Having drunk our fair share of cider and apple juice at the wonderful Cornish Orchards, we got back in the car. We drove further down the coast to where we were staying for the weekend in Carbis Bay, Cornwall. It’s just up the road from St. Ives, but a little less popular and busy. I’d never visited before, and it really is beautiful. You can see the glorious turquoise ocean from most of the roads. I actually couldn’t quite get over the colour of the water.
Arriving in Carbis Bay
Carbis Bay is a seaside resort just a mile southeast of St Ives on the Atlantic coast. The South West Coast Path trails above the beach, which also happens to be one of Cornwall’s eight award-winning Blue Flag beaches.
The beach is overlooked by the beautiful Carbis Bay Hotel, and the palm trees are a reminder of the subtropical area. Unsurprising, I suppose, when it’s one of the warmest regions of the UK.
As the beach rarely has surf given its position, it’s a safe haven for families and children as you can swim safely in calm waters. Carbis Bay Beach is around a mile long, and at low tide you can also reach Porth Kidney Sands. Here, there are a few beaches that make up St Ives Bay, one of the UK’s prettiest spots.
From Carbis Bay to St. Ives
There’s a lovely walk you can take between Carbis Bay and St. Ives. It runs along the Cornish railway, and you get some incredible views across Carbis Bay. It’s the perfect trail for reaching St. Ives for lunch or dinner, and ideal for walking it all off on the way back.
As you can see, the beach is pretty much deserted. This is usually the case at Carbis Bay. I really hope this never changes too much as it’s definitely part of its appeal. The golden sands and turquoise waters also make you feel as though you’re no longer in the UK.
As it was autumn when we visited Carbis Bay, there were plenty of blackberry bushes en route.
We completed the thirty minute walk to St Ives and took a wander around the idyllic seaside town. Before long, it was time to check into our lovely apartment for the weekend.
Hawke’s Point, Cornwall
Having had a little explore of the area, we collected the keys to our apartment for the long weekend. We’d picked Hawke’s Point, and had one of their luxury penthouses.
It’s a really beautiful apartment, and the pictures don’t quite do it justice. It’s all luxuriously furnished and comfortable, with lovely decoration and also little touches including fresh flowers on arrival. I’d highly recommend staying here.
Take a look at that view over Carbis Bay from the balcony. There’s also a telescope for you to look over to St. Ives and see what you can see.
One important thing for me is these added touches of a hotel, which Hawkes Point truly mastered.
Hawkes Point treated us to some lovely toiletries, local Cornish produce, and also miniature tubs of ice cream in the freezer. I was well and truly won over! The lemon curd Moomaid of Zennor ice cream is probably the best I’ve ever tasted.
They even left us some books and board games in case of rain. Thankfully, we were pretty lucky and got to enjoy the glorious views out across Carbis Bay instead.
A lovely start to our stay in gorgeous Cornwall. Watch out for my next few blog posts on our visit to St. Ives, Sennen Cove, and beyond.
Have you visited Carbis Bay before? If not, which are your favourite parts of Cornwall to enjoy on a weekend away?
