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Mother Ivey’s Bay, Cornwall

241 properties found

A living room with a television and sofa at 2 Bedrooms overlooking Little Petherick Creek in Little Petherick

2 Bedrooms overlooking Little Petherick Creek

Little Petherick, Cornwall

4 Guests
2 Beds
Pet Friendly
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£1364

A living room with a fireplace sofa armchair and a wooden dining table at Sunrise Cottage in Padstow

Sunrise Cottage

Padstow, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
No pets
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£411

A building with windows and bushes at 8 Yellow Sands in Padstow
New

8 Yellow Sands

Harlyn, Cornwall, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
Pet Friendly
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£373

A stone patio with two wicker chairs stone steps and a white stone house with blue windows at Lantern Cottage in Padstow

Lantern Cottage

Padstow, Cornwall

3 Guests
2 Beds
No pets
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£520

A kitchen with a washing machine and a clock at Ground Floor Cornish Retreat Free Parking in Bodmin

Ground Floor Cornish Retreat Free Parking

Bodmin, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
No pets
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£598

A house with a garden and path at Sleeps 9 KingBeds Family Friendly Pityme near Penmayne

Sleeps 9 KingBeds Family Friendly

Pityme near Penmayne, Cornwall

9 Guests
4 Beds
No pets
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£2034

A white two-story house with plants in pots and a wooden bench outside at The Keep Pot in Port Isaac

The Keep Pot

Port Isaac, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
No pets
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£383

A small dark blue cabin with a white door surrounded by stone walls and greenery under a blue sky at Dot May in Porteath near Polzeath

Dot May

Porteath near Polzeath, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
No pets

for 7 nights

From

£408

Exterior view of a house with stone walls a wooden gate and a pathway at Sorrel Cottage in Padstow

Sorrel Cottage

Padstow, Cornwall

4 Guests
2 Beds
Pet Friendly
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£423

An outdoor seating area with two chairs and a table near a wooden hot tub and a small building with wheels at Orchard Burlawn near Wadebridge

Orchard

Burlawn near Wadebridge, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
No pets

for 7 nights

From

£442

A garden view with a table and chairs outside at Chiffchaff in Padstow

Chiffchaff

Padstow, Cornwall

4 Guests
2 Beds
Pet Friendly
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£539

A green corrugated metal hut with cream windows and doors next to a fenced wooden structure on a grassy area at Bramble Burlawn near Wadebridge

Bramble

Burlawn near Wadebridge, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
No pets

for 7 nights

From

£450

A shepherd hut with a bench and steps in a garden at Hillbre Shepherd Hut in Padstow

Hilbre Shepherd Hut

Trevone, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
No pets

for 7 nights

From

£391

A green caravan with steps leading to the door on grass with outdoor seating and a wooden shelter at Willow Burlawn near Wadebridge

Willow

Burlawn near Wadebridge, Cornwall

2 Guests
1 Beds
No pets

for 7 nights

From

£454

Exterior of a cottage with a small patio table and chairs and a bench at Bumbles in Padstow

Bumbles

Padstow, Cornwall

4 Guests
2 Beds
Pet Friendly
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£532

An outdoor patio area with a bench, cushions, a barbecue grill, a wooden storage box, a turquoise chair, and a small balcony above at Penpoll in Little Petherick Creek near Padstow

Penpoll

Little Petherick Creek near Padstow, Cornwall

4 Guests
2 Beds
Pet Friendly
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£524

A stone house with a patio area that has a table, chairs, and umbrella on a grassy lawn at Sundowner in Padstow

Sundowner

Padstow, Cornwall

4 Guests
2 Beds
Pet Friendly
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£504

A stone building with a tiled roof and wooden fencing in front at The Old Dairy in Padstow

The Old Dairy

Padstow, Cornwall

4 Guests
2 Beds
No pets
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£525

An entrance with a wooden door and potted plants at Hillbre in Trevone

Hilbre

Trevone, Cornwall

4 Guests
2 Beds
Pet Friendly
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£515

An outdoor area with a table and chairs at Spacious 3 Bed House Sleeps 6 Parking Wifi in Newquay

Spacious 3 Bed House Sleeps 6 Parking Wifi

Newquay, Cornwall

6 Guests
3 Beds
No pets
Wifi

for 7 nights

From

£1128

I’ve read loads of these “top beaches in Cornwall” lists over the years, and I’m constantly amazed that one of my favourite beaches never seems to get a place. Mother Ivey’s Bay, one of the Seven Bays (along with Porthcothan, Treyarnon, Constantine, Booby’s, Harlyn and Trevone) just south of Padstow is a world class beach. It has perfect white sand, is nicely sheltered by Trevose Head, has a bit of character with the nearby RNLI station – and it’s often so quiet you can have it to yourself.

One reason it’s fairly unknown is that it doesn’t appear on many roadmaps, so is not the easiest place to find. It doesn’t have its own designated carpark, but you can park at Trevose Head – just follow the signs from the B3276 coastal road from Padstow to Newquay. You’ll have to drive on a private road for a while, and pay £3.50 for the privilege, which includes parking. If you’re lucky, you might be able to squeeze onto the lay-by near Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park, who own the beach, for free.

Alternatively, you could walk here from Padstow (if you’ve got the energy) or Harlyn as the beach is on the South West Coast Path. Once here there are no facilities such as shops, toilets or lifeguards – it’s not going to win a Blue Flag anytime soon, although the dramatically sited lifeboat station on the rocks should give you comfort.

When you’ve had enough of lazing on the sand, gazing at the off-shore islet or even having a dip or a surf, it’s well worth the short walk to see the lifeboat station. A thick iron gate greets you at the entrance, and pedestrians can fit through it and walk downhill on the twisty path to see this RNLI facility. The flag that flutters outside the station’s house has seen some stories, and has been so battered by the wind over the years that the “N” and “I” no longer exist.

There are several plaques on the walls of the house, giving a brief description of each rescue that has taken place per year. From “saved four men and a dog” to “took out doctor and landed a sick man”, any Hollywood scriptwriter with writer’s block should spend some time here to get some inspiration.

The launch is open for the public (Mondays to Fridays, 10am – 4pm) to look around.

After a hard day on the beach, hunger will be calling, and you’ll be pleased to hear that one of the best country pubs in England is only a couple of miles away.

The Cornish Arms in the village of St. Merryn is owned by Rick Stein. The bar is well stocked with St. Austell Ales beers on draught, and the food is high quality pub grub. My wife says the mussels are the best she’s ever eaten, while I’ve never had a bad burger, pie or steak. It’s a victim of its own success, and gets extremely busy. You can’t book a table – it’s first come first served, so order a drink, get your name on the waiting list and grab a seat in the beer garden.

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