Luxury dog friendly accommodation in St Ives…

As the beach ban is lifted and our four-legged friends may now play on the sand or splash in the sea all day long we are delighted to announce a few changes to our dog friendly policy…

These changes mean you and your pooch can enjoy a 5* break in our luxury dog friendly accommodation in St Ives anytime between September and June, including any school holidays that fall within these months. We currently offer four dog friendly properties – Curno, Harbour, Zennor and The Sail Lofts Cottage.

If you have stayed with us before you’ll be familiar with the scrumptious welcome pack you receive on arrival and we thought it was about time we extended this welcome to our furry friends, so all dogs holidaying with us will receive their very own welcome pack to enjoy during their stay. Don’t tell though; we want it to be a surprise.

We think St Ives is the perfect holiday spot for pups and with two fantastic beaches on our doorstop, The Sail Lofts 5* holiday apartments in St Ives are hard to beat. Our enviable location also gives you access to long stretches of coastal path. If you’re serious walkers you could tackle the 6-mile hike to Zennor and enjoy a spot of lunch at The Tinners Arms or The Gurnhard’s Head, both of which are dog friendly.

If you plan to stay closer to home there are plenty of bars and restaurants that allow dogs in St Ives. Some may have restricted areas so it’s worth checking in advance but here is a rundown of our favourites:

Rum & Crab Shack – Great for seafood dishes with a Forrest Gump twist. The rum list is pretty impressive too and with panoramic views across the Harbour The Rum & Crab Shack is well worth a visit.

Firehouse Bar & Grill – The burgers, pizza’s and rotisserie chicken all come highly recommended and the well-priced menu certainly offers fantastic value for money.

Pedn Olva Hotel – Dine in the bar area and your four-legged friend will be made to feel right at home. The bar menu offers a good selection of light bites and main meals and food is served from midday until 9pm.

The Loft – Enjoy lunch, tapas or dinner looking over the rooftops towards the Harbour from the heated terrace.  

Halsetown Inn (Just outside St Ives) – If you’re looking for a dog friendly Sunday lunch venue, look no further. We highly recommend booking though as it’s a popular choice.

To view our revised dog friendly policy, including any additional charges we make for bringing your four-legged friend along for the ride, please visit our luxury dog friendly page. If you need any further information please do not hesitate to contact one of the team on 01736 799175.

We look forward to welcoming you and your furry friend very soon.

Kelly x

Autumn Activities: Gardens of Cornwall

With Autumn just around the corner we thought we’d share some of our favourite things to do when the weather cools down. Cornwall is known for its wonderful gardens. This is largely due to the mild climate which allows a wider range of subtropical plants to grow that can’t be seen anywhere else in the country. So when things get cold in everywhere else it stays wonderfully mild in St Ives and a five star visit to Cornwall isn’t complete without a trip to one of our many beautiful, botanical gardens...

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Only a few miles out from the village of Pentewan lies the The Lost Gardens of Heligan, one of the most popular botanical gardens in the country. It’s definitely worth the trip from our five star self catering accommodation to see this mysterious two hundred acre estate. The manor was first built in the 1200’s although the gardens weren’t started until 1766. The estate was owned by the Tremayne family for more than 400 years but during the First World War when the workforce left for the front line the gardens began to fall into disrepair. The derelict gardens were then rediscovered by Tim Smit and John Willis after the hurricane of 1990, and slowly but surely this vast estate has been restored. With subtropical jungles, ancient woodlands, Victorian Productive gardens and most strikingly the iconic Heligan sculptures, this is one of the most unique and exciting gardens in the United Kingdom. There’s so much to see that we’d recommend making a day of it, you don’t want to miss out!

