Town dubbed one of the ‘jewels in the crown’ of the UK has ‘beautiful beach’

St Ives has been dubbed the “one of our jewels in the crown” by Cornish travel experts for good reason. Malcolm Bell, now-retired Chief Executive at Visit Cornwall, told Country Living: “St Ives is one of our jewels in the crown and this does not surprise us, but to have the spotlight on our gem is wonderful news” Here fishing boats of every hue, bob and gently turn as the tide does. That’s about as rough as the water gets as it’s protected by piers on either side. Behind it, all hugged-picked, stone fishermen’s cottages step up the hillside. You can work your way up via tiny cobbled lanes lined with many shops owned by local artisans. This area is called Downalong and is full of boutiques selling everything from ceramics and homeware to local produce and clothing. The area has received glowing reviews from visitors, who adore its beach and harbour. One visitor wrote on Tripadvisor: “Very beautiful beach with golden sand and blue water.” Another said: “Simply spectacular. It’s got everything that would get its best beach awards. If you get the weather, which we were lucky enough to do, there is no point in flying hundreds of miles. Staycation heaven!”