Parking in St Ives, Cornwall
Discussion
I'm looking into booking some self catered accommodation in St Ives (or anywhere in Cornwall close to the beach)
I've found a place near Porthmeor Rd, but it doesn't have any parking.
We will be driving down, so I wanted to know if any PH members would be able to advise if it's easy to find parking for 2-3 days nearby? Or is it going to be a lot of hassle?
I've found a place near Porthmeor Rd, but it doesn't have any parking.
We will be driving down, so I wanted to know if any PH members would be able to advise if it's easy to find parking for 2-3 days nearby? Or is it going to be a lot of hassle?
You can buy a rover ticket that will allow you to park in council car parks in Cornwall. It can be a bit of a pain to get a space but if you wait then there tends to be spaces appearing regularly.
In the map below I’ve circled the car parks we use when in St Ives. The leisure centre is the biggest but it depends on where your rental is located and how much you need the car. We tend to drop the stuff off at the house and then I’ll just go and park the car and walk back as we usually stay in the town and do bodyboarding and beach stuff for most of the week.
The island car park is at the tip of the peninsular and is usually the busiest.
The top circle is the Island car park, the middle one is Park Avenue which we try and get in and the bottom one is the leisure centre.
In the map below I’ve circled the car parks we use when in St Ives. The leisure centre is the biggest but it depends on where your rental is located and how much you need the car. We tend to drop the stuff off at the house and then I’ll just go and park the car and walk back as we usually stay in the town and do bodyboarding and beach stuff for most of the week.
The island car park is at the tip of the peninsular and is usually the busiest.
The top circle is the Island car park, the middle one is Park Avenue which we try and get in and the bottom one is the leisure centre.
I think the Lelant Saltings park and ride is closed now, replaced by the new park and ride at St. Erth station.
It's a fair old walk from St. Ives station to Porthmeor road though.
The Leisure Centre (Trenwith) car park is the one most likely to have spaces, and the last time I parked there in season, there was a shuttle bus running into town.
Having lived and worked in Cornwall for 25 years, I don't really "get" St. Ives. Too busy in the summer, and not really that much to do. Not quite as bad as Newquay though.
If you want a holiday cottage near to the beach, I'd be looking for somewhere a bit quieter. Praa Sands is a lovely beach, and most of the holiday lets seem to have off-road parking.
If you want to be within walking distance of some decent eateries, what about Padstow, or Porthleven?
It's a fair old walk from St. Ives station to Porthmeor road though.
The Leisure Centre (Trenwith) car park is the one most likely to have spaces, and the last time I parked there in season, there was a shuttle bus running into town.
Having lived and worked in Cornwall for 25 years, I don't really "get" St. Ives. Too busy in the summer, and not really that much to do. Not quite as bad as Newquay though.
If you want a holiday cottage near to the beach, I'd be looking for somewhere a bit quieter. Praa Sands is a lovely beach, and most of the holiday lets seem to have off-road parking.
If you want to be within walking distance of some decent eateries, what about Padstow, or Porthleven?
egor110 said:
Or crantock / perranporth , massive beaches so there's always space just more laid back and less showy than st.ives.
Are you looking at self catering houses or caravans ?
Watergate bay is pretty good too.Are you looking at self catering houses or caravans ?
The stretch of coast from Hayle to Gwithian (The Towans) has plenty of space, not sure how much accommodation there is though.
When are you travelling as it's a very different place between peak and off peak (though never a ghost town unlike most seaside towns).
The Island car park is probably most suitable. It's a 5 min walk to porthmeor. You will have to queue if peak (or great weather), so try to get there early. I've only experienced queues in these scenarios.
If you have lots of luggage, there's a short stay opposite the tate gallery, though only 20 or so spaces. This should give you time to 'drop off'.
If you're travelling light, the Carbis Bay train station will be around £20 for three days. 5 min train journey and a 15 min scenic walk from the other side. Carbis Bay beach is also lovely.
Add the Porthmeor Cafe to your itinerary. Book a pod online for breakfast/lunch.
Enjoy, it's a lovely place to visit for the first time, and there's an atmosphere all year round.
The Island car park is probably most suitable. It's a 5 min walk to porthmeor. You will have to queue if peak (or great weather), so try to get there early. I've only experienced queues in these scenarios.
If you have lots of luggage, there's a short stay opposite the tate gallery, though only 20 or so spaces. This should give you time to 'drop off'.
