History & Heritage, Leisure Activities, Outdoor Activities

Town Walks

Shanty Baba

Be thoroughly entertained by the original and the best. Shanty spins his stories regularly throughout the summer evenings during walks around St Ives, which are both educational (in the broadest sense), fun and sometimes downright scary! His best-loved walks are the Lantern Ghost Storywalk and the St Ives Pirate Walk. Walk details and times are found here and on boards displayed around the town.

 

History and Art Guided Tours

Join tour guide Dawn Bright for one of her enjoyable and popular walking tours of the town. The Story of St Ives Tour is a 90 minute stroll, uncovering the unique history of the town, from its humble beginnings as a mining and fishing village, through its heyday as a world-renowned modernist art colony to its current position as one of the best loved holiday destinations in the country. And there’ll be a few stories of smuggling along the way, and our love of Cornish Pasties and Cream Teas (with the cream on top!).
 
Drop-on Tours run on Wednesdays at 11am – there’s no need to book, just turn up at the Guildhall just before 11am. Tours are £7.50 per person, with children under 12 free. If you can’t make the Wednesday tour please call Dawn, who can arrange private tours at your chosen time starting from just £30

For more information visit Dawn’s website.

 

Rural St Ives Walking Np 01

Explore rural St Ives for a glimpse of Cornish life – Nick Pumphrey

St Ives Walks

Tony Farrell is a St Ives man whose family has been involved for generations in fishing, seafaring and mining. He has a BA honours in English and Archaeology and has taught and lectured in further and higher education, and for 20 years was the Head of English at St Ives School.
Join Tony on one of his instructional tours:

  • Town walk: 1h30 walk on Tuesdays, taking in places of historical and cultural significance in St Ives. The development of the town and its heritage, the importance of fishing, seafaring and mining as well as the growth of tourism and the significance of St Ives as a centre for Modern Art. Discover St Ives’ unique history through buildings and artefacts located in obscure places.
  • Environs of the town walk : 2h30 walk on Fridays, exploring the countryside on the outskirts of St Ives, visiting Knill’s Monument and examining evidence of opencast tin mining from the Medieval period and taking the Pilgrims’ trail, now known as St Michael’s Way. Halsetown village will be visited and its interesting origins explained. Includes part of the coastal footpath back to St Ives.

Visit his website here.

Also around

Geevor Tin Mine

Come and visit Geevor Tin Mine the largest preserved mine site in the country, the key centre within the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site!

Hayle Heritage Centre

The Heritage Centre is run by Harvey’s Foundry Trust – a charity that has for over 20 years been working to protect and promote Hayle's rich heritage.

Seal Sanctuary

The Seal Sanctuary in Gweek is the only fully operational seal rescue centre in Cornwall.