St Ives Holiday-Makers Get Set for Indian Summer Festivities

Those looking for a late season holiday in St Ives will not be disappointed. After the mad rush of the school summer holidays, St Ives returns to a more leisurely pace of life in September. But the calm weather and long sunny days can sometimes last long into October when the Cornwall resort  basks in the warmth of an ‘Indian Summer’. As well as the promise of pre-autumn serenity, there’s still plenty going on to keep visitors occupied and entertained.

St Ives September Festival

One of the highlights of the St Ives social calendar is the September Festival of art, music and culture. Each year hundreds of artists and performers from all over the UK descend on the town for a series of concerts, comedy gigs, art workshops and street performances at a mix of different venues.

If the Indian Summer delivers fine weather to St Ives, the streets come alive with locals and tourists mingling as they wander from one event to another enjoying impromptu open-air acts from street theatre groups, jugglers, comedians and musicians.

One of the key event venues for the September Festival is the Guildhall, which this year will welcome renowned musical acts such as Seth Lakeman, Fisherman’s Friends, The South (featuring members of the Beautiful South) and Hawkwind.

The September Festival is all about diversity. And alongside the musical highlights at this St Ives venue will be the Miracle Theatre’s magical reworking of Shakespeare play The Tempest. Plus there will be a chance to catch the rising comedic talent of Kernow King - who will be delivering his Cornish brand of humour to the Guildhall stage during the festival.

If there’s one thing that St Ives is famous for it is art and there are plenty of workshops, courses and lectures to enjoy during the festival. Most of the town’s galleries and art schools will be putting on events, which will range from life drawing classes to printmaking, and landscape art to drawing with an iPad.

Out and about in St Ives, visitors can drop in on pop-up performances such as Music & Poetry in Norway Square. Other can join guided walks of exploring the unique features of St Ives and the town’s heritage. Or they could test their sand-sculpting skills in the architectural sandcastle competition on Porthmeor Beach.

There is truly for something for everyone during the St Ives September Festival. For a full programme of events visit the festival website at stivesseptemberfestival.co.uk

Surf’s Up in St Ives in September

While many people will be entranced by the plethora of art, music and culture filling the town in September, holidaymakers should also find time to explore the beaches and the phenomenal activities and watersports available in and around St Ives. Chief among these is surfing which can be enjoyed in the heart of St Ives at Porthmeor Beach.

September is the perfect time to experience surfing or learn to surf for the first time. The water temperature is usually at it’s warmest at this time of year, as the sea has been warmed by the sun all summer long, plus the first of the autumn swells start rolling into shore producing optimum wave riding conditions. And if the Indian Summer takes hold the surf scene in St Ives in September can feel more Californian than British.

Surf lessons for all abilities are available from St Ives Surf School. Other ways to explore and enjoy the pristine waters of St Ives Bay are on a kayak or stand up paddle board tour, also offered by St Ives Surf School. Meanwhile, holidaymakers with sea legs can take a tour along the coast or a fishing trip from St Ives harbour with one of the boat trip operators such as St Ives Boats.

Early Autumn is Prime Time to Explore the Coast

Holidaymakers wishing to go at their own pace should take a stroll out of town to explore one of Cornwall’s most beautiful stretches of coast. The South West Coast Path runs straight through St Ives, and it’s only a ten minute walk in either direction to reach some secluded beaches, quiet coves and high cliffs with far reaching sea views.

The walk east leads to the golden sands of Porthminster Beach and Carbis Bay which offer laid-back alternatives to the popular beaches in the town. The walk south along the coast from St Ives leads to even quieter shores where the rugged scenery is breathtaking. Local walking suggestions can be found on the South West Coast Path website.

Sample the St Ives Indian Summer

September is a beautiful time to visit St Ives. With the September Festival, loads to see and do in the town or on the water and the prospect of an Indian Summer, St Ives promises a magical setting for late season getaway. For holidays in St Ives see the stunning range of luxury self-catering accommodation available at www.carbisbayholidays.co.uk

Where to Find the Best Sea Views in St Ives

People visit St Ives in Cornwall for many reasons. Some visit the holiday town for art and culture, others visit for surfing and activities, while others come for shops and great places to eat. But many people simply want to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery. But where can you get the best sea views in St Ives? Here we share some of our favourite vistas in and around St Ives.

