Sparkly St Ives...

When you think of St Ives you’d be forgiven for immediately thinking of fun family holidays spent on the beach but we think St Ives is just magical during the winter. A particularly special time to visit is in the lead up to Christmas when colourful lights illuminate the harbour and punchy mulled cider is a staple in most pubs. Come at the right time and you may even catch a glimpse of Santa Claus, who’s chosen mode of transportation in St Ives is (of course) the Lifeboat.

With a packed calendar of events throughout December there are so many reasons to enjoy a luxury break in St Ives, and that’s without mentioning the unique shopping opportunities. Here is a selection of the December events we’re getting excited about:

4^th December: Christmas lights switch on

Fisherman’s Hut, Harbour Front, 5pm

St Ives Mayor and champion fundraiser Madison Glinski will transform the town into a winter wonderland when they switch on the festive lights.

4^th December: Santa arrives in town

Harbour Front, 6pm

Ditching his usual sleigh, Santa arrives into the Harbour aboard the Lifeboat and is met by the Three Kings and their camels who will all parade to Santa’s magic grotto at The Glass Tree in Fore Street.

12^th December: Christmas Puppet Show

Boathouse Theatre, 4pm

This year Humpty Dumpty and Frosty the Snowman present their annual show. Great fun for all the family. Also showing on other dates throughout December.

20^th December: Food Trail

Various venues across St Ives, 12pm

Sample some fantastic local goodies with a food trail across St Ives. Finish up at The Castle where there’s a meal for two at Rum & Crab Shack and a magnum of Champagne up for grabs.

22^nd December: Kidz R Us Christmas Pantomime

Kidz R Us Theatre, 2.30pm & 7.30pm

Kidz R Us present it’s famous festive Panto which, this year, combines elements of two traditional stories: Robin Hood and Babes in the Wood. Also showing on other dates throughout December.

24^th December: Christmas Farmers Market

Guildhall, 9.30am

Pick up those essential Christmas treats and last minute gifts from local producers and enjoy some festive entertainment.

Up until 21^st December The Sail Lofts luxury self-catering in St Ives can offer short breaks in all of it’s properties so if you only have a few days to spare you can still enjoy all St Ives has to offer in the build up to Christmas.

With a handful of properties still available over Christmas now is the perfect time to book your festive getaway. Here at The Sail Lofts we think we’ve thought of everything to ensure your Christmas away from home is seamless. Real Christmas trees, crackers, an emergency wrapping kit and a secret present store are just a few of the things that come as standard. We can also order the meat for the big day and our friends at Cornish Food Market can deliver all the trimmings direct to your door.

Whether you’re looking for a pre-Christmas getaway or you’re planning to celebrate the big day with us, you can view our December availability here.

Kelly x   

Autumn in St Ives

The middle of November has arrived quickly but autumn has undoubtedly arrived (possibly even winter?) as the leaves turn golden and the sea whips up large swells. The town has quietened and the opportunity to really explore St Ives and the surrounding area has arrived.

For the surfers amongst us, there has been no shortage of swells for the last few weeks although the winds have been very strong. The south coast has lit up a few times and the sheltered spots have been shining with Porthmeor having some great days. The next few days are looking rather nice with lots more swell coming through and the occasional offshore day at the exposed beaches. 

For those of you thinking of going away for Christmas we still have some availability left but bookings are coming in quickly for this period. Likewise for those of you who are considering St Ives for New Year, a great place to see in 2011 particularly for families, we still have some availability but we are receiving a number of enquiries. 

Don't forget to check out our last minute availability for some fantastic deals starting at £199. 

Longer days are on the way!

What a crisp couple of days its been, icy cold in the mornings but on the whole glorious sunshine (with the odd hail or sleet shower) all in all St Ives seems to be fairing better than the rest of the country! I took this picture at lunch time today (sorry for poor quality only had my phone), it could almost be summer.

We're almost fully booked for Christmas now, but still have some space for New Year, and as a gesture of festive good will we've reduced the prices significantly for some lucky people! To find out more about these deals, either give us a ring on 01736 799 175 or visit The Sail Lofts and look for our offers at the bottom of the page.

The surf has been a bit quiet recently, a rarity for the time of year! However things are looking like they may improve over the week, providing those winds play ball, at the very least there should be a bit of xmas swell. Magicseaweed is predicting some very long wave periods, and if it all comes good it could be a small but powerful swell!

We've started asking guests to review us on Tripadvisor, and what a response we have received! Thank you to all of you who have posted a review!

The Sail Lofts are now very busy with our xmas guests, and the town center is getting busier, especially with holiday makers enjoying a day out in the sun. So I best not blog for too long, as work, xmas shopping and the sun are calling!

Clear skies of St Ives

This is our first blog, and we'll be writing about St Ives mostly and giving an insight into some of activities and past times we enjoy in Cornwall. This will include local events, surf, art, and all things St Ives. As a bonus we will also be letting you know of some of the exclusive offers Sail Lofts self catering can offer to our online readers.


Winter has definitely arrived in St Ives this week, with the first frosts of the seasons and the town is gearing up for xmas. But its good winter weather as we're getting mostly clear skies letting the sun shine through, gone are the dramatic gales and showers of autumn.

The nice weather has also given some nice clean surf for the past week or so, with some days better than others, but the open beaches of the North coast have finally been working for the first time in a while. As part of this blog we'll try and post some pictures of the surf in the area too.

Xmas is very nearly here but its not too late to book a holiday to recover from all the Christmas parties. We have some fantastic last minute deals available, so why not have a very special break in the lovely St Ives this Christmas or New year? To find out more visit our special offers page or call us on 01736 799 175.