Best Beaches for Surfing in and around St Ives

If you’re visiting St Ives in Cornwall this summer, you really should try surfing. The sport of surfing is a vibrant part of the culture and lifestyle of Cornwall, and St Ives is a hotspot for surfing activity. To leave Cornwall without having tried surfing, is like visiting Cornwall without ever tasting a Cornish pasty. It’s simply something you should do to get under the skin of this holiday destination and immerse yourself in the Cornish vibe.

Of course you wouldn’t just try surfing because of its connection with Cornwall. It is also a fabulous activity which allows you to have fun in the sea and experience the power of nature as you ride waves along the shore. It is also a healthy exercise and is great fun for all ages and abilities, especially families who are staying locally in St Ives holiday accommodation.

Surfing at Porthmeor Beach, St Ives
The best place to start your surfing adventure in St Ives is Porthmeor Beach. This half-mile stretch of sand is located right in the heart of town, overlooked by the prestigious Tate Gallery. The beach faces north west, so it is slightly sheltered from the biggest swells and strongest winds. This means the waves are often cleaner and gentler here than west facing beaches, so Porthmeor Beach is perfect for learning to surf most of the time. St Ives Surf School runs surf lessons here (see discount information below). A surfing lesson at Porthmeor Beach is a superb activity to experience while you are on holiday in the St Ives area.

Surfing at Sennen Beach
Just a short drive away from St Ives and Carbis Bay, at the far end of West Penwith is the pretty fishing village of Sennen with its crescent of golden sand renowned for its quality surf conditions. As this beach is located right at the tip of Cornwall, near Land’s End, Sennen Beach does pick up most Atlantic Ocean swells. On big wave days, the surfing is best left to the local pros. But when the conditions are calm, Sennen is one of the few places where you can pick up some beginner size waves. There is also the very good Sennen Surf School here, with professional surf instructors eager to teach you in the ways of wave riding.

Surfing at Gwithian Beach
Located just the other side of Carbis Bay, at the other end of the Hayle Towans, Gwithian is one of the hottest surf destinations in the area. This beach is also exposed to the best swells rolling in from the Atlantic, which can deliver big barreling waves for experienced surfers some days. But on other days, beginner surfers can enjoy calmer waves and surf conditions suitable for learning how to surf. If you check the surf forecast and choose your visit correctly, you will be rewarded with some awesome waves in the shadow of Godrevy Lighthouse. Gwithian Academy of Surfing runs surfing lessons here for beginners and progressing surfers.

Surfing at Praa Sands
Praa Sands is only a 20 minute drive away from St Ives, but has a very different outlook and atmosphere to the rugged beaches of the north coast. When you pass Penzance you’ve turned the corner onto the south coast of West Cornwall, with generally gentler, greener coastal scenery. Surf conditions on the south coast can be world class, especially at nearby Porthleven with its renowned rocky reef break. The waves can also be big and hollow at Praa Sands, but generally in the summer months, the waves break gently onto a soft sandy beach. This makes it a good location for families with small children to try surfing and master core board skills without battling it out through big breakers. Stones Reef Surf Shop, located right on the beach, provides surfboard hire and surfing lessons.

Let’s Go Surfing!
So there you have it. A round-up of the best places to learn to surf and enjoy surfing while you are on holiday in St Ives or Carbis Bay. But your surfing adventure needn’t end there. There are surfing beaches, coves and more advanced surf spots to explore along the entire coastline of Cornwall. Once you’ve had your initial surf lessons and feel comfortable in the water, you can just pick up a board and explore. You’ll be assured a true Cornish adventure.

For more information on surfing in St Ives or to book surfing lessons at Porthmeor Beach, please visit the St Ives Surf School website. Remember that if you’re on holiday in St Ives with Carbis Bay Holidays, you can get 20% off the price of surf lessons with this surf school.

If you’re a keen surfer or want to try surfing while on holiday in St Ives, please check out the range of holiday cottages, houses and apartments near Porthmeor Beach on the Carbis Bay Holidays website.

Barbecue for Breakfast? Absolutely!

Introducing one of our fabulous new seaside properties Seaspray.

A beautiful beachfront Art Deco property with breath taking panoramic views.  Within just three steps you will be on the golden sands of the Blue Flag award winning Carbis Bay beach, you couldn’t be closer.  This property offers the perfect location for a seaside escape, sleeping four plus an infant, is dog friendly and boasts a wonderful log burner, perfect for those cooler evenings.

Food always seems to taste better when made on the grill and breakfast is no exception.  Start off your holiday mornings by the seaside with an alfresco breakfast made on the BBQ.

Here are some great ideas to get you started:

How about some BBQ fruit kebabs with yogurt and honey to get you energized for a morning walk, some BBQ grilled French toast or there is nothing like a traditional grilled bangers and bacon sandwich.

We have a number of alternative four and five star luxury holiday properties exclusively located within the St Ives area which also offer barbecue facilities.

Cosy Places for a Winter Hot Chocolate

      Blue Bar – Porthtowan – TR4 8AD
A fellow Green Tourism Business Scheme member, Blue Bar is located right next to Porthtowan beach, a great little place to storm watch.

