Towns and Villages near St Ives

Carbis Bay

22 August 2026

The quiet, unassuming sister of St Ives, Carbis Bay is only one mile west from its famous neighbour and overlooks the bay to the iconic lighthouse just off-shore at Godrevy Point, four miles further west across the golden sands of the Towans. Carbis Bay is a lot quieter all year round and boasts three of the finest sandy beaches in the area, Carbis Bay beach, Porthkidney Sands and Hawkes Point, perfect for families and couples. Or if you want to sample the delights of St Ives it delivers the best route in. Leave your car behind and catch the train or stroll along the coast path, you will not be disappointed as you round the final corner.

St Ives

11 October 2022

One of the jewels in the UK's crown. St Ives is a maze of cobbled streets, fishermen's cottages, shops, galleries and restaurants waiting to be explored. St Ives bay has beaches catering for everyone's holiday needs, from sheltered bays for the family to surfing at Porthmeor beach. Home to the Tate St Ives, the town has long had a reputation as a Mecca for artists due to the weather and the unique quality of natural light.

Zennor

6 April 2022

'At Zennor one sees infinite Atlantic, all peacock-mingled colours, and the gorse itself is sunshine...' wrote D.H Lawrence.This little village earnt its place in local folklore with tales of mermaids seducing local lads to the watery depths. Today a carving of the Mermaid of Zennor can be seen in the church and a bronze dial bearing the figure of a mermaid sits on the south side of the church tower.

Gwithian

Full of ancient history, this little coastal village near Hayle on the north coast of west Cornwall, has one of the best beaches in the county. Wide, flat, vast expanses of sand line the bay between the Hayle and Red Rivers and wildlife walks abound.

Hayle

Found where the Hayle River meets the wide sweep of St Ives Bay, Hayle is so steeped in the unique mining history of Cornwall that it has been designated part of the Cornish World Heritage Site. Hayle is perhaps more famous these days for its incredibly long beach, an enormous stretch of sand that runs three miles northwards from the mouth of the river. The estuary is a paradise for ‘twitchers' with sightings of rare birds such as avocets and ospreys recorded.