Escape to the heart of St Ives in this original fisherman’s cottage set above a small craft pottery studio. This cosy cottage sleeps four in comfort — big enough for a family, but still cosy enough for a romantic couple’s getaway. It is excellently located, being just moments from stunning Porthmeor Beach and the Tate gallery, and a short stroll through cobbled streets from the picturesque harbour and town centre. There are even glimpses of the big blue from the master bedroom.
Artisan Cottage has been lovingly refurbished to a high standard, retaining its authentic character and delightful sense of homely coastal charm. Small, yet perfectly formed, Artisan Cottage is one of the charming granite-built homes in ‘down along’, the old harbourside heart of St Ives. The cottage is arranged on two levels and beautifully furnished with the little details that make a holiday home feel just right. Whether you choose to make this your base for exploring the beautiful coastline of St Ives Bay and the Penwith peninsula, or you simply want to settle in and soak up Cornwall’s most iconic harbour town with its galleries, beaches and restaurants, Artisan Cottage makes a great choice.
Inside Artisan Cottage
You’ll enter Artisan Cottage up a short flight of ancient granite steps and step through stable doors into a cosy and well furnished living area with beamed ceiling and two sofas, TV/DVD player and a delightful window seat looking out over the narrow street that leads to Porthmeor beach and the Tate in one direction (100m), and to St Ives Island and the harbour in the other. A small but delightful and very well equipped kitchen/dining room is also to be found on this floor. Up a turn of stairs, the upper floor contains the master bedroom with glimpses of the sea over the slate rooftops, and the twin bedroom. A family bathroom completes the cottage.
Outside the cottage
Straight from your door you’ll be able to amble down cobbled streets to the harbour, or to the inviting little shops in Fore Street. You’ll be spoilt for beaches; on the North coast of St Ives you’ll find the drama of Porthmeor, St Ives’ famous surf beach (hire a board or book a surf lesson). On the West side of the Island the beaches of Porthminster, Porthgwidden, Harbour and Bamaluz are sheltered in most weather conditions and offer clean white sands and safe family-friendly waters – so it’s easy to find a sheltered sun-trap. Porthmeor and Porthminster are lifeguarded in summer months.
All the main St Ives beaches are dog-friendly between the first of October and the Sunday before Easter of the following year. The town boasts numerous art galleries, ranging from the internationally famous Tate, to tiny tucked away private galleries, where serious collectors browse side by side with curious visitors. All this, plus a thriving restaurant culture, and a climate that’s sub tropical most of the year, right on your doorstep.
Things we love…
We love the way the owners of Artisan Cottage have brought out the character of this authentic St Ives Cottage. They have wisely resisted the temptation to over modernise, but instead have ensured that all of the comforts you’d expect are sensitively integrated into the cottage, alongside the personal touches that really bring the St Ives experience to life – like delightful handmade soft furnishings, collections of paintings, prints and well-chosen books. Artisan cottage makes an ideal choice for a family or couple wanting a classic fisherman’s cottage in the heart of old St Ives, moments from a choice of things to do that will spoil you – from five bright sandy beaches, numerous shops and restaurants, galleries, coastal paths and places to visit.
A note on parking
The closest car park is ‘The Island’ (129 spaces, postcode TR26 1SY). It is approximately 200 yards away. There are four other long stay car parks in St Ives.
You can buy a weekly ticket that allows you to park in any council car parks in St Ives, on the spot. Better still, you can buy a Rover Ticket in advance (allow two weeks) that will permit you to park in St Ives car parks and most other council car parks throughout Cornwall, so this can be a great holiday investment. Find out more about Rover Tickets here. Both types of ticket cost £47 currently.
