Tate St Ives

St Ives has a rich history of art and culture which is still vibrant in the town today.  Explore the numerous art galleries dotted amongst the meandering lanes, perhaps pop into one of the life drawing classes or just bask in the unique light that originally attracted so many artists to St Ives.  The towns reputation for attracting artists is so prolific that the British institution Tate chose St Ives for its third sight in 1993, and ever since the gallery has been championing St Ives’s relationship with art and artists.

The Sail Lofts luxury holiday accommodation in St Ives is just a five minute walk from the Tate St Ives and as a guest with us you receive complimentary entry to the gallery and Barbara Hepworth Garden and museum, and also receive 10% discount at the shop and café.

The Tate is currently undergoing a major expansion project to transform existing spaces and create new areas for displaying more artwork, allowing visitors to engage more deeply with art. The new gallery will be able to accommodate larger scale artworks and installations and give visitors a more relaxing and social visit.  To see the work planned please follow the link below:

http://www.tate.org.uk/about/projects/tate-st-ives-project

As a consequence of this work the gallery is temporarily closed from October 2015 until May 2016 but the Hepworth Gardens will remain open as normal and in the meantime the Tate St Ives is working in collaboration with the Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange Penzance. So if you wanted to explore beyond your 5 star accommodation in St Ives, a trip to the gallery is a great day out!

Situated in the historic fishing village of Newlyn, which is home to a fleet of 40 strong fishing vessels, the gallery is currently hosting a collaborative exhibition with Tate St Ives of modern British painter Sir Terry Frost. The collection of Frosts work includes paintings, collages and sculptural forms from his 60 year career. The exhibition runs until 9^th January 2016 and for more information please follow the link below:

http://newlynartgallery.co.uk/

For more ideas for things to do in Newlyn watch this space!

Abi x

Winter bird watching in Cornwall

The West Penwith area is not just well know for it’s outstanding beaches and coastal towns such as St Ives but it is also infamous amongst ornithological groups for it’s bird life. With a diverse range of habitats and some of the best kept wild landscapes in the UK, West Penwith is home to an epic selection of native species from buzzards to choughs and also commonly visited by foreign birds known as “vagrants”. The term vagrant refers to birds that have strayed or been blown from their usual migratory course and in the case of those that turn up on Cornwall’s coast lines it’s North American birds which get blown across the Atlantic on route to South America. This autumn there have been a record number of American vagrants including spotted sandpipers and red-eyed vireos, as a direct result of Hurricane Katia.

Our beautiful, luxury self catering apartments in St Ives are perfectly located to make the most of this rich area of wildlife so pack your binoculars and stay at The Sail Lofts this winter. Here are a few nearby sites we recommend for spotting Cornish birdlife:

The Island

Just moments from our luxury accommodation in St Ives is The Island which unlike the name suggests is a small grassy peninsula off Porthmeor Beach offering spectacular views of the Atlantic ocean on three sides and views of the whole town and towards Godrevy lighthouse from the top of the mound. From The Island common sightings include gannets, cormorants, herring gulls, puffins and other coastal wildlife such as seals and dolphins.

Hayle Estuary

A 15 minute drive from The Sail Lofts five star holiday cottages in St Ives you will find Hayle Estuary which is the most south westerly estuary in the UK and one that never freezes. The rich pickings on the mud flaps, which are exposed at low tide provide a bird buffet attracting wading birds including curlews, little egrets and oyster catchers. The estuary opens out onto the vast sands of Porthkidney Beach where you can continue watching the birds whilst enjoying the fantastic scenery.

Marazion Marshes

This reserve overlooks the beautiful St Michael's Mount and boasts Cornwall's largest reedbed. In the car from our luxury holiday accommodation in St Ives the marshes are about a 20 minute drive. More than 250 bird, 500 plant, 500 insect and 18 mammal species have been recorded here. In some years starlings roost here from October-December and their spectacular aerial acrobatics over the reedbeds are a sight worth seeing.

For availability at The Sail Lofts this winter please follow the links below:

November
December
January
February

and to speak to one of our team please call the office on: 01736 799175 or email: info@thesaillofts.co.uk

Hope this inspires you to get out and about in the great Cornish landscape.

Abi x

The Sail Lofts, not just another luxury apartment…

Some people might be mistaken in to thinking that the luxury self catering apartments in St Ives, The Sail Lofts were just that. Exquisite five star luxury properties for a holiday in St Ives, however look a little closer and it is so much more…

Whilst The Sail Lofts provides luxury holidays in Cornwall, it also prides itself on offering a lot more to its average guest, with all the properties located around a central courtyard, just moments from Porthmeor Beach, the inner courtyard hides a few secrets…

No.1: Tucked away inside Studio 7 you will find The Sail Lofts’ friendly team, who are on hand to offer you tip top advice on where to go for the best Cornish coastal walks, or on where to find lazy seals basking in the sun, secret surfing spots, and of course where to get the best fresh fish and where to dine each night of the week.

Not forgetting that the same team are always on hand to fix that pesky window handle, frozen shut by the North Atlantic salty chill, or to show you how to operate the apartments gadgets and gizmos.

No.2: No beach holiday or trip to St Ives is complete without getting a bit sandy. It is hard to even walk through St Ives with out finding the stuff appearing in your deepest pockets, so the Sail Lofts inner courtyard houses an indoor wet room, perfect for washing away the day at the beach, before returning to your luxury apartment ready to relax. It is also home to a stock of body boards, bucket, spades and windbreaks.

No.3: The Ocean Studio waiting room can also be found within the inner sanctum of the Sail Lofts courtyard. Opposite the office, at the bottom of the spiral staircase you will find the place to await your onsite spa appointment. The Ocean Studio offers a range of treatments to suit all weary travellers, to leave guests refreshed and renewed ready for another beautiful day in St Ives.

The Sail Lofts luxury apartments in St Ives team have crafted a five star holiday experience in Cornwall, aiming to make guests lives easier, so that all guests need to do is sit back, relax and enjoy their St Ives experience to its full.

Should you wish to find out more about booking a five star self catering trip to Cornwall, please do not hesitate to call our friendly team who are in the office Monday to Friday on 01736 799175 or by email to info@thesaillofts.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Katy x

  

A five star Bonfire Night…

    Remember, remember!
    The fifth of November,
    The Gunpowder treason and plot;
    I know of no reason
    Why the Gunpowder treason
    Should ever be forgot!...

  

It’s just a month away until Guy Fawkes Night and St Ives never fails to put on an impressive show for November 5^th.

Pop on your wellies and jacket and take a stroll from the comfort of our luxury self catering accommodation in St Ives and bimble along the harbour front to Porthminster Beach where the fun begins. You will find the beach bustling with people and live music. Tuck into delicious food at the Porthminster Beach Café BBQ and start the festive season with a glass of mulled wine or cider to keep you warm. If you really want to make it an occasion you can book a window table in the restaurant and enjoy the fireworks display whilst dining in style. Though we do advise booking ahead, and if you’re staying in one of our luxury self catering apartments in St Ives you can call the team in the office and we will make the reservations for you. With the back-drop of the lit-up harbour and glittering reflections of the explosions of colour over the ocean it really is a magical place for November 5^th.

If you fancy a longer walk follow the coastal path from Porthminster Beach to Carbis Bay and indulge yourself with the array of sweet and savoury treats on offer including toffee apples, candy floss, freshly made doughnuts, burgers and hot dogs! Then grab a sparkler and get cosy by the bonfire on the beach whilst you watch the glittering display

For apartment availability in November please follow the link below and for further information please phone the office to speak to one of our team on: 01736 799175.

Check November Availability

Abi x