St Ives, Cornwall - a few questions

[HM]

We have just booked a week near St Ives in July (before the schools break up) and are looking at suggestions of what we should do. There will be 5 of us - my hubbie and I and young baby (due next month), plus my parents who are in their early 50s. We're quite active but will obviously have a small baby in tow!

How far is it from St Ives to the Eden Project? And how far from St Ives to Padstowe? We're thinking of booking into Rick Stein's restaurant one day for lunch - anyone been? Do they do veggie food?

Any suggestions / advice welcome!

Thanks

[gary baldy]

Do you have a car?
There is a bus link to Eden put i dont know how regular it is from St Ives - its about 3/4 hour drive (if that - you might have to queue esp. in July). You can spend a day there.
The Tate in St Ives is fantastic if you like that sort of thing and there is a Barbara Hepworth museum aswell.
There are, i think, 5 beaches at St Ives and some are small but all very nice.
There are lots of good places to eat.
As far as i can remember Steins isnt famous for its veggie stuff and getting in is very difficult. The rest of Padstow is nice too and you can go for a coastal walk and there is a big beach nearby.
I think it sounds perfect for all of you.
Just one thing - its a bit hilly in St Ives , Padstow and at Eden so you'll want to share the pushchair duties!

[campbellking]

If it's still there, go to the wonderful ice cream shop in Padstow. In my opinion, the Eden Project is quite overrated, far more beautiful is the Lost Gardens of Heligan (cheaper too). One of my favourite places in Cornwall is St Just In Roseland, lovely riverside walks and pretty church, but not sure if that would be out of your way.

[vehelpfulguy]

I had a two week family holiday in St Ives a couple of years ago and we enjoyed:

St Michaels Mount. This is a large old building on a island (when the tide is in), but you can walk to it when the tide is out.

Amazing to watch the tide come in and gradually encircle the building. All the people rushing to be the last to walk back on the path.

Flambards: Theme park. Many rides, but also things for adults to walk round and look at.

Paradise Park: Wildlife sanctuary which had an amazing show using birds of prey.

http://www.paradisepark.org.uk/

Lands End: Rather spoilt now with fun fair etc but you have to go. Dont drive there and pay the large car park fee, walk along the coast for a mle or so and get in for free (it is "free" to get into Lands End but you have to pay to park, it is on a public footpath so just walk there)

St Ives is also a lovely place to stroll round. You have to park outside the town and get a bus (or walk) in, but lovely place.

Web site for St Ives

http://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk/

[vehelpfulguy]

Search under "RAC Route Planner" and you can find out how far it is from any UK town to any other UK town.

According to them it is 47 miles from St Ives to Padstow.

Remember that is a "Cornwall" 47 miles not a "motorway" 47 miles.

[vehelpfulguy]

Consider joining the National Trust before you go. It will cost about �60 but get you free into ANY National Trust property and will probably pay for itself in Cornwall.

St Michaels Mount is National trust. A family ticket to here is �15 (free if you are in NT)

Other NT in Cornwall include Lanhydrock (large house and gardens), Glendurgan (gardens), Trellisick (gardens), Trerice (house and gardens).

You can also see the working Cornish Beam Engines (amazing site) as they are NT.

The National Trust also own lots of land (and car parks) in Cornwall and you can park for FREE when in an NT car park when you are an NT member.

This can save 20 pounds easily on a Cornwall holiday just on parking.

Go to the NT web site and search under Cornwall to find out how much there is to see.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/

Note that the NT also buys miles of UK coastline to stop it being built on so by being an NT member you are helping to preserve our coastlines for future generations.