Roam Free with M&G

We made the 7hr drive down to St.Ives from our Welsh cottage home and arrived at our lovely & cozy B&B, Tamsins Loft, a 20min walk from the beach located in the higher part of the village. As we had arrived early afternoon it left us plenty of time to enjoy a walk into town and along Porthminster Beach. For dinner by the coast, you can’t go wrong with fish & chips.

We had nothing planned for our first full day down in Saint Ives, so we decided to make the most of life by the sea and went walking along the coastal path towards Carbis Bay Beach which is another lovely spot to go for a dip in the sea. After some time soaking up the sun we made our way back and enjoyed some well deserved ice cream from one of the well known ice creameries simply named St. Ives Ice-cream. A small reminder to keep an eye out for pesky seagulls, as they will not shy away from stealing your treats. For those not familiar with British seagulls, they are about twice the size of their Aussie counterparts, so quite formidable. Our evening meal for the day was a simple and tasty pizza from a local takeaway.

As we had an easy start to our trip we took it up a notch on our second day and went for a 7.3km moderate coastal walk (Nare Head and back again). This trail is a lovely, scenic route that offers stunning coastal views, picturesque coves, and a chance to spot local wildlife. From the Carne Beach car park, we started this walk entering a field over a wooden stile, at the far corner of the car park. After the first steep climb up we were greeted with a herd of highland cows and some calves, it was a lovely treat to see them roam around and not be bothered by us.

From here, we made our way through a farmer’s field to the top of Carne Beacon. We had great panoramic views atop this Bronze Age barrow. There is a legend that Gerent, King of Cornwall, was buried here in 590 AD after his body was carried across Gerrans Bay in a golden boat powered by silver oars. In 1855, there was an excavation done in the area but it failed to find any treasures, though a stone burial chest was found containing ashes.

After we’d taken in the view, we headed through Carne village and towards Nare Head. Once we reached the remains of Mallet’s Cottage, an old fisherman’s cottage from the early 1800’s, we turned left and headed inland through Paradoe Valley woods. Eventually reaching Kiberick Cove, we started making our way along the coastal path back towards Nare Head. Keep an eye out for Gull Rock, which is the home and breeding sire to seabirds including guillemots, herring gulls, shags, and razorbills.

As we made it to Carne Beach we took our shoes off and dipped our feet into the super cold water, which was a shock to the system but at the same time it felt so good on our tired toes. Refreshed and re-energized, we returned to our temporary home for the week.

For our fourth day we ventured out and drove to Marazion to visit the famous Saint Michael’s Mount. The island features a medieval castle and church, beautiful gardens, and offers panoramic views of the surrounding bay. Since the island is accessible only by a man-made causeway during low tide, it’s essential to check the tide schedules to plan your visit to the castle. We spent a good few hours walking through the castle, church and gardens, we had perfect weather so we thoroughly enjoyed our time on the island.

After our time exploring the island we headed into the town, checking out the local stores and walking along Marazion Beach. Before we left we sat on the beach and watched the tide come in, and bit by bit the causeway disappeared under the water.

Day five is here already and we had another day out exploring. Today we drove down to Sennen Cove and completed another coastal walk to Land’s End. We started this 8.5km walk at the Sennen Beach paid car park. Made our way down Cove Hill, kept going past the lifeboat station and just past the Harbour car park, we found the stairs that lead up a grass field with a sign post that has Coast Path and from there you just keep to the path and follow the signs, its an out and back path so you can walk as far as you want.

As you continue the walk there is an endless view of rugged coast line; I love watching the waves crash onto the rocks below, I find it very peaceful. Once you have walked a bit you will soon come across an old ship wreck of a German cargo ship the RMS Mulheim. On this walk you will also encounter one of my favourite rock formations, Enys Dodnan Arch. There’s just something about rocks that have been shaped by the waves over so many years that I think a lot of people just love to check out at least once in their life.

