We had a restful and enjoyable Easter break in Cornwall, SW England. We stayed at a lovely 4 star B&B called Thurlestone Guest House in Carbis Bay. Gary and Mandy have found the perfect balance of combining a quality-filled family life, with a thriving B&B business at home. Carbis Bay lies right next to St Ives... it is less known and thus far less busy and touristy, which suited us down to the ground, hence us opting to stay here, and travel into St Ives.
One of the things that drew me to this beach was the fact it wasn't full of people! They were all paddling at St Ives! Carbis beach is in a pretty cove, is sheltered and out of the way enoough to deter throngs of people visiting it. Which suited us just fine! The sand is white (which is a must-have in my opinion), seas were blue, weather was great.
We particularly loved Porthminster Beach (a cove btwn Carbis Bay and St Ives), Sennen Cove, and the quaint open air amphitheatre, Minnack Theatre (neighbouring Porthcurno Bay is stunning!!!)
St Michael's Mount with it's imposing castle... situated next to the coastal town of Marazion, an ancient village. You can walk across the causeway to the castle during low tide, but will have to take a boat across to the castle during high tide.
We had a nice cream tea in Marazion at The Chapel Rock Cafe... with superb views overlooking St Michael's Mount. Another place that looked nice to have them (more quaint but no space when we looked), was the Seagrove Gallery and Tea Garden. This is a shaded area, the Chapel Rock Cafe is far more sunny, plus has the view.
We had a really good pub lunch at The Kings Arms there too. We visited here twice we enjoyed it so much.
I bought this ceramic piece of jewellery from Seagrove Gallery and Tea Garden. It's simple in design and I love it.
St Ives is a must, full to the brim with cobbled alleyways (wear comfortable trainers!), galleries (from cheap and average, to expensive and high quality artwork), restaurants, architecture, beach, harbour... we loved it.
For a nice fishy lunch try Beaches Restaurant on St Ives Harbour. Very nice. For a lovely evening meal try Mermaids (St Ives).
Bailey's ice cream is available at the harbour too.. just be wary of the cheeky seagulls who literally take it out of your hand! This is my Bailey's-flavoured ice cream.
Yum.
At this precise moment there was a loud *whooooshhh!* and my poor sister's ice cream was nabbed by an over zealous seagull, then nonchalantly dropped on the beach, less than a foot away from a startled beach-sun-worshiper! Cheeky b*gger.
I never shared mine with her. Just call me 'meanie'.
Visitors (stupidly) feed the birds, so they are far too tame and not shy at all.. literally taking the food out of your hand.
DON'T FEED THE SEAGULLS!
We didn't think much of Land's End at all to be frank. My hubby was there last in the 90s and it was far less commercialised and enjoyable. We got the obligatory photo, but it is commercialised and overdone. I wish we'd had time to see Mousehole (drove past but no time!) and Tintagel. Another time!
Cornwall ~ land of the pasty and serpentine... a mini country of it's own in many respects.
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