 

Trengwainton Garden

If you’re looking for something a little nearer to our luxury apartments Trengwainton is a beautiful twenty five acre garden in Madron near Penzance. It’s only a thirty minute drive from our holiday cottages in St Ives so it’s perfect if you only have a few hours. Full of winding wooded paths, exotic trees, giant ferns and with a dedicated kitchen garden, this is horticultural heaven. Why not pack a picnic, enjoy it on the terrace that looks out onto breathtaking views of the bay and soak up the autumn sunshine? Or treat yourself to a scone and a cup of coffee in the tea-rooms where they not only use local produce but also source ingredients from their own kitchen garden. You can’t get much fresher than that. 

The Sail Lofts concierge service is always on hand if you need travel advice or recommendations. Just pop in any day of the week except Sunday, we’re always here to help make your sure your five star holiday is the best it can be. 

Onna x 

St Ives Sails Competition…

We love St Ives’s local luxury boutique shops and when offered the prospect of teaming up with the wonderful team at Poppy Treffry we jumped at the chance.  So for one lucky family we are offering the chance to win a fabulous four-night stay for up to six people at the award-winning St Ives luxury self catering apartments the Sail Lofts, and a Poppy Treffry original embroidered picture of sailboats. 

  

Poppy Treffry is our first stop when it comes to office birthdays, or family parties, as we know that not one of us can resist a washing bag with a dachshund or a tea towel with illustrative St Ives boats and Cornish pasties.

Poppy Treffry's company was founded by designer maker Poppy Treffry in 2004. They hand make in Cornwall a range of quirky gifts and accessories featuring Poppy’s illustrative designs. A lot of work goes into Poppy’s products, they use quality materials, local suppliers, simple, low impact production techniques and old Singer sewing machines which we are very much in support of.

Poppy still designs the range, taking inspiration from her many sketchbooks, packed with sketches from museum trips, harbour sides, tea parties and more. Poppy creates the products initially, spending hours agonising over shapes and templates in the sampling stage. Once a finished product is created Sarah (or Pixie as they call her) gets to work cutting out pieces, with Freya cutting out smaller applique pieces where required. The pieces are all then assembled into stitching boxes which head off to our various stitchers, Liz, Lucy, Nancy, Jo and Briony, who then bring them back, around one month later, packed with finished products.

 

Poppy Treffry’s shop is always worth a visit when on holiday in St Ives, so by offering one lucky family an original embroidary by Poppy along with a stay in our luxury 5 star accommodation in Cornwall, they will always have a lasting momento of their St Ives vacation.

For more details on the competition, or to shop for Poppy Treffry products online please see the links below…

St Ives Sails Competition

Poppy Treffry Shop

Best of luck!

Katy x 

Find out more about staying at the Sail Lofts 

*Competition closes Monday 31st August

Looking for reasons to visit St Ives this September…

St Ives September Festival, Saturday 12 - Saturday 26

September in St Ives is when the town starts to mellow, the weather is still favourable and the evenings are still long, making it the perfect time for a luxury self catering getaway. The Sail Lofts coastal position is perfect for long evening strolls along the cliff tops and around St Ives cobbled streets, ending with laid back drinks and delicious food relaxing around the harbour front watching the boats bob along gentle waves.

During September the St Ives annual music and arts festival kicks off on Saturday 12^th and runs for 2 weeks, up until Saturday 26^th and features a well rounded host of live acts including musicians, theatre and comedy acts, cabaret and street entertainment, not to mention art workshops and art exhibitions embracing St Ives rich cultural heritage.

Acts confirmed so far for 2015 include Show Of Hands, Steve Knightley, Johnny Cowling, Miranda Sykes & Rex Preston, The Acoustic Strawbs, The Rollin’ Clones and Mad Dog Mcrea. 

The St Ives September Festival began in a back kitchen in Teetotal Street just around the corner from The Sail Lofts in September 1977 bringing together the diverging interests of several arts and music professionals. The first Festival, which ran from 14th to 24th September 1978 was already ambitious in its scope and covered folk music, dance, fine arts, chamber music, poetry, arts & crafts and theatre, and even featured a very young Nigel Kennedy.

