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United Kingdom
England
South West England
St. Ives

Carbis Bay from St Ives — Cornwall

Easy

4.6

(13)

63

hikers

Carbis Bay from St Ives — Cornwall

01:29

5.32km

100m

Hiking

Embark on an easy coastal hike from St Ives to Carbis Bay, a 3.3-mile (5.3 km) journey that offers captivating views across St Ives Bay. You will experience gentle ascents and descents, gaining about 328 feet (100 metres) in elevation, with the entire route taking approximately 1 hour and 28 minutes. The path is well-maintained, guiding you past golden sandy beaches and offering beautiful glimpses of St Ives, including the notable Porthminster Beach.

This route is generally considered easy, making it suitable for most hikers, though it does include some steps, particularly when crossing the railway line. While the path is accessible, these steps mean it is not suitable for prams. Many choose to walk one way and return by train or bus, which adds to the experience and offers a different perspective of the stunning Cornish coastline.

As a section of the South West Coast Path, this trail is celebrated for its unique blend of natural beauty and historical significance. You might spot diverse wildlife like seabirds, grey seals, and even bottlenose dolphins, all while enjoying the famous "St Ives light" that has inspired artists for centuries. The route also passes historical features, including old fishermen's lookout huts and offers the unique chance to wave at passing trains.

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Waypoints

A

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

1

157 m

Porthminster Beach

Highlight • Beach

With golden sands, clear waters, palm trees blowing in the breeze and one of the warmest climates in Britain, you can easily forget you’re in England at Porthminster Beach. The Blue Flag awarded beach is renowned for safe swimming and is a firm favourite among locals and visitors alike.

Tip by

2

1.98 km

Carbis Bay Beach

Highlight • Beach

The white sand and clear waters of Carbis Bay Beach are sheltered from the big Atlantic seas so it makes for a tranquil beach, popular with swimmers. It is often less busy than other beaches in Cornwall. It also hosted the G7 summit back in 2021.

Tip by

3

2.63 km

Just over the sea with beautiful views of the entire coast before Hayle. Small, covered, descent necessary, but the path is easy to find.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4

3.03 km

From here you can see at least six separate, beautiful beachs

Tip by

B

5.32 km

End point

Train Station

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Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

2.27 km

2.21 km

822 m

Surfaces

2.14 km

1.85 km

1.30 km

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Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

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Weather

Powered by Foreca

Sunday 12 July

28°C

19°C

11 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 24.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

February 20, 2025,Carbis Bay from St Ives — Cornwall
It was a lovely walk , but very muddy at the Carbis Bay headland and slippery . The path there was narrow and close to the edge so do try to go when it hadn't rained the day/night before..
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