Do as little or as much as you want
- Porthminster hotel
- Exploring St Ives
- Eating out
Whats on
Find out some of the many things happening in and around St Ives with our events page.
Your stay
Inspirational breaks
Exploring St Ives
The Porthminster hotel is the ideal base from which to explore St Ives and the surrounding area. After a few minutes’ walk down the road you’ll find yourself in the heart of the town. Spend an afternoon meandering around the maze of winding cobbled streets (affectionately known as the ‘downalong’) and you’ll see that there are delights to discover around almost every corner. A wealth of interesting independent shops, cafes and artists’ studios line the streets leading down to the town’s ancient harbour, where you can still watch the local fishing boats unloading their catch at high tide. Take a boat trip out to Seal Island to watch the Atlantic Grey seals lounging on the rocks and enjoy fantastic views of the coast and Godrevy Lighthouse, or try your hand at fishing on a traditional Cornish lugger.
And of course, there’s the art. The Tate St Ives - art gallery – the flagship of Cornish art – and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Gardens, together with a plethora of small independent galleries, are all within easy walking distance of The Porthminster. For more information about St Ives art.
A walk in the opposite direction along the scenic Cornish Coast Path to Lelant (and beyond) allows you to take in plenty of fresh sea air, as well as outstanding views of the rugged cliffs, glorious beaches and lush greenery that make up the unique coastline here. If your feet get tired, you can return on the branch line from Lelant. Hugging the cliff edge and offering unparalleled views of the bay and Godrevy Lighthouse, this is probably one of the most spectacular train journeys in Britain (and it stops at Porthminster beach).