Our Carbis Bay Holiday Cottages by the Sea
Carbis Bay is particularly well placed if you want easy access to St Ives without staying in the centre of the town. The two are connected by road, railway and the South West Coast Path, so trips to the harbour, Tate St Ives, shops and restaurants do not necessarily require the car.
The railway is especially convenient. Carbis Bay station is just behind the eastern end of the beach and sits on the branch line between St Erth and St Ives. At St Erth, passengers can connect with the Cornish main line. The same railway also provides an easy way to visit St Ives and walk back along the coast.
The beach is the other major reason to stay here. Carbis Bay is more sheltered from Atlantic swell than many beaches around West Cornwall, resulting in generally calmer water. Swimming and paddleboarding are popular, and watersports equipment and activities are available locally during the main season.
Carbis Bay Sea View Cottages and Coastal Holiday Homes
Carbis Bay rises away from the shoreline, and this affects both the accommodation and the views. Houses and apartments on higher ground can look across St Ives Bay, while properties farther down the hill reduce the distance to the beach.
That makes location within Carbis Bay worth checking carefully. A property described as being close to the coast may still involve a steep walk back from the beach. Families with young children, anyone with limited mobility and visitors carrying paddleboards or beach equipment may prefer accommodation lower down the hill.
The choice includes apartments for two, family houses and larger properties with enough bedrooms and shared space for groups. Some have balconies or terraces positioned to make the most of the sea views, while gardens, private parking and hot tubs are available at selected holiday homes.
Parking can be particularly valuable if you plan to explore West Cornwall by car. On days when you are staying locally, however, the railway and coast path mean it is quite possible to leave the car at your cottage.
Dog-friendly cottages are available in Carbis Bay, but the beach has a seasonal restriction. From 15 May until 30 September, dogs are not permitted on Carbis Bay Beach between 10am and 6pm.
Coastal Walks from Carbis Bay to St Ives and Lelant
The South West Coast Path passes through Carbis Bay and provides two very different directions for a walk. Head west and the route follows the coast towards St Ives. The walk between St Ives and Carbis Bay is just over a mile, so you can walk one way and use the train for the return journey.
Continue into St Ives and there is plenty to fill the rest of the day. Tate St Ives overlooks Porthmeor Beach, while the harbour, Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden and the town’s independent shops are all within the centre.
Walking east from Carbis Bay takes you around Hawkes Point towards Porthkidney Sands. At low tide, Porthkidney becomes an extensive sandy beach at the mouth of the Hayle Estuary. It has no beachside facilities or nearby car park, which makes it considerably less developed than Carbis Bay.
Lelant lies beyond Porthkidney and also has a station on the St Ives Bay Line. This creates another useful walk-and-train combination, with the coastal walk between St Ives and Lelant passing directly through Carbis Bay.
Beach Cottages Near Carbis Bay and St Ives Bay
Carbis Bay Beach is a sandy beach backed by wooded slopes. Its sheltered position makes it particularly popular for swimming, while lifeguards patrol during the main summer period. There are toilets, places to eat and limited parking close to the beach, with additional parking available farther up the hill.
Porthkidney Sands provides the closest alternative if you want considerably more space and fewer facilities. It stretches for around a mile beside the Hayle Estuary and is reached on foot from Lelant or along the coast path from Carbis Bay. Dogs are allowed throughout the year, although swimming close to the estuary mouth should be avoided because of the currents.
In the other direction, St Ives gives you several more beaches within a relatively small area. Porthminster is the first major beach reached when approaching the town from Carbis Bay. Beyond the harbour are Porthgwidden and Porthmeor, with Porthmeor particularly well known for surfing.
The different beaches also have different dog rules. Carbis Bay and Porthminster prohibit dogs between 10am and 6pm from 15 May to 30 September, while restrictions at some other St Ives beaches cover shorter periods. Porthkidney Sands welcomes dogs throughout the year, making it particularly useful for visitors staying in a dog-friendly Carbis Bay cottage during the summer.
