St Ives in January...

You might be mistaken in thinking that Cornwall in winter is a desolate wasteland, where all the locals hibernate and not much happens. However, you couldn’t be further from the truth…

Weather

Winter weather is about extremes in Cornwall, and no two days are ever the same, St Ives can be a peaceful crisp haven, where waves are mere ripples, and a calm descends over the town, to gale force winds where white horses lash the coastline and roll in along Porthmeor beach.

Sightseeing

Very few of Cornwall’s major attractions close over the winter months, contrary to popular belief, leaving opportunity to see the Eden Project biomes in peace and quiet, an experience in itself worth indulging in, in comparison to the summer months where you can easily get caught up in the throng of the crowds, missing the best parts of the indoor subtropical rainforest.

Or why not discover Porthcurno’s very own Telegraph Museum with  its fascinating exhibition, which looks to raise the profile of the under-represented aspects of the First World War. The exhibition offers a chance to view recovered artifacts and to learn about some of the lesser-known, but compelling, stories of the Great War. Over 700 wartime wrecks are known to lie off the south coast of England. These include largely forgotten ships and craft of all shapes and sizes, all of which were carrying out a myriad of different tasks and activities when they were lost.

Alternatively, for any savvy art enthusiasts, the Royal Cornwall Museum located in the centre of Truro is exhibiting works by Terry Pope. ‘Space Visualised’ is his latest interactive exhibition using optical illusions to challenge and play with our perceptions.

Terry Pope is a Constructionist artist; his experiments with glass, lenses and lights are imaginative and enticing, and an experience not to be missed.

The Sail Lofts luxury accommodation in St Ives can be your perfect base for storm watching, sightseeing or for just indulging your cultural side, whilst surrounded by five-star luxury. Studio staff are on site 6 days a week and are on hand to provide tips on when best to visit local attractions, or on the best ways of getting out and about around Cornwall. To find out more, call the team on 01736 799175 about booking your St Ives holiday this January.

Katy x

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Dog friendly St Ives...

St Ives is a great place to enjoy with your four-legged friend and with our dog friendly luxury holiday cottages in St Ives just moments from the beach you couldn’t be in a better position for enjoying the local beaches, coastal walks and St Ives harbour...

Our luxury dog friendly accommodation in St Ives brings you straight out on to St Ives biggest expanse of beach, perfect for dog friendly stays in St Ives between October and March when dogs are allowed free reign over the local beaches.

There are also many great coastal walks heading out in both directions along the cliff tops of St Ives, with one taking you around to Carbis Bay ending in Lelant, near one of the greatest dog friendly beaches that is open year round to mans best friend. Heading out of St Ives in the opposite direction you will find some of the most awe-inspiring cliff top views, with the Tinner’s Arms for refreshment along the way.

 

There are plenty of dog friendly restaurants, bars and cafes within St Ives itself, including Hub burger bar with beautiful views out across St Ives harbour and the Sloop Inn for cosy laid back drinks by the fire.

We recommend using our helpful dog friendly guide located within the apartments to give you a clear idea of what’s on offer in the surrounding area.

Cornwall in general is a great place to holiday with your family pet, from forests, to lakes and moorlands. There is a never-ending supply of stunning places to visit, walk and enjoy all year round.

Our luxury dog friendly accommodation comes with complimentary car parking for any guests ready to venture Cornwall’s countryside. Here in the studio we always recommend a trip to Tehidy Woods, the woodlands just off the A30 outside of Camborne has walks suitable for all abilities and ages, and can provide a great day out for your four-legged friend.

To find out more about dog friendly cottages in St Ives call our friendly team in the office who are here and happy to help you arrange your next holiday to the southwest on 01736 799175. We look forward to hearing from you.

Katy x

Book your St Ives experience now…

Feeling suitably stuffed and with the haze of Christmas slowly wearing off we start to set our thoughts on booking our next holiday. St Ives has plenty of events happening throughout 2016, so why not plan your next trip around one of the town vibrant events and experience a new side to St Ives...

Starting with the traditional hurling of the silver ball… St Ives Feast Day is held on the first Monday after February 3^rd to celebrate the founding of the Parish Church by St Ia in 1434; coupled with other traditional Celtic customs including the parade of to St Ia well and actual hurling of The Silver Ball.

Following on from February in to the first week of May we have the St Ives Literary Festival. This marks the start of summer in St Ives and accommodation in St Ives this week can get booked up early so make sure to avoid disappointment by getting your St Ives accommodation secured in advance. The Literary Festival includes readings, talks, workshops and concerts at various venues around the town, perfect for any culture vulture that enjoys wandering St Ives corners and streets.