The Festival has continued over the past thirty-five years, with a few short breaks, and with different organisations responsible for arranging the programme. It has always been a very important part of the town’s cultural life, and people come from year to year to take advantage of the very wide range of events that are on offer.

So if you are considering a holiday in St Ives this September and are looking for self catering accommodation please contact us on 01736 799175 or to view availability please use the link below…

Katy x

September Availability

A Guide to St Ives Beaches: Part 1...

When staying in our beautiful self catering apartments you are absolutely spoilt for choice with some of the most breathtaking beaches in the country. There’s something for everyone, with surfing coves, dog walking spots, and family friendly beaches safe for children. Why not make the most of your holiday by taking in the best beaches we have to offer? Here’s part one of our guide to the St Ives beaches. 

Porthmeor

Just a stones throw away from The Sail Lofts you will find Porthmeor, one of Cornwall’s most beautiful beaches. This Atlantic facing beach is a surfers paradise. It’s not particularly sheltered on a windy day, so make use of the Sail Loft’s wind breaks. It has all the facilities you could need with the Porthmeor Beach Café serving beautiful food to eat in or takeaway. If you’re interested in dabbling in some water sports Porthmeor also boasts the St Ives Surf School which offers lessons, board hire, kayaking and coasteering. 

Awards: Blue Flag & Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence.

Lifeguard Service: Cover during weekends in April, daily from 5th May to 30th September and weekends in October.

Parking: No Designated Parking.

Dogs: Seasonal ban from Easter to the 1^st October.

Toilets: Yes.

Porthminster

Only a 15 minute walk from our holiday cottages this sheltered, family friendly beach has easy access with great facilities. The award winning seafood restaurant, The Porthminster Café, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as having a takeaway service right on the beach, perfect if you forgot to pack a picnic!

Awards: Blue Flag & Trip Advisor Travellers Choice.

Lifeguard Service: Daily from 19 May to 30 September.

Parking: Parking close to the beach (Warning: it fills up quick)

Dogs: Seasonal ban from Easter to the 1^st October.

Toilets: Yes. 

Porthgwidden

This small, hidden beach is a real Cornish gem. Lying in the nook of the Island this beach is just a few minutes away from our luxury apartments. It’s extremely sheltered, great for kids and has plenty of facilities including beach huts that are available to rent from the council. The wonderful Porthgwidden Café also over looks the beach with a kiosk for coffee and snacks.

Awards: Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence.

Lifeguard Service: No Lifeguard Cover.

Parking: Parking in the Island car park. (Warning: it fills up quick)

Dogs: Seasonal ban from Easter to the 1^st October.

Toilets: Yes.

Beach towels and wind breaks are provided in every apartment and buckets and spades are available from our wet room. If you need directions to any beaches don’t be afraid to ask, we’re here to help. Stay tuned till next week for part two of our St Ives beach guide.

Onna x  

Fuel for the day...

Early mornings have never been my thing but thanks to the arrival of our beautiful baby girl I have a newfound appreciation of early starts and I’ve fallen in love with St Ives all over again.

Now, don’t get me wrong a lie in would be nice from time to time but I’ve decided to embrace the dark circles, get out nice and early and sample what St Ives’ breakfast menu’s have to offer.

Porthminster Beach Café

Topping my list has to be this beautiful little beach café that you usually have to book weeks in advance. At sunrise however it’s a different story. We arrived at 9.30am on a Saturday morning and had our choice of tables and it really was perfect in every way – the weather, the view, the food and the sleeping baby! I plumped for the free-range poached eggs with a cheeky side order of local sausage and bacon and it was divine. The other half of course went for the full fry-up and without even a smidge of brown sauce left on the plate I’d say it was a winner. Washed down with locally sourced apple juice and freshly squeezed orange juice, it really couldn’t have been better.

