St Ives, Cornwall UK. Beaches and Surfing

Click here to visit their web cams
The Sloop Inn has two live cams.
One of Porthmeor Beach and the other of the harbour in front of the inn.
The Sloop is one of Cornwall's oldest inns, dating back to about 1312 A.D

The beautiful Mediterranean blue sea against the golden granite is usually the first thing that visitors to St Ives notice as they arrive. In fact, because of its position on its own little peninsula, St Ives is almost surrounded by the sea and has three golden sandy beaches facing different directions within a few hundred yards of one other. Within a short car journey, the choice is even better - which means that, no matter what you want from a holiday by the sea, St Ives is sure to satisfy.
SURFING ST IVES BAY
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BEACH & SURF CAMS
St Ives Bay Holiday Park web cam This web cam gives a good view of at least 60% of the beach and Godrey lighthouse.
Sunset Surf Shop Sunset Surf shop surf cams at Gwithian Towans
Click here to visit their web cams The Sloop Inn has two live cams. One of Porthmeor Beach and the other of the harbour in front of the inn. The Sloop is one of Cornwall's oldest inns, dating back to about 1312 A.D
ST IVES BEACHES
Porthmeor Beach On the north coast of the town, Porthmeor Beach is widely regarded as offering the best surfing conditions in St Ives. It's great for family groups too; there's a full lifeguard service during summer and dogs are banned from Easter to October 1st. There is also an excellent beach cafe/restaurant at Porthmeor and its position in front of the Tate St Ives (the gallery even has a rack for your surfboard) is very handy if you're planning on surfing in the morning and viewing art during the afternoon. Porthmeor beach Porthmeor beach and the Island	photo - River Valley Country Park
Porthgwidden Beach To the east of Porthmeor - on the other side of the promontory known locally as The Island - is Porthgwidden Beach, a sandy and sheltered little cove with safe swimming and nearby parking. Dogs are banned from Easter Day to October 1st.
Porthminster To the southeast of St Ives is the town's longest beach, measuring about half a mile in length. Porthminster Beach is sandy, sheltered and safe, with lifeguards on duty during the summer and a generally calm sea. Like all of St Ives beaches, dogs are banned from Easter Day to October 1st. Parking is at the nearby railway station, or leave the car outside the town and take the scenic train along St Ives Bay from St Erth or Carbis Bay. There is an excellent cafe - The Porthminster Beach Cafe - which offers a relaxed atmosphere showing work by local artists and featuring a range of dishes using local ingredients.
St Ives Harbour It might not seem like a viable place to sunbathe, but the harbour's sheltered position makes an excellent sun trap and its town centre location means many take to its broad, sandy beach at low tide. Close to all the amenities, you'll have the added attraction of sharing the harbour with brightly painted and picturesque Cornish trawlers. Dogs banned Easter to October 1st.

ST IVES BAY AND BEYOND
photo - Little Trevarrack Tourist Park	Carbis Bay Carbis Bay is a mile or so to the east of St Ives and a resort in its own right. Lifeguards patrol this beach during the summer and, with usually calm sea conditions and a sheltered aspect, Carbis Bay beach offers very safe bathing indeed. Ideal for windsurfing and water-skiing.
	Porthkidney Sands Porthkidney Sands is a wide area of sand with dunes behind the beach to the west of the Hayle River Estuary, itself about two miles east of St Ives. Bathing anywhere near the river estuary is very dangerous as the currents can be extremely strong, but if you keep between the flags and swim in the sea it's very safe. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months. At low tide, it's a long way to the sea, but there's bags of room for sunbathing. Dogs are allowed all year. The western end of Porthkidney, around Hawk's Point can give excellent hollow surf off-season when everywhere else is too choppy or blown out. The swell has to be huge, so it's never any good during the summer.
	The Towans Hayle has four miles of wide sandy beach stretching eastwards from the estuary of the Hayle River to the lighthouse at Godrevy Point. Behind the beach are the Towans themselves - banks of large sand dunes with scattered chalets and camping parks along their length.
photo - Calloose Caravan and Camping Park	Hayle Towans Bathing anywhere near the estuary is dangerous as the currents can be very strong, but if you keep between the flags and swim in the sea it's safe. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months. Dogs banned in summer, plenty of parking nearby.
	Mexico Towans The next stretch east of Hayle Towans, Mexico offers occasionally good surf and fine swimming. Lifeguards in summer. Dogs allowed all year.
	Upton Towans A large and popular beach halfway along the Towans which can be used safely for swimming, surfing and windsurfing. Lifeguards are on duty in summer. Dogs allowed all year. Parking is a little way to the North at Gwithian. At its northern end is Peter's Point, which is less popular on account of its difficult access, but often gives more interesting surf than the longer beaches as it generally picks up more swell.
	Gwithian Towans You'll find more swell on this west facing beach than on the long stretches to the South and consequently you'll have more interesting surfing. Gwithian is a popular spot in the summer, with parking in the dunes, lifeguards on duty and a dog ban. A good all purpose beach with safe bathing and good surfing potential.
	Sunset Surf Shop Surfcam Sunset Surf Shop at Gwithian Towans, Gwithian
photo - Beachside Holiday Park	Godrevy More swell still on this rocky beach favoured by surfers for occasionally excellent boarding. On no account should you go in the channel between the offshore lighthouse and the beach as tidal currents there can be extremely dangerous. A popular beach with ample car parking close by, on duty lifeguards and dogs banned during the summer months. St Ives Bay Holiday Park web cam This web cam gives a good view of the beach and Godrey lighthouse.