ST IVES
St Ives is a wonderful Cornish seaside town. From the cobbled streets to the pristine white sand beaches and the quaint seven hundred year old pubs, the view is a postcard picture whichever direction you look. The water in the bay is so turquoise you have to pinch yourself that you are actually in the UK. Wherever you walk you can hear the sound of the Atlantic and screaming seagulls while the harbour is full of working fishing boats, another reminder of this town’s real connection with the sea. The Sloop Inn on the wharf was originally a fisherman’s pub and dates way back to 1312 and is one of the oldest in Cornwall. The Harbour was built in 1767 and in its day was the most important port on the north coast. Pasty shops are popular in St Ives and are made with good old wholesome ingredients of meat, potato, swede, onion and salt and pepper. Once the pasty has been folded over and glazed with egg or milk they have to be crimped to create their traditional Cornish pasty shape. On the far side of the peninsula in front of Porthmeor is the Tate gallery, which opened in 1993 and is one of Britain’s premier art galleries. Artists all well known to thrive and gain inspiration from the stunning beauty of St Ives and there are countless other galleries and potteries in town well worth a browse après sailing.