September holidays in St Ives

There’s a party going on: St Ives September Festival 

The St Ives September Festival lasts for two weeks, and is a celebration of all things arty. There’s live music, theatre, exhibitions, workshops, walks and talks, comedy, kids’ events… We don’t like to use cliches, but there really is something for everyone in this year’s programme.

The St Ives September Festival 2024 runs from 14-28 September. Please check the website for a full programme and details of how to book events.

Source: St Ives September Festival Facebook

The weather’s warm for walking

The average temperature is usually mid-teens, and there’s always the chance of an Indian summer… (Pack both beach clothes and waterproofs, and you’ll be ready for anything.) Flowers still bloom on the cliffs, and it’s a lovely month to explore the South West Coast Path.

There are some beautiful walks starting at Polmanter, including a challenging hike westwards towards Zennor and the wild moors. For a gentler stroll, head east towards Lelant and catch the train back to St Ives. Another favourite walk takes you from the cobbled streets of St Ives towards the splendid sea views at Clodgy Point.

And the sea’s warm too!

The September sea in St Ives is a pleasant 16^oC; and with the beaches less crowded, this is a great time to enjoy the Cornish coast. Dog restrictions vary in September, so it’s always worth checking the Cornwall Council website. In St Ives, we have the brilliant Bamaluz beach for year-round dog scampering (which again is less crowded in September).

 Source: aroundperranuthnoe

Travelling is easier

If you’re bringing your motorhome or caravan to St Ives, you’ll find fewer traffic queues and more parking spaces in September. Busy roads like the M5 and M30 are far more free-flowing, and stopping en-route becomes a pleasure not a chore.

You can also reach St Ives via public transport (perfect if you’re staying in Polmanter’s self-catering cottages or apartments). Take the main line to St Erth (roughly five hours from London Paddington) then pick up the almost-impossibly scenic branch line train to St Ives. It’s then just a short taxi ride up to Polmanter or a walk into town. For train times and tickets, take a look at GWR’s website. There’s also a bus depot in town, and National Express runs a service to nearby Penzance.

Everything’s still open, but nothing’s packed

Seasonal attractions tend to stay open until after October half term, so there’s still plenty going on. The same goes for St Ives’ shops, bars and restaurants. The festival brings a buzzing atmosphere to the town, and this can be one of the liveliest times for an evening drink in town.

Source: Alex May Photography

There’s plenty to do at Polmanter

Like the town, we don’t shut down in September. The Stable Bar remains open, with Liz’s Quizzes continuing all month, and live music and bingo nights until mid-September. Sunday Lunches return from Sunday 15th September, with our popular homemade roasts available at both lunch (12-3pm) and dinner (5-8pm). This year, we’re keeping the pool open until Saturday 21st September.

The bus will continue to run until 27th September. Services will gradually reduce throughout the month, so check the timetable for the dates you’re booked to stay.

Staying at Polmanter in September

If this has whetted your appetite for a late-summer holiday, why not take a look at our camping availability using our online interactive map.

If you fancy upgrading to our luxury self catering accommodation, we’ve got a 20% discount on the few remaining weeks across both our apartments and hot tub cottages.

The apartments (Kerenza and Demelza) sleep up to 4 and the cottages (Senara and Morwenna) both sleep up to 6 people, and have private gardens with a hot tub. All properties have parking with EV charging, and you can bring the dog too!

Any questions, our Reception team are on hand to help with general enquiries and bookings. See you in September!