Beaches in St Ives, Cornwall
The beach guide has 5 beaches listed in and around the town of St Ives. We have arranged these beaches in order of closest to the town first (distance in brackets).
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Porthmeor Beach (0.3 miles)
Porthmeor is the most exposed beach in St Ives, sandy and very popular with surfers due to rare protection from south-westerly gales. A stone's throw from the Tate Gallery, there is a small car park right above the beach and an excellent cafe.
Porthminster Beach (0.4 miles)
Porthminster is the easternmost and second-largest of St Ives' four beaches. Sheltered and sandy, with generally calm waters and excellent views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy lighthouse.
A short walk from the town centre, Porthminster sits just below the St Ives railway terminus.
There is an award-winning seafood restaurant overlooking the beach.
Porthgwidden Beach (0.5 miles)
Porthgwidden is perhaps less well known than St Ives' other sandy beaches. All of these have a different character and the same can be said of Porthgwidden. Located between the harbour and Porthmeor beach, Porthgwidden sits in the shelter of 'the Island'. This gives the little beach here a rather cosy feel and makes it…
Carbis Bay Beach (1.3 miles)
One mile east of St Ives, Carbis Bay is the most sheltered of a line of sandy beaches that hug the coast all the way from St Ives to Godrevy. Carbis Bay offers safe swimming and is served by the picturesque St Ives branch line.
Porth Kidney (Lelant) Beach (2 miles)
Porth Kidney is a large, sandy beach at the mouth of the Hayle estuary. North-facing, with a river that makes for dangerous currents, the beach offers occasional good surfing. Two miles from St Ives, it is possible to walk around the headland to Carbis Bay at low tide. Accessed via the village of Lelant.
St Ives beaches map
Map featuring St Ives beaches. Click on pins to view beach details
