Best Beaches in Cornwall 2011

St Ives has been voted the UK's best beach resort and number 6th in a league of the best sandy destinations in Europe according to Trip Advisor.

The beaches of Cornwall have been identified as among the best in Europe - beating anything that Spain, Italy and France have to offer. Millions of families have given up on the idea of a foreign holiday this year, largely because of the cost of living squeeze on household budgets.

St Ives boasts several stunning beaches and some of the top-ranked hotels, apartments and B&Bs, according to travel information website TripAdvisor.

Another Cornish beach was 2nd on the list of beach beaches in the UK - Newquay.

Bournemouth was third, Weymouth in Dorset fourth and the Welsh resort of Tenby in Pembrokeshire fifth.

The stunning turquoise waters off the beaches around St Ives are among the cleanest in Europe, following a £100million clean-up campaign. St Ives itself has the award-winning Porthmeor beach, with its fine golden sand and surf school.

There are trained lifeguards through the summer and a restaurant and cafe facilities right on the beach, together with beach huts and other facilities.

Nearby is the sheltered Porthminster beach, which boasts almost half a mile of golden sands with calm sea conditions ideal for families.

Seals populate the harbour, while dolphins, porpoises and even basking sharks can also be seen.

The other Cornwall beach to shine in the TripAdvisor research was at Padstow, made famous by the restaurants of TV chef Rick Stein.

Outside of the sun, sea and surf, St Ives is also famous for its Tate Gallery, featuring works of artists such as Dame Barbara Hepworth and Bernard Leach.

While the seaside town is also a centre for fine restaurants, using fish and other local ingredients, including The Black Rock, which has received a Michelin 'Bib Gourmand' award for offering good food at moderate prices.

Head of tourism at VisitCornwall, Malcolm Bell, said: 'This award is an amazing testament to the popularity of St Ives which is truly one of the jewels in Cornwall's crown.

'As well as stunning beaches it has a range of quality accommodation and fantastic attractions making it appeal to visitors of all ages and interests.'

The position of St Ives, being close to the western tip of Cornwall and the end of the Gulf Stream, means it has an extremely mild climate and relatively warm winters. As a result, many gardens are able to successfully grow exotic and subtropical plants outdoors, such as palms and even bananas. In the summer, it can certainly give Mediterranean resorts a run for their money, with temperatures of around 30°C (86F) during the best weather.

Among the many attractions within a short drive are the Eden Project, which houses two of the world's largest greenhouses - one is home to a majestic rainforest, while the fruits and flowers of the Mediterranean, South Africa and California grow in the second.

There is also Lands End, the most westerly point of the country, and St Michael's Mount, near Penzance, a fairytale island with an exotic garden, ancient harbour, church and medieval castle.

Posted in: Beaches in Cornwall