The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Twenty-five years ago, Heligan’s historic gardens were unknown and unseen; lost under a tangle of weeds.
St Ives welcomes disabled visitors but the town has some winding cobbled streets with hills and steps, which can prove difficult for users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters. However, there is level access to most of the shops, cafés and bars around the harbour; although we cannot guarantee the accessibility of every individual business. Please contact us if you would like further information.
Disabled parking
There are disabled spaces in all the public car parks – these incur a charge.
Disabled badge holders may park on double yellow lines for a limited period (please check your badge literature for information and restrictions*). Please be aware that many of town’s streets have an additional yellow stripe running over the curb which means that parking here is completely prohibited.
*Whilst we are happy to advise on disabled parking we cannot be held responsible for anyone receiving a parking notice as a result of illegal parking.
Blue badge parking in St Ives
Only Blue badge holders with Nil and Disabled tax discs are currently entitled to free parking in Cornwall Council car parks. However, as vehicles no longer have to display a tax disc, it’s difficult for Cornwall Council to identify those entitled to the free parking.
If you’re a Nil and Disabled tax disc holder, you should continue to display your tax disc until it expires. After that you will need to register your vehicle’s details with Cornwall Council to continue parking for free in Cornwall Council car parks.
Register your Nil and Disabled vehicle’s details with Cornwall Council
Up to two weeks before your tax disc expires, or if you’re visiting Cornwall on holiday, contact Cornwall Council’s Parking Service and give Cornwall Council your Nil and Disabled vehicle’s make, model and registration number.
Email: parkingservices@cornwall.gov.uk
Address: Parking Services, PO Box 664, TR1 9DH
Cornwall Council Parking Service will check your vehicle’s details and add them to the Council’s system. This will let enforcement officers on patrol see that your vehicle is allowed to park for free in Council car parks as long as a valid blue badge is also displayed.
Disabled Toilets
Getting around
All the beaches have adjacent level concrete paths.
Beach wheelchairs and buggies can be hired from the cafés on Porthminster beach and Porthmeor beach. There is a map covering Cornwall highlighting the different locations where you can hire Beach wheelchairs.
Wheelchairs can be hired from Star Equipment Hire.
Mobility Scooters can be hired from HSC Mobility in Hayle.
Regular buses run to and from the Trenwith Coach & Car Park at the top of town.
A taxi rank is situated beside the cinema and police station on Lower Stennack.
