Facing northeast and just one mile east of St Ives is the sheltered Carbis Bay.
The beach rarely has any surf so makes for an ideal spot for families with young children as the sea here is perfect for swimming. Served by the picturesque St Ives branch line and around a mile long, the golden sands bathe in the bright light of West Cornwall and a short walk on the east side of the beach at low tide brings you to Porth Kidney sands where you’ll find a RSPB bird sanctuary, an important habitat for sea birds. Part of an array of beaches that make up St Ives Bay, listed as one of the world’s best by the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Organisation, the beach at Carbis Bay is surrounded by sub-tropical plants and lapped by turquoise waters which just might just have you thinking you were somewhere much further south.
Special care needs to be taken near Carrick Gladden (Hawks Point) as this is the only area that could suffer from tidal influence.
During June 2021 Carbis Bay was the location for the 47th G7 summit.
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- Carpark (Charges apply)
- Public Toilets
- Café (Seasonal)
- Restaurants
- Hazard: Tides (Rising / Falling)
- Lifeguards (Summer only)
History of Carbis Bay
Travel / Parking information for Carbis Bay
Directions to Carbis Bay
To reach Carbis Bay Beach, take the A30 towards Hayle and then follow the A3074 directly to Carbis Bay. For those preferring public transportation, Carbis Bay has its own railway station, served by the picturesque St Ives Bay Line, offering a stunning approach to the beach.
Parking for Carbis Bay
Carbis Bay has 1 small car park by the beach. There is another car park on the road down to Carbis Bay. This is quite large and considerably cheaper than the beach car park, but there is a 5-10 minute steep walk down to the beach.