Station Approach
Many people’s first sight of St Ives is from the train as it travels along the cliff top from Carbis Bay and into the station. It’s important to make a first impression and St Ives does not disappoint. As the train chugs slowly along the track, passengers are afforded a beautiful view across Porthminster Beach. The view reveals a shimmering turquoise sea, lapping onto a white sand beach complete with palm trees, with St Ives Harbour in the background.

We think this must be one of the best rail journey terminations in the world, and well worth the journey alone. Those who want to linger longer in this spot can return on foot along the coast path to Porthminster Point to soak in this spectacular sea view.

We offer many holiday homes in this location, including the superb Primrose Court overlooking Porthminster Beach with far reaching views across St Ives Bay.

Harbour View
Once visitors have had time to settle into their holiday accommodation, it’s not long before they are drawn to the harbourside. This is St Ives’ perfectly picturesque, horseshoe shaped harbour full of colourful fishing boats bobbing on clear blue water (when the tide is in). There are fine vistas all the way along the Wharf promenade which is lined with vibrant shops, pubs and restaurants.

But for one of the best harbour views, holidaymakers should make their way along the breakwater known as Smeaton’s Pier. From here visitors get the dual vistas of the harbour backed by the town and out to sea across St Ives Bay to Godrevy Lighthouse.

For a holiday property with a fantastic view of St Ives harbour, there is the wonderful Harbour Lights. This apartment has big windows looking out over the harbour, town and sea, and is only a short stroll from Porthminster Beach.

Out on ‘The Island’
Just a short walk around the coast is St Ives Head with juts out into the sea besides Porthmeor Beach. Known locally as ‘The Island’, this rugged promontory rises up to a high point topped by St Nicolas’s Chapel. This St Ives landmark makes a great lookout point for sea views in all directions.

This is where visitors come to get a sense of direction, as the high ground provides a handy view over the rooftops of the town as well as awesome sea views along the north and east coasts.

The Whistler holiday home, part of Tate Reach, enjoys an elevated position superb panoramic views of ‘The Island’, as well as the town, harbour and beaches.

On Rocky Shores
Keen walkers are spoilt for choice in and around St Ives. But it’s not long before walkers make their way out of town along the South West Coast path towards Zennor. This rugged coastline is characterised by high cliffs, secluded coves, tidal pools and rocky outcrops.

Visitors who don’t want to go so far can get a taste of this scenery by taking the short walk out of town up to Clodgy Point. This headland is punctuated with boulders and rock ‘statues’ carved by wind and rain over many millennia. As well as possessing these unique features, Clodgy Point offers great views back along Porthmeor Beach to to Ives head and across the rooftops of the town.

Holiday accommodation close to this location include Porth Glas, in the One Eighty complex above Porthmeor Beach.

High and Mighty
More rugged scenery can be discovered inland at Rosewall Hill. This ancient moorland rises 200 metres above the sea to give impressive 360 degree views across the whole area. It’s here that visitors can discover wind sculpted carns and standing stones, as well as the chimney stacks of old tin mine engine houses.

On a fine day visitors will get a superb birds-eye view over the town, out to sea, across the bay and all the way up the coast towards North Cornwall.

This out-of-town location is wild and remote but can be accessed easily from any number of our properties in St Ives and Carbis Bay. One of our favourite centrally located properties is 4Shore, which is perched above Porthminster Beach with panoramic views of the sea and coast.

Bay Watch
Those visitors who venture from the hubbub of St Ives and stretch their legs along the coast path past Carbis Bay towards Hayle will discover more genteel scenery, hidden coves and far-reaching views across St Ives Bay.

At Hawkes Point, there is a beautiful view along the golden beach of Porthkidney Sands towards the turquoise mouth of Hayle Estuary and beyond to Hayle Towans in the distance. This is a laid-back vista, where sightseers can soak in the scenery of this postcard perfect stretch of Cornish coast in all its technicolor glory.

Holiday accommodation at Hawkes Point includes the Huers Hide apartment, part of the Sea Urchin complex, with panoramic windows overlooking the fantastic sea, beach and coast.

Share Your Best Views

These are some of our favourite sea views in and around St Ives. Please connect with us on Facebook to share yours.