The Grand Tour
Painted a sunshine-yellow colour, the building’s front door opens to a neat communal hallway and staircase. This apartment’s private entrance lies on the first floor and opens to the open-plan living space, with a row of handy coat hooks on one side.
The apartment’s breathtaking view greets on arrival; four windows – including three almost floor-to-ceiling sashes set within a large bay – capture the crashing waves and allow plenty of light in. There is a dining table is on one side and a sitting area adjacent. A log-burning stove at the far end warms on even the crispest of Cornish nights.
The U-shaped kitchen is tucked behind. Storage lies in both waist-height and wall-mounted cabinets and there is an induction hob/oven. Part of the countertop curves round to form a breakfast bar with space for two stools.
A pine door leads to the bedroom at the rear. Its white-washed finish is soothing and amplifies the northerly light (many an artist’s preference) that enters through a tall window. A nod to the building’s 19th-century heritage, cast-iron radiators have been added in both the bedroom and living spaces. A storage cupboard on one side provides hanging space and a neat shower room adjoins.
Out and About
The apartment is in a fantastic position in St Ives, an area that has long been associated with artists attracted by the evocative Atlantic light, the sea and the historic architecture, including its 20th-century school of sculptors, painters and ceramicists. As a result, St Ives has many galleries, from the
Tate, the
Penwith Gallery, the thoughtfully preserved
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, and
Leach Pottery, as well as many smaller, independent galleries including
New Craftsman Gallery and
Anima Mundi.
The town is full of superb places to eat, including the newly opened wine bar and coffee shop
St Eia, serving natural wines and small plates, Little Palais, which again offers low-intervention wine and cocktails, and tasty seafood at Porthmeor Beach Café. It also has a wealth of independent shops.
St Ives is also home to an array of beautiful beaches and rambling walks, including the Blue Flag Award-winning Porthminster Beach, Porthmeor, and a smaller cove on The Island, a stretch of headland crowned by a chapel and complete with fishing-themed tiles by Bernard Leach. The 630-mile South West Coast Path also runs through St Ives and offers wonderful walks in both directions. Heading west leads to the pretty village of Zennor and further to the Penwith peninsula. East leads towards Portreath and Newquay.
In terms of transport links, there are direct trains from Paddington to nearby St Erth in under five hours and another connecting train from there to St Ives in 10 minutes. The apartment is a short drive from many other popular parts of Cornwall, from the Helston River to Penzance and Falmouth, to name a few.
Tenure: Leasehold
Lease Length: Approx. 995 years remaining
Service Charge: N/A
Ground Rent: Approx. N/A
Council Tax Band: A