Porthmeor Beach Café

Continuing the beach theme (well we are in Cornwall!) we headed to Porthmeor Beach Café. This is somewhere I’ve always wanted to eat but until now simply haven’t gotten around to and breakfast seemed a great place to start. It did not disappoint. Being a sucker for granola, yoghurt and compote I couldn’t resist this when I saw it on the menu and I must say it was one of the best. Hubby built his own brekkie and ordered most items on the menu despite my encouragement to try something a bit different. Again we managed to dine alfresco and the view really is one of my favourites in St Ives and despite the baby being far from asleep she was impeccably behaved and charmed the other diners with her cuteness.

Hub, St Ives

Being massive fans of The Hub for lunchtime and evening food we decided to give this harbour front hang-out a go for breakfast. The breakfast menu itself is fairly simple but what they do, they do well. This time around we decided to share a stack of pancakes with summer berries & maple syrup and a ‘Pig me up’. Both delicious but the pancakes were a definite hit for me. Whilst the weather wasn’t quite so kind on this breakfast outing the cosy booths and décor create an American style diner feel which is a refreshing change for St Ives.

There are a few more breakfast outings planned this summer so if I come across any other gems I’ll let you know.

Kelly x

An artistic view of St Ives...

St Ives is renowned for its rich art history with the breathtaking scenery and quality of light attracting artists since the 1880’s. The arrival of the railway in 1877 meant that artists could travel to and from London with ease, changing the town forever. In 1890 the St Ives Art Club was established and despite it’s bracing position on the sea front facing many a Cornish storm it’s still going strong 125 years later. Next time you’re on your luxury self-catering holiday at The Sail Lofts why not explore some of the amazing and diverse galleries we have here in St Ives? Here are just a few.

Porthminster Gallery

Beautifully situated right on the harbour and opposite the St Ives Art Club, this commercial gallery was recently voted the ‘Best Art Gallery in Cornwall’ by Cornwall Today. It’s only an eight minute walk from our luxury accommodation so if you’re feeling inspired this is the perfect place to pick up some Contemporary Fine Art from some of Britain’s leading artists. 

Tate St Ives

You can’t fail to spot Tate St Ives if you’re walking along Porthmeor beach with its striking architecture and prominent position, it’s definitely worth a visit. Only a five minutes walk from The Sail Lofts apartments, St Ives’s most famous gallery features an eclectic mix of modern British artists. ‘Images Moving Out Onto Space’ is a new exhibition focusing on works of art that are set in motion featuring eight different artists spanning almost 50 years. With it’s use of light, colour and movement it will definitely interest those looking for something new and engaging. Finish your visit with a coffee in the Tate café, to soak up those sea views.

 

Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden

Barbara Hepworth was one of Britain’s most important and influential twentieth century artists. Hepworth first came to Cornwall along with her family when the war broke out in 1939. She lived and worked in Trewyn Studios until her death, when it was turned into a museum upon her request. Managed by the Tate Gallery the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden offers a unique insight in her work. The sculptures are best viewed on a sunny day with the garden providing a beautiful contrast between nature and the man made.

Better still, guests of our holiday cottages get free entry to the Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. You’ll find a card in your welcome letter, but if you lose it, don’t worry! Just contact our concierge services and we will be happy to get you another one. 

Onna x 

Worth the drive...

St Ives is filled with beautiful, winding cobbled streets which only adds to its Cornish charm but those roads can make parking tricky, or near impossible in the height of summer! Take advantage of that rare and wonderful thing we have here at The Sail Lofts holiday cottages, the guest parking, and arrive by car. That way once you’ve explored the town you can hop in the car and venture a little outside of St Ives to see what else Cornwall has to offer.