As we continued our walk to Land’s End, we passed some ruins of a castle that date back to the iron age, Maen Cliff Castle. Nothing really left but a few stones poking out the ground. Whether you walk or drive, once you arrive at Land’s End, there’s not a huge amount to do other than take in the breathtaking scenic views. However, there are a few places to check out, including the popular sign (though you now have to pay if you want a personalised photo with it) and the First and Last House which is a charming historic building that sells snacks and gifts. If you’re a coastal lover this walk is for you.

Our Sixth day in Cornwall and you guessed it, another day out exploring! Today we made the 1hr 30min drive up to Tintagel. First stop was wandering around the ruins of Tintagel Castle. The castle was built in the 13th century, and eventually fell into ruin. However, archaeologists have discovered remnants of an older, high-status settlement with Mediterranean trade connections. Not only can you wander through the ruins, you can also cross a beautiful footbridge, visit Merlin’s Cave, and soak in the stunning coastal views. It’s a perfect blend of history and breathtaking scenery. After our stroll through the ruins, we made our way down all the stairs to look into Merlin’s cave and all the other caves along the coast. There are a lot of stairs, both made from wood and stones so many are uneven or larger then other steps, so please be careful going up and down. If you walk over the bridge of Tintagel you will soon get to the bronze sculpture of King Arthur ‘Gallos’ which is Cornish for power.

Before wrapping up our visit to Tintagel, we just had to sample some of the delicious traditional Cornish pasties, and they did not disappoint.

Day seven. Took a little drive to Wheal Coates in Saint Agnes. It’s an old tin mine; the earliest records date back to 1692. This area was also the filming location for some scenes in the popular British TV series Poldark. Unfortunately, the day we visited was a very gloomy day with strong strong winds, heavy rain and grey skies. Thankfully, as we started walking around the grounds, the rain eased off a little so we were able to get some photos and enjoy the landscape.

Next we drove to Batallock Mine. Another former mine on the coastline now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s another beautiful spot that is very popular with tourists and photographers. When we arrived we had that typical ‘Grey British Weather’ but we made the most of it and braved the cold and wet. As much as I would have loved to have see this place on a bright sunny day, the grey skies made for some lovely moody shots.

We spent a bit of time walking around the ruins as much as we could before the weather got the best of us and we packed up and headed back to our little cottage. As it was our last night and the weather wasn’t on our side, we picked up some supplies and cooked ourselves a nice little dinner, leaving us dry and snug inside while the rain continued through the evening.

As we packed our bags and prepared for the long drive back home, we decided to take a last-minute detour to visit Stonehenge for the first time. We’d driven past on the A303 previously, but never stopped to see it up close before. The rain from the previous day persisted, leaving us with grey, gloomy weather. The one benefit of going to Stonehenge on a wet day is that the crowds are far less, but obviously you’ll have to struggle with the rain. Stonehenge is basically just a pile of big rocks in a circle, but there are also over 250 archaeological treasures, including the reconstructed face of a 5,500-year-old man, and you can enjoy hands-on exhibits that tell the story of Stonehenge. Make sure you have time to discover some of the incredible artifacts on display at the Stonehenge Visitor Centre. If you’re an English Heritage member you will get free admission – membership is definitely worth the purchase if you intend on visiting a few of their places while in the UK. I am glad we made this detour, even with the rain we had. I think if you have the chance you should take the opportunity to visit Stonehenge.

Our journey ended with the ancient stones of Stonehenge, a perfect finale to a week of adventure. From the charm of St Ives and the rugged trails of Nare Head, to the legends of Tintagel Castle and the historic tin mines of Saint Agnes, each place left a lasting memory. Despite the gloomy weather, Stonehenge’s mystique made for an unforgettable conclusion. Until our next adventure… Keep roaming free.

What’s your next St Ives adventure? Share your plans or dreams in the comments below, and let’s explore the beauty of these wonderful places together!