St Ives: A Town On Canvas
Author: Steven Cronin

One of my favourite places in England sits in the far
south-westerly reaches of the country, amongst the myths and
legends of Cornish past. St Ives is a beautiful little harbour
town, largely unspoilt by commercialisation. Resting at the
northern tip of the A3074 (off the A30) in western Cornwall, St
Ives is not easily accessible for the majority of the country
but is well worth the effort.

A vast myriad of narrow paths and cobbled streets remind of
days gone by and offer great contrast to modern day town
planning. Most of St Ives is old-school, a throwback to bygone
days of uncomplicated living. Artists seem to be on every
corner, benefiting from the excellent natural light as the
fresh Atlantic winds blow pollution from the air.

Car parking is at a premium in St Ives during the holiday
seasons and therefore it's advisable to arrive as early as
possible in the day. A good alternative is to park in Lelant
and catch the train. It runs at half-hour regular intervals
during high season and is reasonably priced. The short
ten-minute journey takes the coastal route, part of which feels
like you are directly over the water. The journey is worth
taking for the view alone, a magnificent vista taking in the
whole of St Ives Bay, from the town itself, stretching all the
way to Godrevy Point. However, some of the younger travellers
can get somewhat restless.

"SIT DOWN!" orders an irate mother whose children scurry about
a crowded carriage. The smell of suncream exudes around a noisy
carriage as day-trippers gather their buckets and spades ready
for disembarking.

The station is at the top of the high street, approximately
five to ten minutes walk downhill to the harbour front. The
narrow streets can get extremely congested as pedestrians and
vehicles fight for the same space. Shoppers are frequently
forced to move aside for passing traffic.

The tight, cobbled streets are home to some enticing shops,
relatively free of the typical seaside souvenir rubbish. Art
galleries are everywhere, many displaying local work of St Ives
and the beautiful surrounding coastline. Tiny little shops
display local craftsmen's intricate work; sometimes you can see
them working on their next masterpiece.

As the road winds downhill to the shore, the harbour suddenly
opens up in front of you. The smell of the salty sea breeze
hits you in the face; cries of the seagulls echo about the
quay. The local ice-cream tastes delicious, though beware the
seagulls. My young son once had his rudely stolen from his
grasp and devoured by a hungry bird!


About The Author: Steven Cronin owns the Sargas Travel online
magazine featuring travel reviews, news, inspiration, advice
and special offers. For further reading please visit
http://www.sargas.co.uk