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Looking for a stylish Cornwall staycation with dreamy sea views? Then don’t miss The Lookout – an amazing coastal escape just moments from St Ives!
I’ve made it no secret on this blog that Cornwall is one of my favourite places in England. When you get day after day of bright sunshine, then the whole place pops with colour. The water is every hue of blue imaginable, the golden sands sparkle in the light, and the countryside is this deep lush green. It’s very easy to see why places like St Ives and Newlyn are such hotspots for local artists when you’ve got a colour palate like this all around you.
Well, I’ve just had the most amazing UK staycation in Cornwall with Aspects Holidays, and I’m here to tell you all about it.
Firstly, our holiday home was absolutely stunning with these views overlooking the beach. Honestly, you couldn’t ask for more beautiful spot to wake up to every morning.
Secondly, it was next door to St Ives, one of the prettiest towns in Cornwall. I’ve been to St Ives a few times now and I just love it. There is so much to see and do here. A couple of places I’d recommend you go are Porthminster Cafe for lunch and the Tate St Ives, which is one of the best modern art galleries in England. More on both of these later!
Also, we couldn’t come up this part of England and not hike some of the South West Coast Path. One day we did a 9km circular walk from Mousehole that followed the coast with nothing but views wherever you looked. This was such a good day exploring the countryside.
Most of the time we explored the local beaches or relaxed in our holiday home. So, if you’re looking for a gorgeous place to stay with the most beautiful beach views, then look no further than The Lookout.
This really was such an amazing holiday and I can’t recommend this place enough. Here’s why.
Contents:
Where is the Lookout in Cornwall?
The Lookout is located between Carbis Bay and Porthkidney Beach in the south west of Cornwall.
It is just a short 10-minute drive to St Ives. Or you can catch the Cornwall coastal train from Carbis Bay to St Ives in just 4 minutes, so it is in a brilliant location.
The view from the balcony overlooking the beach is Porthkidney Beach. It looks quite far away, but it only takes 15 minutes to walk to the beach. We came down here each morning and most of the time we had the beach completely to ourselves. It felt like our own secret beach even though it was massive.
Also, now we’ve got our son Cooper, having a beach close by is so handy. He absolutely loved playing in the sand and splashing in the water. This really is the perfect spot for a family holiday in the UK!
Kitchen and living room at the Lookout
Naturally when you come somewhere like the Lookout, it is all about the views. So to maximise the views, the Lookout is an upside-down house – rooms are on the bottom, and the kitchen and living room is on the top.
Inside, the kitchen is situated at one end, with table and chairs for six people just off from this. The living room with huge L-shaped sofa is situated in the middle of the room.
The kitchen is really well laid out with everything you need for a comfortable stay. We stayed in and cooked most evenings, and it was a really easy kitchen to use. It didn’t feel like I was scrambling around for pots or utensils.
For me, the best bit was the huge balcony overlooking the garden and beach below. This is where we spent every morning having breakfast or an afternoon drink when we got back from the beach. Honestly, I can’t tell you how relaxing it was just sitting out here each day. It’s worth booking this place just for that!
One thing to mention is this house is right on the Cornwall coastal train line. You can see the rail tracks just below the garden. This means you’ve got a train zooming past the house every 30 minutes throughout the day which will be off-putting for some people.
I have to admit we actually really enjoyed having the train line so close. Our son Cooper is very much in his train era, so he yelled “train! Train! Train!” at the top of his lungs every time it rode past. He didn’t get bored of it once, so we loved our much he enjoyed it.
It is very unique having the trainline so close. They say this is one of the most beautiful train journeys in England – with the views overlooking the beach it’s easy to see why. If you’re into your trains, then it just adds to the magic of the place.
Bedrooms at the Lookout
There are three bedrooms downstairs, so enough room to sleep 6 people. The bedroom on the right as you go downstairs is an en-suite double. The bedroom in the middle has two single beds, so perfect for the kids. And the room on the left is a standard double room. The main bathroom is just off this bedroom too.
All of the rooms are very spacious and light. There’s enough wardrobe space in each room to unpack for the week which gives it that homely feel. No living out of a suitcase here!
As you can see from the photos, each room has a very big window which frames that view. One of my favourite things to do each day was open up the curtains in the morning and see the views of the beach. That’s something you’ll never get tired of.
My one real negative about the rooms is the lack of colour. All the walls are bright white. I just wish there was more art on the walls to give the place that pop of colour, especially when there’s so much art to choose from in the area.