St Micheal’s Mount, Marazion

Only twenty minutes away you can explore St Micheal’s Mount, a quaint tidal island that’s situated in Mount's Bay. Uniquely it’s only accessible by foot during low tide along a man-made granite walkway and has a population of just 30. The island has beautiful gardens, a charming harbour as well as a medieval castle and a church that was first constructed in the 12^th Century by French monks. If you’re a member of the National Trust you can visit the castle for free, or you can simply wander the beautiful island and soak up that Cornish sunshine. Don’t forget to check the tide times before you go, if in doubt ask our concierge services. 

The Minack Theatre, Porthcurno

Just a half an hour drive from St Ives you will find the most famous and beautiful open air theatre in the country, The Minack Theatre. Not only can you catch an evening show of King Lear or The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, but the space is open during the day so you can take in the beautiful view when the sun is shining. If you’re lucky you might even spot a basking shark in the ocean below. The best part about being on a self catering holiday is that you can pack a picnic to eat before the show.

Land’s End

Arguably one of the best views in the country, we reckon the fourty minute drive to Land’s End is worth the trek. Not only can you see the beautiful cliffs towering over the Atlantic ocean but the iconic signpost makes the perfect holiday snap. To soak in the view try the heritage trail for a relaxing afternoon. If that’s not enough to tempt you there’s plenty for the kids to enjoy with their 4D cinema and Shaun the Sheep experience. And if you’re going to be visiting our luxury accommodation at the end of the month be sure to check out Cornish Day on the 28^th July with storytelling, live music, and fireworks. 

This is just a glimpse into the many treasures that a self catering holiday in St Ives has to offer. There’s plenty more to come. 

Onna x  

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CAR PARKING

Cornish self catering bounty...

Our Welcome hampers for our St Ives self catering guests recently under took a revamp to respond to guest feedback on wanting to see more local Cornish brands represented, so we went on a quest to find the best that Cornwall has to offer…

St Ives Bakery Scones

After copious amounts of taste testing by all Sail Lofts staff we all agreed that no scone was softer, more buttery or delicious than the offering from St Ives Bakery, an independently owned and rather unique little bakery located centrally in St Ives. They have a particular, penchant for pasties and a whole host of other baked goods, so make sure when in St Ives to pop in and try more of their sumptuous delights. 

Trewithen Dairy

Cream, milk and butter in Cornwall does not get better than the offering from Trewithen Dairy, not to mention it has some of the most eye catching packaging. The known home of Cornwall’s happy, healthy cows, they have been located here in Cornwall at Greymare Farm near Lostwithiel since the 1980s and dairy farming’s been in their family for generations.

Roskilly’s Organic Cream Fudge

A family run business with a herd of Organic Jersey Cows, they produce Organic and Farmhouse ice cream and fudge. The farm makes for a great day out where you can stroll around the meadows and enjoy the tranquillity of the ponds.

Polgoon Cornish Elderflower Presse

The light and sparkling Cornish Elderflower Presse from the Polgoon Cidar Farm is crisp and refreshing, with a hint of zesty lime. All welcome hampers come with a presse and a complimentary tour of the Polgoon orchards located just outside of Penzance.

Cornish Sea Salt

We love guests making the most of their self catering surroundings so as a helping hand for cooking sumptuous meals we include a tub of Cornish sea salt, handmade in Cornwall by Cornish Sea Salt Co.

Simply Cornish Biscuits

Produced by Warrens Bakery, Cornwall’s oldest commercial baker and the world’s oldest Cornish pasty produces, it was established at St Just, West Cornwall in 1860. They run a dedicated team, supplying our popular handcrafted products. We couldn't find any shortbread more buttery or delicious to supply our guests.

Here at the Sail Lofts we love experiencing the amazing delights that Cornwall has to offer, and introducing our St Ives self catering guests to experiences that they might not yet have discovered…

Katy x

CHECK JUNE AVAILABILITY 
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CONCIERGE SERVICES

Looking for reasons to visit St Ives this June…

June is the month where St Ives bursts back in to life, the quayside is full of shops selling brightly coloured bucket and spades and the harbour is alive with the bustle of people and the smells of St Ives’ different award winning restaurants flood the streets, whilst the boats bob serenely in the water, with the occasional interruption from the quayside sellers offering ‘adventures at sea’ at the top of their lungs.

