St Ives Beaches and Their Facilities

It’s a fact, because of its position on its own little peninsula; St Ives has 4 golden sandy beaches all facing different directions with their own individual character and charm. The beaches of St Ives regularly win the Coveted Blue Flag Award for cleanliness, with the flags flying proudly over Porthmeor beach and Porthminster beach in 2011.

st ives cornwall Porthmeor:

Porthmeor Beach is St Ives largest beach, its vast golden sands and reliable surf makes it equally popular with Holiday Makers and "Surf Dudes" alike. During the summer months lifeguards are in full attendance. A surf school on the beach offers tuition and equipment hire. There is a brilliant café/restaurant serving beverages and food throughout the day and evening, it has a large terrace with attentive and efficient service, the Tapas is to die for! It also has a takeaway on the beach serving a large variety of snacks, ice-creams and drinks. There are also toilet facilities on the beach.

st ives cornwall Porthminster:

Porthminster Beach - Just below the railway station is St Ives second largest beach, about ½ a mile in length with beautiful golden sand. This beach is sheltered with generally calm waters. Lifeguards are in full attendance throughout the summer months. There is an excellent beach restaurant with a great takeaway facility and small beach shop. There are also toilet facilities on the beach.

st ives cornwall Porthgwidden

Porthgwidden Beach is a smaller beach with lovely golden sand, located in a small cove just down from The Island car park. Generally a little quieter than the larger beaches. You will also find a really good beach café and takeaway shop. Nearest toilet facilities just by the car park.

st ives cornwall St. Ives Harbour Beach:

Very picturesque, a sandy beach with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday makers walking by on the harbour front. Close to all the amenities this is still very much a working harbour with local fisherman landing their catches daily. Sit back and relax whilst watching the brightly coloured boats about their work. Or take a ride around the bay in a self drive motor boat. Nearest toilets are in the Sloop car park.

Dogs on beaches:

Dogs are banned from the main beaches from Easter Day to the 1st of October; however this is currently under review with a decision pending. There are two dog beaches in St Ives; Bamaluz Beach which is just below the museum and Lambeth Walk is just to the rear of the life boat station and public toilets.

Contact us

At Sailing By we are here to help you with all your requirements and look forward to hearing from you.

For an informal chat regarding our cottage and it's facilities please feel free to contact Mike or Dyane on...

Our Charity Donations

Sailing By is proud to support Cancer Research & St Ives Lifeboat.

A donation from each booking is made to each of these important charities.


Donations to the Lifeboat to date £160.00 and rising
See Acknowledgement Letter >>


Donations to Cancer Research to date £160.00 and rising