Bathrooms at the Lookout
My only major downside to this holiday home were the bathrooms. Both en-suite and main bathroom felt very simple and sterile. Again, everything was stark white. Also, neither bathroom had a bath which I thought was surprising.
The main bathroom is massive, there’s definitely room for a bath in there. I would’ve thought that if the owners were aiming at families for this holiday home, then they would’ve fitted a bath. Saying that, a bathroom is a bathroom, so don’t be put off as these are very functional.
The garden
Another spot we really enjoyed as a family was the garden. One afternoon we brought out a load of cushions from the outdoor furniture and sunbathed with a few beers. It’s the simple things that make you happy, isn’t it!
Things to do in St Ives and the surrounding area
As I mentioned, St Ives is just a short 10-minute drive away. Alternatively, if you don’t want to drive, you can walk to Carbis Bay train station, then it’s a 4-minute train ride.
For me, St Ives is one of the prettiest towns in Cornwall, and there is so much to see and do there. Here are some of my favourite activities to do in the area.
Porthminster Café
There are so many incredible restaurants in St Ives – I wish I had more time to try them all! One I’d really recommend is the infamous Porthminster Café. Very close to the train station, this restaurant is right on the beach, so you get panoramic sea views while you eat. It doesn’t get much better than that.
The food here is next level too. It’s very seafood-forward with an Asian twist. Think local scallops in a miso butter or a monkfish curry. Everything is seasonal, sustainably sourced, and beautifully presented.
I had the cod fillet with a potato galette and warm tartare sauce. Very simple ingredients but cooked at the highest quality. Honestly, it was absolutely delicious.
This place is on the pricier side, but for the quality of food, the setting, and the whole experience, it’s absolutely worth it. They do a lunch menu which is 2 courses for £32 or 3 courses for £37, so that’s better value for money than the al la carte.
Tate St Ives
One of the top things to do in St Ives is a visit to the Tate. Even if you’re not massively into art, it’s still well worth stopping by just for the building and the views. The building itself is a piece of modern architecture – clean, white and perched dramatically above Porthmeor Beach. I felt like I could’ve stood in the main glass gallery watching the surfers below all day long.
Inside, you’ll find a rotating collection of modern and contemporary art, with a strong focus on artists connected to Cornwall and the St Ives School, like Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Heron, and Ben Nicholson. It’s fascinating seeing how the natural beauty of the Cornish coastline has inspired so many artists over the years.
There’s a brilliant rooftop café too, with views out over the water – a lovely spot for a coffee after wandering the gallery. I’d say give yourself 1–2 hours to explore the exhibitions at your own pace. If you’re looking for something a little different to do on a rainy day (or even a sunny one), then this is the perfect place.
Shopping in St Ives
I really like St Ives. Some people avoid it because it’s hard to drive with very narrow streets and the fact it can get super busy during peak summer, but I still think it’s well worth visiting. Actually, that’s why staying at The Lookout was a real bonus, because we could catch the train and be in St Ives in under 10 minutes. No hassle of having a car then!
St Ives has this amazing mix of old-school charm and artistic flair, and the shops here reflect that perfectly. As you wander through the cobbled streets, you’ll find loads of independent boutiques, galleries, and quirky little shops selling everything from handmade ceramics and coastal homeware to locally made jewellery.
I always love browsing through the art galleries here – some of the pieces are absolutely stunning and many are inspired by the surrounding coastline. Even if you’re not planning to buy anything, it’s just really enjoyable popping in and out of the shops and seeing the creativity on display.
Mousehole circular walk
One of the best things we did on this trip was the Mousehole circular walk (here’s the link to the walk we did). Mousehole itself is a postcard-perfect fishing village – tiny stone cottages, narrow winding streets, and a harbour that looks like it’s been untouched for centuries.
We started the walk in Mousehole and headed out along the South West Coast Path. The route winds its way along the clifftops with sweeping views of Mount’s Bay and the rugged Cornish coastline. It’s about 9km in total and loops back inland through fields and small lanes, so you get a bit of everything.
It’s not too challenging, but there are a few ups and downs along the way. We took our time, stopping for a picnic with a view halfway round. I’d also recommend stopping at Lamorna Cove for an ice cream or a coffee – it’s a lovely little spot overlooking the water below.
If you’re after a proper leg-stretch and some of the best coastal views around, then this walk is a must. Just don’t forget your camera – you’ll want to capture it all.
This post was in association with Aspects Holidays showcasing some of their top properties in the UK. As always, all views are entirely my own and without bias.
Are you planning a staycation in Cornwall? What are some of the things you’re doing when you’re here? You can let me know what you’re up to in the comments below!