Shouldering Summer months can be when St Ives can be viewed at its best, with the weather being favourable and the beaches outside of the Summer holidays being that much quieter, giving you the opportunity to really unwind and enjoy the town for what it is made for… relaxing.

The cobbled streets, vast beaches, local boutique shops and restaurants bring everything you could possibly need to one destination ready for discovering. This by far has always been one of the most noticeable reflections by our guests; that St Ives has everything you could need when looking for reasons to visit St Ives for either a long or short stay, especially with its abundance of entertainment and places to explore.

Within the Sail Lofts we offer our own suggestions via our ‘Whats on board’ which has become more often known as the ‘Wazzon board’ in true Cornish style. The board details everything from Yoga Sessions on Monday mornings at the Guildhall, open to all, to belly dancing at the Operatic Rooms, giving St Ives visitors a chance to broaden their experiences and take on a new hobby before heading off back home.

Not forgetting our in house Spa studio offering all a welcome chance of relaxation, our recommendations would be for the Sail Lofts Ocean Spa Sensation and relax in a warm cleansing facial mist as the back of your body is scrubbed and swept, ready for the luxury stress releasing massage using Thai herbal compresses. A head, neck and facial massage completes this treatment, using hot and cold stones, combined with anti-aging facial techniques, to leave you feeling indulged, pampered and rejuvenated all for the amazing price of £55 for an hour long treatment. Or why not try the Absolute Spa Ritual and choose from one of the unique Elemis Facials and combine it with the powerful effects of a Deep Tissue Massage. Two hours of pure relaxation with dramatic results…

We love hearing back from our guests on suggestions and ideas along with the things that they get up to whilst they are here enjoying St Ives, so why not get in touch and let us know your favourite locations whilst spending time on holiday in St Ives…

Katy x

CHECK JUNE AVAILABILITY

Days out and about around St Ives Bay...

We all know that St Ives has plenty of amazing things to do and see, but there are also many things in the local area worth checking out whilst self catering in St Ives... 

Godrevy

Looking out from St Ives Harbour casting your gaze along the coastline you will spot the distinctive shape of Godrevy’s lighthouse. Godrevy consists of a beautiful sand dune beach, plenty of rock pools and an awe inspiring coastal walk along North Cliffs where you can catch glimpses of the local seals sunbathing on hidden coves along with an amazing café serving some of the best cooked breakfasts imaginable, we recommend sitting out on the top deck and taking in the views.

Godrevy is only a 15-minute drive from St Ives and is worth a visit and is amongst one of our favourite local spots for lazy afternoon strolls.

Trevaskis Farm

We love Trevaskis Farm, just outside of Hayle and only a 15-minute hop from St Ives. Boasting pick your own fresh fruit and veg, farm park, market shop and deli, not forgetting an amazing family friendly restaurant. 

Trevaskis is a day out at its best in Cornwall, giving a great idea of working life on a farm. Great for all ages to experience, we especially enjoy strawberry picking afternoons topped off by a cream tea in the restaurant. 

Paradise Park

After recently spending a whole day entertaining my niece at Paradise Park, I cannot recommend it enough for a truly enchanting day out. We visited on a slightly overcast Spring day, with high chances of rain which didn’t dampen our spirits as we wandered around the beautiful gardens and visited spectacular species of birds from around the globe. With plenty to see and do, we spent a whole afternoon walking around the grounds, and being enthralled by the live displays including ‘Flight of the Rainbows’ where visitors can feed nectar to parrots.

Our highlight were the flamingos, free roaming around the central area all twinned with beautiful horticulture, a sight I will not forget in a hurry.

These are just a few of our recommendations whilst self-catering in St Ives for perfect days out about around St Ives Bay...

Katy x 

St Ives Survival Guide...

