towards Logan Rock.
Eat & Drink
BEACHSIDE BITES
Pels
This lovely little café right on St Ives Harbour serves tasty, home-cooked food and delicious crepes. It has been described as ‘the best value for money in St Ives’ and is also available to take away!
Porthgwidden Beach Café
A short stroll from the Beachspoke cottages, this old whitewashed sail loft with a sunny terrace is perfect for breakfast and lunch with spectacular views of Godrevy Lighthouse.
Porthmeor Beach Café
Alongside hearty breakfasts and healthy smoothies, this cafe also serves a tapas style menu with a Cornish twist. On warm summer evenings you can sit on the terrace or cosy up with a glass of wine in an open heated booth and watch the sunset and the surfers.
Porthminster Beach Restaurant
Only a ten-minute walk from the Beachspoke cottages, this white washed building with a stylish teak deck has a glamorous vibe and sophisticated menu. Porthminster is renowned for its refined quality and beautiful setting.
LAZY LUNCHES
Seafood Café
A dining experience that is both simple and delicious. Choose from a wide selection of fish and meat, tell the chefs your cooking preference, and then add side orders and sauces. Voila!
Vintage Store & Coffee Shop
A coffee shop with a vintage twist. Not only does the shop serve tasty treats and creamy coffees, but everything you can sit on is for sale!
The Cornish Deli
The perfect place for Brunch, Lunch or Dinner made from fresh, local St Ives produce. The Café is open every day and offers a sweet sanctuary from the busy streets of St Ives.
The Digey Food Room
Serving large portions of quality Cornish food, along with Italian and Spanish specialities, this deli is the perfect retreat after a long walk on the beaches of St Ives.
The Tearoom
Specialising in cream teas, this is the place to go for a true Cornish afternoon tea experience.
DINNER FOR TWO
Porthminster Kitchen
An offshoot of Porthminster Beach Café launched in April 2015 - Cornish cuisine with a mix of local ingredients and global flavours.
Seagrass Restaurant
As well as an extensive seafood menu, there is also an ‘Oyster & Champagne’ menu on offer to add an extra special touch to your evening. Only a short walk away from the Beachspoke cottages, we believe an evening spent at Seagrass would be an evening well spent!
St Andrew’s Street Bistro
Along with a ‘casual fine dining atmosphere,’ the bistro also provides an outstanding quality of food and fantastic service. The cosy yet chic décor is almost an extension of the cottages, creating a feeling of ‘home away from home.’
The Bean Inn
A vegetarian restaurant that offers so much more than mushroom risotto and stuffed peppers. An intimate, candlelit restaurant provides the perfect space to experience ‘The Bean Inn Vibe,’ which has resulted in the restaurant being voted as one of the top ten British vegetarian restaurants.
The Loft
The restaurant is situated in the heart of the artist’s quarter in old St Ives, only a stone throws away from St Ives Bay. Only quality, ethically sourced ingredients are served here, along with a seamlessly matched selection of wines. The perfect combination for a romantically relaxed evening!
OUT OF TOWN
ZENNOR
An unspoilt hamlet with great walker’s pub.
Take the coast road south towards Zennor (15 minute drive), one of the UK’s great drives through empty moorland dotted with pagan standing stones or walk along the coastal path at the end of Porthmeor Beach.
The Tinners Arms
Fabulous traditional pub in a superb setting, a historical gem!
The Gunnard’s Head
10 minutes further on past Zennor, near Morvah and Cape Cornwall (where the two oceans meet). Gastro pub voted one of the best in the UK by Tatler magazine. Need to book. Combine lunch with a challenging walk down to the wonderful remote ‘secret’ beach of Porthmeor (on OS map) just beyond The Gunnard’s Head.
MOUSEHOLE
A picturesque fishing village south of Penzance and arty Newlyn. A 29 minute car journey from St.Ives.
The Old Coastguard
Under the same management as The Gunnard’s Head.
Spa Service
We work with local therapist Sarah Lund who delivers her treatments in our Beachspoke properties allowing you to fully unwind in the comfort of the cottage. She will bring everything with her, towels, oils, ambient music and she uses a portable massage couch that is very comfortable and secure. She is qualified in a wide range of therapies so whatever you need, from a firm back massage or a gentle head to toe aromatherapy to a nurturing facial or a balancing reflexology, she will provide a treatment tailored to your requirements.
Sarah has tailored her menu to what is most suitable and comfortable in the cottage. If you are interested in visiting Sarah for other treatments from Warm Bamboo Massage to Hot Stone Massage please don’t hesitate to enquire.
Sarah Lund – 07507 518 084
Or email [email protected]
SPA MENU
Body Massage
30 minutes - £30 / 60 minutes - £50 / 90 minutes - £65
Massage can be deep to release muscle tension or more gentle and calming to completely relax you. A combination of different massage techniques, such as Swedish, Sports and deep tissue, complimented by therapeutic fragrant oil gives you the massage you need.
Aromatherapy Massage
60 minutes - £50
Essential oils have many healing and therapeutic properties. Sarah blends these deliciously aromatic plant essences specifically for you, and applies them using an aromatherapy massage. Much gentler than a Swedish or deep tissue massage, the focus of this treatment is on the therapeutic action of the oils on your body and nervous system as they are inhaled and absorbed through your skin.
Reflexology
60 minutes - £40
A deeply relaxing holistic treatment, performed on the feet using specific and potent techniques to provide a balancing treatment that brings health and vitality to the whole of your body. Beneficial for numerous conditions, reflexology is highly recommended to counteract the effects of stressful lives and as a suitable treatment during pregnancy (after the first trimester).
Aromatherapy Facial
60 minutes - £55
A tailor-made facial designed for you. Using aromatherapy based products your skin is cleansed, exfoliated and nourished with the finest pure essential oils and plant extracts, and massaged to restore and nurture, leaving your skin looking radiant and you feeling fantastic.
Facial Rejuvenation Massage
60 minutes - £50
This revolutionary facial is often also referred to as ‘Natural Facelift Massage’. The treatment starts with a cleansing of the skin followed by energy work on pressure points of the face. Then an involved, precise series of unique massage techniques are performed, without oil, to tone muscles and release fixed areas of tension in the connective tissue. It nurtures the skin by encouraging circulation and lymph drainage and is outstandingly relaxing.
Reiki
60 minutes - £45 / 90 minutes - £60
A healing energy that is transmitted to the recipient’s body through the hands of the practitioner. Sublimely relaxing on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Whatever your circumstances a Reiki treatment, with its pure, holistic outlook can enable subtle, wide-reaching and sometimes unexpected changes to occur. Some people prefer a Reiki treatment because there is no need to undress.
Indian Head Massage
30 minutes - £25
An invigorating and effective seated massage usually performed without oil and through light clothing such as a t-shirt. This treatment focuses on releasing muscular tension in the upper back, shoulders, neck and scalp.
Thai Foot Massage
30 minutes - £25
Thai Foot Massage is a massage of the lower legs and feet that involves hands on stretching and massage to ease aching feet and to “open” Sen (energy) Lines, along with the use of a rounded stick to stimulate points on the feet to promote general health and well-being.