Speaking of May we cannot forget May Day celebrating the coming of spring, and a modern revival of the most historic May Day customs, with side stalls and a bustling harbor market, theater performances, street bands and concerts.

St Ives has been recognised as the ‘jewel in Cornwall’s Crown’ and regularly voted the best coastal resort in the UK. St Ives has become a wonderful year round destination. With milder winters, and surrounded by breathtaking coastline, the town and immediate countryside has something to offer everyone at any time of the year…

So what are you waiting for? Call our friendly team at the Sail Lofts and booking your next 2016 break in St Ives, where you will be surrounded by five star luxury accommodation in the center of St Ives, with Porthmeor Beach on your doorstep.

We currently have great offers on for last minute holiday’s in St Ives for January, call the team on 01736 799175 to find out more. Or why not drop them an email and register your interest in the area and let the Sail Lofts team aid you in creating your perfect St Ives holiday.

Katy x 

Nadelik Lowen…

In recent years there has been a resurgence in the County to resurrect the Cornish language, and I am embarrassed to say the only piece of Cornish that I have learnt in the past 25 years of growing up in this beautiful part of Cornwall is Nadelik Lowen. Lowen meaning Happy, and Nadelik roughly translating to Christmas...

Cornwall as a county is steeped in rich history, traditions and culture. Many of which can be taken for granted on a daily basis. However you only have to drive down the main routes in to St Ives and you will pass a landscape littered with relics of the past and including Cornwall’s mining heritage with engine houses standing proud on wind torn hill tops, and craggy coves where smugglers and pirates brought ashore their days bounty.

For those looking for an experience Cornwall is an all-embracing destination and a final frontier of great contrasts. From rugged cliff tops to baron moorlands, wide spanning golden sandy beaches to picturesque harbours, all within easy driving distance to provide a one stop shop of culture and sight seeing during your self catering holiday.

At low tide walking out of the Sail Lofts luxury accommodation in St Ives across the road and on to the slipway down to Porthmeor beach a slice of such history appears. To those with a discerning eye you will notice the remains of the boiler from SS Alba, a ship that went to ground off the Three Brothers Rocks in 1938 after seeking shelter from the rough seas. Some will be mistaken that the rust stained masses are nothing more than Island’s outcrop of rocks. The SS Alba's remains leave a ghostly reminder of the tragic events that unfurled on that fateful stormy St Ives winters eve.

As a county surrounded by the sea it is impossible to escape the dramatic and sometimes unpredictable weather that visits this part of the coastline. Which gives a small insight in to what life might have been like in years gone by. Something to consider during your next stay at the Sail Lofts luxury accommodation in St Ives, surrounded by all the best creature comforts watching the wild storms blow over from your five star retreat…

To book your five star St Ives experience call the Sail Lofts team on 01736 799175. We look forward to hearing from you.

Katy x

Find out more about SS Alba…

Fireworks, fancy dress & a carnival style street party...

New Years Eve in St Ives is famous for it’s carnival style street party, wild fancy dress and stunning midnight fireworks in the Harbour. Whilst it sounds like a raucous affair this long-standing tradition is also family-friendly and is great fun for all ages.

If you are planning to spend New Year’s Eve in St Ives we have a few hints and tips to see you through the party:

Fancy-dress

An absolute must I’m afraid if you wish to avoid the friendly chants of ‘Where’s your costume’ from the slightly merry locals. Anything goes, some go all out on their creations, others simply pop on a wig and they are good to go. The local charity shops are a great source of inspiration and my favourite part of New Year is making a costume from scratch. My personal favourite was my husband and I dressed as Woody & Jesse from Toy Story… 

Restaurant Reservations

Again an absolute must. Some eateries, especially the popular Harbour front venues are booked up months (and I mean months!) in advance. Most will offer a limited or set menu on New Years Eve and there’s usually two or three sittings; an early, a late and a very late! Very late tables can usually be kept all evening so if you want a table to see in the New Year, book the latest sitting you can. Most restaurants will give staff a break to see in the New Year so service may be suspended for a time. Make sure the wine is ordered early to ensure supplies don’t run dry!

Pubs

As you’d expect, the pubs on New Years Eve are extremely busy. Some charge for entry but most do not. There are a few child friendly venues, but once the party is in full swing you might find the evening more enjoyable simply wandering the streets and spotting your favourite characters. Drinks early doors tend to be favoured by families, as the pubs are less busy early on. If you’re childless then it’s traditional to embark on a pub-crawl through the town, ending up on the Harbour Front at midnight to see in the New Year.

