Thursday 29 January 2009

New cottage near St Ives

Right down at the far end of Cornwall is St Ives. It’s a very popular and very attractive old small fishing town that’s become popular with artists. The town is nearly surrounded (it’s almost an island) by superb beaches - some great for surfing, some sheltered. It has narrow, cobbled streets, alleyways, slate-hung cottages, lots of hanging flower baskets and the splendid Tate Gallery and Barbara Hepworth’s studio (lovely garden with her sculpture). There’s a beautiful harbour and a leisure centre with an indoor pool. It’s easy to get to because it’s on the railway and there’s a stop right behind Station Beach at Carbis Bay – quite something to take the train to the beach! Further out of town there are superb cliff/headland walks west to Zennor, and far beyond. 2 miles away is an excellent golf course and Penzance from where you can get the helicopter to the Isles of Scilly is 9 miles away. Land’s End (beautiful drive, beautiful view, shame about the ‘attraction’) is about 16.
This cute little bolthole is about 2 miles out of Carbis Bay. It’s ‘deep in spring flower-filled Cornish hedgerow lanes’ – sounds lovely. Prices start at £243 for a party of 4 for a week.