Adventures from the doorstep

I like to take photos and believe it or not that’s great when I have the opportunity to go out and explore Cornwall whenever I please, some people however don’t have this advantage but in my experience people who visit Cornwall (or at least the majority of them) don’t use their time here to explore a side of Cornwall you don’t usually see. Okay let me elaborate, I don’t begrudge people who take advantage of the countless beaches as they sit in the sun enjoying their day, I do however feel that Cornwall has so much more to offer and an adventure is, quite literally, on our doorstep.

Just a short walk away from the Sail Lofts luxury apartments is what is, for what reason I do not know, a headland aptly called the Island (yes, you read that correctly). The Island is a brilliant place to feel the ocean breeze surround you, the sun shines itself upon the open green banks on the Island’s hillside so you would never get too cold on a nice day, the views overlook both Porthgwidden and Porthmeor and on a nice day the three mile strand of golden sands at Gwithian becomes illuminated in the sunlight. But this is what people come to Cornwall to see right? St Ives undoubtedly has a connection to the traditional seaside resort and this is best reflected in the various shops that flourish when the weather is at its best. Cornwall to me, has always felt somewhat detached to the rest of the country for better or worse, maybe its osmosis taking effect but I do feel that Cornwall is different to our neighbours over the Tamar and beyond. I think that this in turn is what keeps drawing people back, be it the (sometimes) great weather or the unique location this place offers. But back to the original point, I don’t think people are making the best use of their time here and I am going to explain why.

Taking a step into the nearby unknown

I spent no more than half an hour exploring the far end of what we locals continue to call the Island and found that on this hot, sunny day in April people were unsurprisingly sitting out on the beach when they could really use their time to see what more St Ives has to offer and I don’t think I’m being hyperbolic when I say that nobody knows about it, they really don’t they look right over it into the ocean out toward the distant horizon.

Okay so it might not be for everyone I understand that. I would have to point out that during my short jaunt across what seemed to be the barren geological face of the Island I encountered terrain that isn’t the most accessible nor is it the safest, but it had things which surprised even me and I’ve been here, making forays into the wild Cornish countryside for the entirety of my life.

So, back to the far edge of the Island, in the alien landscape just off the edge of Porthmeor. The rocks are blackened and battered from the unrelenting Atlantic Ocean, on a calm day however this foreign landscape is open for exploration by the adventurous traveller. It is, in no way – safe, there’s no question about it. However the amalgamation of boulders and beach life is an incredible, untapped escape into nature. Random rock pools appear in the midst of the stone and you can see the cavernous depths beneath your very feet where the ocean waves bound back and forth at high tide. Yes it’s fraught with danger but in a way this is exciting, with the next step you could slip, and end up closer to the coastline or end up very worse for wear so you have to calculate your every move as though you’re in the midst of a game of chess against yourself, the next move has to be planned and performed with precision and already with your next two moves already in mind. Despite all of this what I noticed on my travels was how dense this spot was from nature’s standpoint. The further I cascaded my way down the coast toward the ocean’s edge, the more and more I noticed the mussles clinging to the stone with their limpet neighbours next to them on the rock-face. Once in a while I might see a small snail-like winkle tucked in between the gaps. Each of these tiny little creatures rest on a sprawling bed of barnacles, which cascade over the stones like an unrelenting wave, moving closer and closer toward the shoreline. Once in a while I would come across a plethora of blue-grey mussles packed tightly next to one another waiting for the next wave to wash its way over them. While out on my coastal canvassing surrounded by the sweeping winds and the swirling seas I could hear the ground at my feet creak as though each individual life form winced at my presence pulling themselves tighter to the stone in a sort of rehearsed unison. This is the Cornwall I feel deserves to be explored more, I don’t feel you can argue that this county doesn’t have its past and present without the ocean and it’s hard to deny that nature such as this won’t be here forever – so being able to explore it today is undoubtedly worth trying even if this kind of exploration isn’t for you. It’s exciting, it’s scenic and it’s something you can only experience here.

Start your Cornish adventure today...

There are so many things to explore in Cornwall, while it’s easier to take the simpler option, this county has so much more to offer and it goes without saying it’s closer than you think. Only a five-minute walk from the Sail Lofts self catering apartments you can be transported to an open coastline within which you can explore the varied sights St Ives and Cornwall have to offer. If you’re feeling adventurous why not get in touch and book a stay with us at the Sail Lofts by calling one of our knowledgeable guest hosts on 01736 799175 who will be able to delve deeper into the range of opportunities in Cornwall.