Taxi’s

Two word’s – Gold dust. If you haven’t booked one you’re in for a long wait. Despite having lived here for over 30 years, booking a taxi is something I quite frequently forget and come 12.30am a two-mile walk home never seems appealing. Of course, if you book one of our luxury self catering apartments in St Ives you won’t need to worry about cabs as the fun is just a short stroll away!

Accommodation

New Year in St Ives is extremely popular and accommodation gets booked up quickly. We are all but fully booked with just Surf, a one-bedroom property, still available over New Year but if you fancy joining the party next year, check-out our 2016 availability. Our 5* self-catering in St Ives is perfectly located in a quiet area tucked away from the heart of it but within easy walking distance.

Whatever your New Year plans, we wish you a happy one.

Kelly x

It’s behind you…

Hall for Cornwall in Truro is an active hub for great events that happen in the area, a brilliant trip for a night out of St Ives, and only a 30-minute drive…

For anyone that fancies a barrel of laughs, featuring the county’s very own comedian Kernow King, with his unique West Country twang, check out Dick Whittington which will run up until 3^rd January 2016 at the Hall for Cornwall.

For a truly magical experience why not try Rogue Theatre’s ‘Winter Wood’ at Tehidy Woods? With evenings spanning the run up to New Year indulge in theatrics in Tehidy woods. Follow the twisting woodland path and let the faeries and sprites entrance you with their wondrous songs and stories. Journey further into the woods an find Old Man Winter who will tell you tales of the path you follow. Accompanied by hot chocolate and face painting, this is an enchanting festive adventure that will stay with you long after Christmas is over.

If you are not the outdoors type why not try a day at the Eden Project with WildWorks Theatre and the Yule Tide Arkive. Eden has an array of activities over Winter that are not to be missed, including its ice skating rink, Enchanted Rainforest and opportunities to meet Father Christmas and his reindeer.

Looking further back to Cornish Winter traditions Let’s Wassail at The National Trust’s Cotehele House brings you a Pagan festival to scare away the evil spirits from the orchard to ensure good crops for the year ahead. You will find all manner of people in fancy dress, and you can even go inside the house and see the spectacular Christmas garland. An alternative look into Cornish heritage, the event is free and starts at 11.30 on Saturday 19^th December.

If history is your interest why not also experience a Tudor Christmas at Trerice House on the outskirts of Newquay, discover traditions old and new and get creative with Christmas craft activities whilst enjoying the festive food in the Barn restaurant and listen to the local choirs. The next open days before Christmas are the 19^th and 20^th December.

With plenty on in the local St Ives area why not take the chance to book a last minute St Ives break at the Sail Lofts five star luxury accommodation. Call us on 01736 799175 to find out more.

Katy x

Winter Solstice...

With the nights becoming ever longer and the run up to Christmas in full swing here at the Sail Lofts luxury accommodation in St Ives we decided to take a look back over 2015 at some of our favourite moments…

Lunar eclipse

Friday 20^th March started like no other day. Abi and I found ourselves up at 7am walking the lanes above St Ives looking for local bracken and brambles along with some natural fauna to deck out a photo shoot in Slipway; one of the twelve Sail Lofts five-star apartments in St Ives.  Pulling into St Ives that morning and driving around the Harbour front towards the Sail Lofts there was an eerie calm, with people sat gazing upwards. Early mornings throughout March in St Ives are usually deserted, bar the local window cleaners.

The lunar eclipse commenced at 7.40am and became total mid-morning, whilst we were setting up the photography equipment. We paused on the Sail Lofts deck during the peak of the eclipse watching across the rooftops as St Ives fell into darkness, and the murmuring of local birds reached a crescendo from the confusion the early onset of the evening caused.

The lunar eclipse marked the day of one of my favourite images taken by David during the photography session at the Sail Lofts. He popped down to the beach and caught a merry stone skipper on Porthmeor idly spending time. I feel the image of the stone skipper in the distance captures the quintessential feeling of St Ives…

Hall of Fame

In early June we received a hard backed envelope that contained a very special accolade. As a team we pride ourselves on providing the best service we can offer to our guests. We are on-site daily during the week to assist with guest enquiries and do all we can to enhance the overall Sail Lofts experience. No request is ever too much trouble, and we will always try our best to make the impossible a reality, we’ve even managed to source a birthday cake shaped like Disney’s Onna with just a day’s notice.

The contents of this mystery envelope highlights the Sail Lofts team’s work and commitment to its guests, and it is down to these guests, who take time to write such wonderful five star reviews that within this envelope we received entry to the TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame 2015 for our continued success in providing five star service, five star accommodation, and five star locations for over five years in a row.

So we would like to say a massive thank you to every guest that has contributed to our amazing TripAdvisor reviews over the years. We look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Katy x

See Sail Lofts reviews on TripAdvisor…