Sunset Surf Café – Gwithian – TR27 5BT
Sunset Surf café offer really yummy hot chocolates, with lashings of cream on top.  The views from the café are spectacular, looking right across St Ives Bay to Godrevy Lighthouse.

      The Logan Rock Inn - Treen – TR19 6LG
A 400 year old, proper Cornish pub set a few minutes walk off the coastal path near to the Minack Theatre at Porthcurno. Low beams make for a cosy hot chocolate, next to the open fire.

Sand Bar – Praa Sands – TR20 9TQ
Another great beach side café, which is dog friendly! Watch the children playing on the beach whilst you sit back and relax. 

The Balcony – St Ives – TR26 1LF
The Balcony bar is located above the harbour, making this a great place to watch the comings and goings in this beautiful seaside town.

Alfresco – Cornish Style
Fill up a flask of your favourite hot chocolate and find your own special little place to watch the tide ebb and flow.

Autumn is upon us... latest news from Carbis Bay Holidays

St Ives September Festival draws to a close this weekend and the nights are drawing in…but there is still lots to do in West Cornwall to keep any visitor to the area happy!

Cornish Food and Drink Festival this weekend

Truro’s Lemon Quay hosts the 8th Cornwall Food & Drink Festival running from this Friday 23 to Sunday 25 September 2011.  Entry is free and there’s something for everyone with lots to see and do and the finest selection of food and drink to try and buy.  You can find the event programme here.

Dogs soon welcome on all beaches

After 30^th September, the restrictions on dogs being allowed on some of our beaches are lifted.  Porthkidney Sands and Lelant are always dog friendly, but this time of year, your four legged friend has a wider choice of beaches and can expend some energy on Carbis Bay and Porthmeor beach too (amongst others!).  We’ve a great selection of pet friendly properties available if you are considering a short break or week long stay in St Ives.

Fancy a Winter Break?  You could win an iPad too!

If you're considering a stay with us between November this year and February 2012, look out for future blog posts outlining what’s on during your stay.  We have a great promotion this year, as all customers taking a holidays in St Ives, Carbis Bay and Lelant with us during this period will be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad.  We have four to give away!  You can find out more information on our website.

We'd love to know what the best aspects of your holidays in St Ives are at this time of year.  Do add your comments below.

Must See Beaches for Visitors to St Ives by Carbis Bay Holidays

We’ve rounded up some of your favourite beaches, which we feel are a must-see for any visitor to St Ives.  Some are on the doorstep, and some are a little further afield but definitely worth the trip.

Have we missed any of your favourites?  Be sure to add them in the comments below!

Gwithian:  A great beach for family fun 

20 minutes drive from the Carbis Bay Holidays Office (Postcode:  TR27 5BX)

A breathtaking sandy beach with superb rock pooling to be had, Gwithian provides something for all the family.  Check out Sunset Surf School if you’re feeling active or just enjoy the scenery that this lovely sheltered beach provides.  Sunset Beach Café does some great sticky cakes and Sandsifter is great for a steaming cup of hot chocolate after an afternoon in the surf.

With thanks to Neil Eggleton via Facebook

Porthkidney Sands: A walker and photographers delight

30 mins walk from the Carbis Bay Holidays office (Postcode:  TR26 5BL)

A lesser known beach of St Ives, Porthkidney Sands is located within easy walking distance along the coastal path from all of our properties.  Although lacking in amenities, this beach is a super spot for walking and photography with sweeping views across to Godrevy Lighthouse, and some beautiful sand dunes and grasses.  Also great for surfing too!

With thanks to @helsbels1272 via twitter

Church Cove:  A church on the edge of a beach!

47 mins drive from the Carbis Bay Holidays office (Postcode:  TR12 7PQ)

Church Cove is a sheltered family beach particularly popular for water sports such as snorkeling, diving and surfing.  One of its special features is the church located right on the edge of the beach which is often left battered by sand and waves after high tides and storms.  Church Cove also boasts many interesting rock types and rare and unique plant species. Due to this it forms part of a Site of Special Interest as well of being located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

With thanks to Dorinda Boag via Facebook

Porthgwarra: A secret hideaway, with a unique cliff tunnel

44 mins drive from the Carbis Bay Holidays office (Postcode:  TR19 6JR) 

A relatively unknown Cornish Cove with a tunnel running through part of the cliff.  There is a rope to hold on to as it can be very slippery.  Amenities are limited but there is a little cafe selling homemade pasties and ice creams.

There’s a great walk along the Southwest Coast Path between Porthgwarra and our next must-see beach Porthcurno.

Porthcurno:  Paradise!

39 mins from the Carbis Bay Holidays office (Postcode:  TR19 6JX)

A glorious sandy beach with a stream at the top which provides great paddling for children.

Porthcurno is stunning, with the colours of the sand and sea often being likened to the Caribbean. A fabulous place to visit to really appreciate the wonders of the Cornish Coast.

With thanks to Andrea Thompson and Susan Holt via Facebook