We all know that self-catering family holidays in St Ives and trips away from home can be stressful. What with trying to remember all that you will need for your time away, working out what the weather might be like and then regardless packing for all seasons just in case the British weather does not live up to expectation. So here at the Sail Lofts we thought it best to combine our years of experience in making your self-catering St Ives holiday the one to remember for all the right reasons…

1. Travel

DO NOT RELY ON MISTER SATNAV. St Ives turns out to be one of the least SatNav friendly locations on the planet, likened to tributaries of the Amazon River with numerous dead ends and one-way systems along with amused locals guffawing at your best attempts. Read your Welcome Pack, we cannot stress this enough. Your easiest route into St Ives whether by plane, train or automobile is by reading the carefully honed travel directions that you will find in your welcome pack, detailing down to the arrival at the very door of your self catering accommodation.

 

2. Sunscreen

Wear sunscreen, this is in no reference to the 1999 Baz Luhrmann song, however all his reasons are also valid, but we recommend sunscreen for making sure no peeling noses or sore shoulders occur during your visit to St Ives, even on the most overcast of days it is still possible to catch the sun, especially whilst you are out enjoying St Ives' numerous coastal walks, beaches and streets.

3. Food

Get it delivered, being in one of Cornwall’s most westerly towns food shopping can be tricky, especially if you are used to a certain type of pate or gluten free bread. In St Ives there are the smaller generic and well know convenience shops, however if there are products that you consider necessities make sure to make the most of The Sail Lofts concierge service and use your regular supermarket to deliver your food shopping prior to arrival with us. Should you wish to try something new we recommend the Cornish Food Market for anyone looking for sampling the local delicacies along with their standard weekly shop.

These are just our top 3 recommendations for having a hassle free self catering holiday in St Ives… however should you ever have any queries for further recommendations why not make use of our concierge services and give us a call on 01736 799175, or email info@thesaillofts.co.uk…

Katy x

St Ives self-catering days out...

Here at the Sail Lofts we recently updated our luxurious self-catering apartments in St Ives with the stunning addition of Cornwall based Atlantic Blanket's woolen throws, with their bold colours and subtle textile designs they add a level of comfort and practicality into each of our Cornish cottages, creating a truly authentic feel.  As there is nothing better after a long day in Summer spent on the beach than returning to your apartment to warm cold knees snuggling into a familiar cosy Atlantic Blanket...

Atlantic Blankets formed in 2007, when in need of a blanket to comfort a little girl suffering a miserable bout of the spotty pox. Knowing exactly the kind of blanket needed to help her feel better...the silky feel of a much-loved brushed mohair throw that possessed magical curative powers of cosiness! 

Growing up in Cornwall we always had our trusty picnic blanket stored away in the car boot, ready for any impromptu visit to the beach, hikes across the headlands, keeping warm around an evening campfire or even to just snuggle with for a long car journey. Our own tartan family blanket has seen better days, however still resides (slightly patched) on the back seat of our family car.

Atlantic Blankets seasonal collections and designs change from stripes to arans, to herringbone and checks, meaning there is always the perfect colour and design to match and warm every interior. The latest Bloom Collection sings of fresh spring colours and warm peaches, a perfect accompaniment to any and every family picnic on Porthmeor or any of the surrounding St Ives beaches, they have even designed leather straps for ease of carrying for when you are out and about on your travels.

Our favourite is the Green Picnic Blanket with its waterproof backing, ideal for avoiding soggy bottoms and sandwiches. We also recommend checking out the Atlantic Blanket blog to see their top 5 picnic spot recommendations here in Cornwall, so on your next self-catering holiday in St Ives there are some great ideas of places to visit in and around the area, Tehidy Woods and its coastal walks are amongst some of The Sail Loft teams favourite weekend haunts. 

Katy x

To see more head over to the Atlantic Blankets website...

Check last minute availability for self-catering in St Ives in May...