If you're travelling light, the Carbis Bay train station will be around £20 for three days. 5 min train journey and a 15 min scenic walk from the other side. Carbis Bay beach is also lovely.
Add the Porthmeor Cafe to your itinerary. Book a pod online for breakfast/lunch.
Enjoy, it's a lovely place to visit for the first time, and there's an atmosphere all year round.
I love visiting St Ives but it is a really bad place for parking, there are a few car parks around the harbour and beach areas but they are not overnight parking to my knowledge, there is a large carpark and coach park at the sports centre whcih is at the top of St Ives whcih is council owned, i'd be looking at that as the best option I think.
One other thing - whatever you do, don't go to St. Ives in the first half of June - G7 summit at Carbis Bay. This means that the branch line will be shut, and there will be plenty of road closures in the area.
As well as the Carbis Bay hotel, they are taking over the Tregenna Castle hotel complex in St. Ives, the St. Erth station car park for "welfare", and the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth. Newquay airport will probably be locked down quite tightly too.
As well as all the delegates and their personal security, apparently there will be 5,500 UK police and other security personnel in the area.
The local Extinction Rebellion and Kill The Bill crusties are already demonstrating in Carbis Bay and Falmouth, and it'll get a lot worse over the next 6 weeks, especially if the weather is nice.
Fortunately I live on the southwest coast of Cornwall, and I won't be going any further than Helston or Penzance for the duration.
As well as the Carbis Bay hotel, they are taking over the Tregenna Castle hotel complex in St. Ives, the St. Erth station car park for "welfare", and the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth. Newquay airport will probably be locked down quite tightly too.
As well as all the delegates and their personal security, apparently there will be 5,500 UK police and other security personnel in the area.
The local Extinction Rebellion and Kill The Bill crusties are already demonstrating in Carbis Bay and Falmouth, and it'll get a lot worse over the next 6 weeks, especially if the weather is nice.
Fortunately I live on the southwest coast of Cornwall, and I won't be going any further than Helston or Penzance for the duration.
Thanks for all replies.
I was thinking about going this weekend for 3-4 days
I'm looking for a self catering apartment/house/anything really for two of us.
A caravan isn't out of the question.
Ideally walking distance to the beach and local eateries, but it would be good to have the car 'onsite'
I was thinking about going this weekend for 3-4 days
I'm looking for a self catering apartment/house/anything really for two of us.
A caravan isn't out of the question.
Ideally walking distance to the beach and local eateries, but it would be good to have the car 'onsite'
Edited by shopper150 on Tuesday 20th April 22:10
I love St Ives. I have friends on Venton Road near Carbis Bay so when I stay with them I can park on the street outside their house and walk the ten minutes or so along Hain Walk into St Ives. The impression I get is forget trying to park anywhere in St Ives during holiday season unless you find accommodation with its own space.
If you're not bothered about anything posh then St Ives Holiday Village could be an option. Park next to your chalet and drive to St Erth Park & Ride to catch the train to St Ives. The ten minute train ride from St Erth to St Ives is well worth it for the views. This was where I stayed when my parents took me for my first holiday there back in 1987.
If you're not bothered about anything posh then St Ives Holiday Village could be an option. Park next to your chalet and drive to St Erth Park & Ride to catch the train to St Ives. The ten minute train ride from St Erth to St Ives is well worth it for the views. This was where I stayed when my parents took me for my first holiday there back in 1987.
clockworks said:
Having lived and worked in Cornwall for 25 years, I don't really "get" St. Ives.
I think there's something in the air there. Maybe it doesn't affect everyone. I hear and understand all the complaints on the practical and logistical challenges of St Ives, yet, if a geographic location could be your soulmate, St Ives would be mine. For me the place just has a feeling of "rightness" and utter contentment which has no rational explanation and is at complete odds with the endless accounts of how difficult it can be when it's busy.MercScot said:
Bloody Emmets LELANT!!
Sorry that I disturbed a non emmet, my mistake.I am not local but I have been going to West Cornwall twice a year always out of season since 1978 to see family, so maybe 75+ trips in all. We stay in one of two good hotels in Falmouth. At around £1500 a trip at least, I reckon we've added to the economy OK and much to the satisfaction of non emmets, I'm sure!
At least I don't have a second home there for you to moan about!
R.
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