Carbis Bay, St Ives
No 5, Gwel Marten
A first-class apartment with breathtaking sea views across Carbis Bay and St Ives
From £1,200 / week
Romantic Cottages in St Ives
Cobbled lanes, harbour light on the water, a gallery around every corner — St Ives has a particular talent for making time slow down, which is precisely why romantic cottages in St Ives tend to book early and linger long in the memory. Choose a week here and the rhythm of the place does the work: morning coffee watching fishing boats head out, afternoons lost in salt air and sculpture, evenings when the sky turns colours that have been drawing painters for well over a century. A self-catering retreat gives you all of that on your own terms — no dining-room clocks, no neighbours at the next table, just the two of you and one of the most quietly bewitching towns in Britain.
Not sure which of these in St Ives?
St Ives
Porthminster Mews 2
A coastal retreat moments from Porthminster Beach with use of hotel spa facilities
From £795 / week
Carbis Bay
Tintin Cottage
Charming former tin miner’s cottage moments from Carbis Bay beach
From £435 / week
Hawkes Point, Carbis Bay
Edge O’ Cliff
A striking eco-home on the coastal slopes of Hawkes Point
From £1,995 / week
Carbis Bay
Hummingbird
A romantic Alpine-inspired retreat moments from Carbis Bay
From £1,660 / week
Carbis Bay
Owl’s Nest
A fabulous apartment just moments from Carbis Bay beach
From £550 / week
St Ives
Picture Perfect
Stunning second floor penthouse apartment overlooking St Ives
From £610 / week
St Ives
Moon Shadow
Charming Downalong cottage full of unique features
From £155 / night
St Ives
Blue Moon
Downalong cottage full of coastal charm and unique features
From £145 / night
FAQs
Common questions
Shoulder season — late spring and autumn — tends to offer the most atmospheric experience for couples. Crowds thin, light softens, and the town settles back into itself. Summer is vibrant but busy. Winter can be genuinely dramatic: storms rolling in off the Atlantic, fires lit early, near-empty beaches. Each season has a strong case. Check the listings for availability across the year and decide which mood suits you best.
Many couples travel with dogs, and a good number of properties here welcome them. Cornish beaches have seasonal restrictions — typically the busier summer months — so it's worth checking local signage when you arrive. Filter the listings on this page by dog-friendly to see which cottages are suitable, then confirm any specific house rules directly when you book.
Yes — St Ives has its own branch-line station, reached via a connection at St Erth from the mainline. The branch itself is one of the most scenic short rail journeys in England, hugging the estuary and coast. Arriving by train is genuinely part of the experience. If you're driving, parking in the town centre is limited, so check your cottage's parking arrangements before you travel.
Privacy, mostly. A self-catering cottage gives you your own front door, your own pace and the freedom to eat breakfast at noon if you feel like it. You can stock the kitchen with local produce, open a bottle whenever the mood takes you, and watch the harbour from a window seat without anyone hovering. For couples, that autonomy tends to make the stay feel more genuinely restorative than a hotel room does.
