Carbis Bay to St Ives Walk
This is an easy coastal walk from Carbis Bay to St Ives, with wonderful views over St Ives Bay. It's a good surfaced path, running along a section of the long distance South West Coast Path. You'll pass the golden sands of Carbis Bay beach, Porthminster beach and Porthmeor beach. The popular walk also visits St Ives Head before finishing on Porthminster beach, next to the Tate Gallery St Ives.
The walk starts from Carbis Bay train station so you can get the train back from St Ives. You follow a path above the train line towards Porthminster Point and beach. The walk then descends to the town, heading along the beach to the pier and harbour. You then round St Ives Head before finishing at the Tate. The gallery has rotating modern art exhibitions, focusing on British artists. Nearby, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, in the modernist artist's former studio, displays her bronzes and other works. Boat trips go to the nearby seal colonies on the Carrack Rocks and other locations along the coast.
The beaches are beautiful and there's numerous places to buy refreshments before the return leg of the walk.
To extend the walk you can continue along the coast path on the St Ives to Zennor Walk. Heading east will take you to the lovely Hayle Estuary where there is a RSPB reserve and tremendous views of Porth Kidney Sands.
The long distance St Michaels Way also passes through the area. Pick this up to visit the famous St Michael's Mount.
Carbis Bay to St Ives Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Carbis Bay to St Ives Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Carbis Bay to St Ives OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Carbis Bay to St Ives Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
For a longer route see the St Ives Circular Walk which returns inland via the Treganna Castle resort.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cornwall Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Carbis Bay Beach
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St. Ives
Porthminster Point
St. Ives, Cornwall.
Railway near Porthminster Point. Seen from a distance, the St Ives branch train heads back towards St Erth, climbing out of St Ives, around Porthminster Point and then to Carbis Bay. Views from the train at Carbis Bay and across Porth Kidney Sands are spectacular and some consider this short branch line to be the most scenic railway in Britain.
St Ives town centre from Pedn Olva
South West Coast Path on the west of Carbis Bay
View over St Ives. The tide is out and the harbour is a swathe of damp sand and mud but this is still one of the most attractive views anywhere in the British Isles.