If you can get through the busy and narrow streets then Porthmeor Beach at St Ives is beautiful and seems to always have a wave. I live about a 20 min drive away. There is usually plenty of parking but be prepared for it to get crazy during the summer. Prices for parking are about pretty much what you’d expect. But as I said I am only 20 mins away so I’ll rarely be there for the whole day. 

Surf wise it’s a cove really, it’s about a half mile wide and when everywhere else on the north coast is blown out, the shelter gives it a tidier wave. There are a load of points, it suits all abilities and the drag isn’t usually too bad.  

In fairness if it’s fairly flat in the summer months some of the best times I’ve had was paddling around to Porthminster beach. The sea quality is transparent on sunny days, you paddle out and see the sea bed the whole time. On more than a handful of occasions I have paddled with seals swimming below me or seeing beautiful, tropical-looking jellyfish. 

The lifeguards are brilliant too, they are always keen to tell you what’s going on and what’s coming. 

There are a load of places to grab a bite to eat when you get out. St Ives has loads of bakeries, cafes and pubs. It’s all for the waves of tourists who hit it up in the summer but a lot of it is open out of season. 

It’s a good night out too.

If you are holidaying in St Ives and you haven’t already booked my mates from Birmingham stayed at a lodge park in Lelant they got the train into St Ives daily and said the train ride was a daily highlight. They said it’s easy to do a beach safari too, as it stops at a few on the way around. 

Lovely beach, good surf, lovely town, lovely people. Parking can be a bit painful in the summer.