Eco-Friendly Holidays in St Ives

Are you an eco-warrior at home but worried about how you’ll keep up your green habits on holiday?

Well, no need to worry, we’ve compiled this handy guide on how to enjoy eco-friendly holidays in St Ives. 

We’re all trying to do our bit to be more environmentally friendly, from recycling more to cutting back on single-use plastic and using the car less where possible. There’s no reason why these eco-conscious habits should be abandoned once you go away. 

And, as St Ives has been awarded the Plastic Free Town status, there are plenty of ways you can maintain your eco-efforts during your next stay.

Food and Drink

Where better to shop local than in Cornwall?

The county is filled with farmers and fishermen aplenty, meaning you’re never far away from incredible, delicious local produce. 

Buying your food from local suppliers is a great way to be more environmentally conscious during your eco-friendly holidays in St Ives, and the quality of fresh local food is unrivalled. 

There are a great range of shops offering locally sourced ingredients and products throughout the town, including The Allotment Deli for everything from fresh free-range eggs to delicious fresh fish and morish Cornish cheeses. 

For something a little more grown-up but just as local, try JOHNS in Fore Street. Filled to the rafters with an impressive range of spirits, liqueurs, craft beers, ciders and much more, why not take home a Cornish tipple to remind you of your holiday?

For a real treat, be sure to head to the St Ives Farmers Market, held every Thursday in the Guildhall from 9.30 am – 2 pm featuring a range of local suppliers. 

There’s nothing better than buying your food straight from the producer and knowing exactly where your dinner has come from, so why not buy local produce for a truly Cornish food experience on your next visit to St Ives?

Health and Beauty

Whether you’ve run out of shampoo, didn’t pack the deodorant or just wanted to travel light, Carbis Bay Pharmacy has got you covered during your eco-friendly break in St Ives. 

With its range of plastic-free products and brilliant refill station, Carbis Bay Pharmacy is the perfect solution if you need last-minute essentials but don’t want to buy any more wasteful single-use plastic bottles. 

Simply bring along a container to fill with your choice of Ecover, Bio-D and Faith in Nature cleaning products, shampoos, conditioners and body washes for up to a third of the price of pre-bottled alternatives. 

Plus, there’s plenty of other sustainable, natural and plastic-free products to explore including delectable soap bars, natural deodorants, plastic-free plasters and bamboo toothbrushes. 

Transport

Often one of the hardest things to cut back on in an attempt to be more environmentally conscious is our use of the car. 

But, there’s no need to worry about that during your eco-friendly holidays in St Ives; once you arrive in the town there’s little need for a vehicle. 

The town has excellent public transport connections including bus links and the St Ives railway branch line. Public transport is a great option for low emission, environmentally-friendly travel in Cornwall. 

However, if you do fancy popping further afield during your break in St Ives and need a car to do so, we’ve got a comprehensive guide to car rentals in Cornwall. 

One of the biggest attractions for visitors to St Ives is the area’s unspoilt natural beauty. Being more environmentally conscious in our day to day lives is how we maintain Cornwall’s stunning landscape. 

What to Do

If you’re looking for fun activities that are kind to the environment to take part in during your eco-friendly holidays, you’ve come to the right place. Cornwall is full of artists, creatives and makers working with the natural environment, local resources and using sustainable practices.

And, there’s plenty of workshops, day courses and drop-in activities for you to take part in during your holiday. Perfect if you’re looking for a fun, eco-friendly activity that leaves you with a unique finished product to remind you of a wonderful visit to Cornwall. 

The birthplace of the famous St Ives School of Painting, St Ives is a town overflowing with creative energy. And, luckily for visitors, it also has workshops and classes in abundance. 

Try everything from life drawing to pottery throwing and jewellery making. The best thing about the crafting classes on offer throughout the year in St Ives is that they cater to a range of abilities, from absolute beginners to more experienced makers. 

So, no matter what level you’re at, there’s sure to be something for every craft-curious visitor to St Ives. For a full list of craft classes and courses running in St Ives, check out this list. 

If you’re more of a foodie, why not take part in a Cornish cookery class? 

The Fat Hen Wild Cookery School, established by Caroline Davey in 2007, is the perfect opportunity to get hands-on with local Cornish produce. 

The Fat Hen offers a range of day and weekend courses where you’ll go on guided foraging walks to learn where to find delicious Cornish ingredients.This is followed by a cookery demonstration showing how to prepare the ingredients you’ve foraged to create a delicious meal. 

For something a little less wild, but just as local, try the Philleigh Way Cookery School.

Offering courses in everything from traditional Cornish delicacies such as pasties and cream teas, to more exotic options such as South-East Asian and Japanese cookery days. 

Hosted by a range of experienced tutors and guest teachers, the classes at Philleigh Way are perfect for anyone looking for an unforgettable Cornish cookery experience using sustainable, locally sourced produce.

Where to Stay

Your eco-friendly holiday in Cornwall wouldn’t be complete without somewhere environmentally-friendly to stay. Our range of luxury coastal cottages are perfect for your stay in St Ives. 

We pride ourselves on doing all we can to minimise our impact on the environment. In fact, we’ve held the Gold Standard for outstanding commitment to sustainability since 2011. 

We’ve installed LED lighting and environmentally-friendly appliances in an attempt to reduce unnecessary electricity use.

Plus, we’ve made the move to paper-free communications where possible and, any necessary printed materials are produced on recycled paper using sustainable sources. 

See here for more on green tourism in Cornwall and to read our green policy, see here.