On Saturday I spent the day in St Ives, west Cornwall. It’s a tiny seaside town, just over a hundred miles from home and has limited parking, so when I learnt that there is a park and ride, it seemed like a good plan to leave the car there. Parking at Lelant Saltings was just a few pounds, and for £4 you can buy a return train ticket that allows you to travel between St Erth and St Ives, getting on and off as much as you want. This branch line is rated as one of the most scenic in the country.
Try to sit on the right of the compartment if you ever take this journey. As the train approaches St Ives, Carbis Bay is one of the first beaches you see, but you can see clear across the Hayle estuary to St Ives bay.
When you get off of the train there is a footpath with pretty hedges, leading to Porthminster beach (above) to the right and the town to the left.
And the pretty path . 
Now there’s a clear view of the harbour, especially if you zoom in .
But there’s no rush, lets have a look at Porthminster’s sand.
We’re going to skip on past the town now and have a peep at this little bathing beach.
and its resident poser! 
On around yet another bend in the coastline, 
is Porthmeor.
Lastly, looking back from – I think – Porthgwidden.
St Ives is lucky to have so many beautiful beaches. Of course it helped that it was still early in the season, give it a month and these sands will be teeming with people.
The town isn’t just about beaches though, there are galleries galore, cutesy cobble streets and lots of foodie opportunities. I’ll be back with more sometime soon.
Lucid Gypsy 
Great post Gilly! St Ives is a wonderful place and your photos bought back lots of happy memories.
That makes me happy Toni 🙂 Your post about pigments from rock and plants is fascinating, do you hammer and grind the rock?
Your post brings beautiful thoughts alive and the image so serene! thanks for sharing!
Thanks Wendell, if you ever want to use a photo you’re welcome!
Very NICE! I didn’t think you had sandy beaches! lol
Hahaha we do, I just tend to go to more rugged ones!
What gorgeous pictures and the beaches and water are just beautiful. Thank you for sharing them Gilly, at least I got to visit through your photos even if I may never get the opportunity to do it in person. 🙂
You never know Dom 🙂
I don’t need to tell you how much I love this post, especially that foreshortened photo of the beach and harbour (#6) that would make a brilliant poster! And just look at all those orange roofs. Obviously no pollution here 😀
Of course you would Jude but I’ll look forward to seeing your future posts. I confess I’m rather pleased with that harbour and beach shot, it would look good framed. I’ve got some quite good shots of the roofs to post sometime too 🙂
The roofs are so lovely, covered in the orange lichens. I got a decent shot from the Tate restaurant.
I’ve got some from that roof too, shall we post them? 🙂
I’m game if you are! Be interesting to see how similar / different we compose our images 😀
This is such a clean, restful, inviting place. The water is unbelievable. I’m not into beaches but the views here are stunning.Thank you for sharing, Gilly, Sunshine is so nice to see. We’ve had nothing but rain, rain, rain.
Hope you’ve had sunshine since then Tess 🙂
I love the photos in this post. They almost look like paintings. Have you been post-processing? or is it the result of zooming in? or is it just Cornwall? Your commentary made me smile too – especially the poser. I love the third photo especially: so much detail AND nice diagonals.
Thanks Meg, yes I did edit them gently in photoshop, and some, the one with the angles and the ones of the harbour beach were zoomed from a distance!
Now that is a real beach, soft sand, blue seas and sky and a delightful scenic walk and you’ve tempted us with the thought of the walk around the village to find nice craft shops and a cup of coffee or maybe a Devonshire tea!!!
The galleries there are superb, I could have spent a fortune if I had one!
I always find it hard to resist local talent.
St Ives is one of my favourite places. You’ve done it justice with your photos. 🙂
Thank you, it is such a lovely little town 🙂
Beautiful, Gilly. I love the sea as well, although I don’t get to visit it often.
I can’t imagine not being able to see the sea when I want, no when I NEED!
We had a lovely holiday there last autumn; this brings it all back.
Oh I’m so pleased, hope you go again one day! Or better still stay in Devon 🙂
Maybe!
Your photography is getting so amazing Gilly! Such wonderful scenes that remind me of a brilliant place!
Thank you, I’m just a dabbler but a little touch of photoshop helps
Lovely post thanks! My father lives at Lelant so it’s an area I know well…thanks for capturing its essence in your photos!
Really beautiful beaches, Gilly. Your photos have made me wish that my stay here in England could have included some beach time. Great shot of Nelson the seagull. 🙂
You packed a lot in though while you were here!
Happy memories, lovely photos, thanks
I am glad Tony 🙂
I haven’t been to St Ives (or Cornwall), for years Gilly ~ so it was lovely visiting it again, through your brilliant photos. I agree that they do look like paintings. 🙂
Thanks Jacqueline, on a sunny day its hard not to get a nice photo or two!
Especially gorgeous ones like this one. 🙂
Thanks Eliz, it was a perfect day 🙂