The seaside town and working fishing port of St.Ives is situated on the north coast of Cornwall. St.Ives like many other coastal towns around Cornwall, is a hugely popular tourist destination all year round but even more so during the summer months. Despite tourism overtaking fishing as the towns main industry, the harbour is still home to a small fleet of local fishermen. St.Ives boasts some of the best and cleanest beaches in Western Europe and they have won many awards. There are three main beaches within close proximity to the town, Porthminster, Porthgwidden, Porthmeor and four if you include the harbour when the tide is out.
Photographs of St.Ives by Cornish photographer Carl Whitfield (CWWPhotography).
Overlooking Porthminster beach towards the town and harbour of St.Ives.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthminster Beach
The larger of the three main beaches at St.Ives, Porthminster is nearly a half mile stretch of golden sands and during the summer months will be packed with sunbathers.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
St.Ives still has a small fleet of fishing boats which can be seen unloading their catch onto the quay.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthgwidden Beach
The middle and smaller of the three main beaches at St.Ives, Porthgwidden beach is a delightful sheltered sandy cove and can be quite a sun-trap. Often quieter than the two larger beaches with Porthmeor being just around the corner.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Overlooking Porthminster beach towards the town and harbour of St.Ives on a very low spring tide.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthminster Beach
The long stretch of fine golden sand that is Porthminster beach has the St.Ives branch line train station directly behind the beach. One of the finest beaches not only in England but also Western Europe, the beach has won many awards for it's cleanliness of the beach and the waters.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Just after high tide in the harbour at St.Ives.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthmeor Beach
The Blue Flag winning Atlantic Ocean facing Porthmeor beach is about a 10 minute walk from the main town of St.Ives. The only beach at St.Ives where surfing is a real possibility due to the fact of the beach not being sheltered from the Atlantic swells unlike Porthminster and the smaller Porthgwidden.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
The calm waters inside the harbour at St.Ives.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthminster Beach
Overlooking Porthminster beach on a low spring tide.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthgwidden Beach
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Inside the sandy bottomed harbour of St.Ives. The harbour is classed as one of the beaches but this is only true when the tides are right. On a high spring tide there will be very little sand left by the incoming tide yet on a low tide the harbour will dry out as the tide ebbs away.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthmeor Beach
Looking along the fine golden sands of Porthmeor beach.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Fishing boats moored up in the harbour at St.Ives.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthminster Beach
The fine golden sands of Porthminster beach although deserted in this photograph which was taken in March, become packed with tourists and locals alike in the summer months.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Looking into the harbour at St.Ives on a low spring tide.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthgwidden Beach
The sheltered sandy cove that is Porthgwidden beach.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Local fishing boats in the harbour at St.Ives.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthminster Beach
A deserted Porthminster beach on a low spring tide at St.Ives.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Porthmeor Beach
Looking across the golden stretch of sand of Porthmeor beach at St.Ives.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography
Overlooking Porthminster beach towards the town and harbour of St.Ives.
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Photos of St.Ives by CWWPhotography