After the longest January ever, and virus after virus, we decided we needed a change of scene for the weekend and headed to St Ives. It is one of my absolute favourite places, and I love it in Winter. It is quiet, you can amble around, the beaches are empty and there is still so much to explore. It is perfect with kids; wide open beaches to run wild and lovely take away food and coffee everywhere. It is so easy, and you can walk for miles without it feeling like a chore.
To keep it really low cost, we stayed at a very reasonably priced Premier Inn for the night (my kids always love this!!) and avoided expensive meals out. We had some good old fashioned fish and chips beside the sea, and just had plenty of time on the beach. Despite it being February, wrapped up in coats and hats it was lovely on the beach (well my kids were still in shorts…but I was in a coat!). We all needed the fresh air and outdoor time, and it was so worth making the effort. We all came home feeling much better than we did before the trip.
Some top tips from this trip, and how to make the most of the St Ives area of Cornwall in Winter:
- Porthminster Beach
Porthminster is one of my favourite beaches; it is stunning. White sands and beautiful water, it stretches out before you just screaming out ‘adventure’. It is also amazing at this time of year. When we headed there on Saturday (1st weekend in February) it was practically empty, with just the odd dog walker. It meant the boys had unlimited space to explore and run wild (which they did, naturally). It is easy to get to, and we found parking by the train station really easy at this time of year (less so in Summer I would imagine). None of the cafes were open, but it is only a short walk in to St Ives itself.
- Porthmeor Beach
Another stunning St Ives beach, we love it here. It is huge so there are acres of space for the wild ones to run and explore, especially at this time of year. It is such a pretty bay, with amazing water and the iconic white sands. There is also a really lovely cafe, which is open in the winter. Definitely a bonus on a windy winter’s day – the coffee was very much needed! With so much space we spent ages on the beach, wandering, exploring and playing in highly competitive “beach rugby” matches!!! To check out Porthmeor Beach Cafe click here.
- St Ives
Who doesn’t love St Ives?! Visiting out of season, in Winter and early Spring is my favourite way to explore St Ives. The crowds are so much lower and you can really take your time exploring the small streets and lovely shops and cafes. Most are open at this time of year, so there was plenty on offer, and we managed all of our favourite classics of Cornish pasties, good coffee and even ice cream. We made the most of the quiet and the opportunity to enjoy wandering the area by parking by Porthminster Beach and walking from there through St Ives and then on to Porthmeor Beach. It meant we got to soak up the whole area without spending time faffing in the car and with parking. It was so quiet it was lovely to wander, and the route is easily manageable with little ones. We loved ‘The Slipway’ bakery for their coffee, sandwiches and pasties. It is right on the harbour-side.
- Gwithian Towans Beach
Gwithian Beach is a new find for me; and we absolutely loved it! A little further on from St Ives and Hayle, Gwithian Towans is a beautiful large rugged beach with lovely sand dunes in an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is popular with windsurfers and kite surfers, but is also great with families, with loads to explore including the lovely sandy beach, sand dunes and rock pools. There is plenty of parking at either end of the beach, and there was a super cute coffee van on the beach when we were there on the weekend. It made for a lovely area to walk and play. If a bit windy!!
So wrap up, take the flask, definitely some kind of beach ball, a bucket and spade, some cash for the fish and chips. and enjoy some winter adventure on the beach in Cornwall. It was definitely good for the soul.
Emma and the Wild Ones x
