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Secrets of the Low Season in St Ives
March 21st, 2022
[by guest blogger Sarah Bairstow, our newest Reception Wizard – thanks Sarah!]
While sipping their morning coffee* guests often ask whether we’ve been busy. “Well, have you?” They expect us to say ‘No’, after all it’s technically still low season in St Ives. They assume that the town is essentially empty this time of year and only gets busy from Easter.
However, at Cohort we’ve had a steady stream of visitors staying with us, even in the typically quiet months of February and March. The only explanation for this is that we have all the smart people staying with us; because this is actually a wonderful time to visit St Ives.
Before you start laughing and click away, hear us out. February, March, even November are some of the best months here for a few reasons:
(1) The weather
Yes, you will occasionally get named storms and find yourself holding onto your hat (and everything else) in gale-strength winds. But today it’s a beautiful 15 degrees and sunny in St Ives. Tomorrow it could be sun again, or the famous Cornish mizzle, or an awe-inspiring storm. One thing is certain – you will not get bored and those dramatic sunsets after a downpour are simply spectacular.
(2) The quiet
Fancy spending half the day in a queue? Us neither. When you visit St Ives in the low or shoulder seasons, you won’t have to. In March, you could be strolling along the beach with only a handful of locals walking their dogs. Bliss.
(3) The spontaneity
At the moment it’s still a good idea to book a table at restaurants ahead of time, as we have done for the last two years. But in early spring, you’re much less likely to be disappointed if you’ve got your heart set on a particular spot: pubs, cafes and restaurants will generally have plenty of seating and you can pick what you fancy rather than just what’s available.
(4) The scenery
Along with those spectacular sunsets, West Cornwall offers beautiful colours and light that are sure to inspire anyone who’s an artist at heart. The colours, flora and fauna are constantly changing from month to month – just take a walk along the coast path to experience the incredible beauty and variety.
(5) The savings
We know, not as poetic as fields of golden daffodils in full flower (although we’ve got those too!), but the fact of the matter is, you’ll save money by coming to St Ives in the spring, autumn or winter. With what you save on accommodation, you could treat yourself to a nice meal, or maybe an original work by a local artist to remind you of your time in St Ives when you get home.
(6) The surf
It’s just always better outside of the summer months; even for beginners. Believe it or not, it’s actually pretty hard to learn to surf on a pond-flat sea. So you might have to wear a thicker wetsuit, or even hire some boots and gloves but guaranteed you’ll be toasty warm by the end of a session and the warmth of a hot chocolate is so much more meaningful when there’s a chill in the air.
Still not convinced?
This is the time of year when many of us are more than ready for the cold weather to be over already. With its mild winters, Cornwall tends to be a couple of degrees warmer than the rest of the country. If that’s not enough to make you a convert, come on down and let us change your mind!
* That’s free coffee. Didn’t you know we offer all our guests free tea and coffee from 8am to 10am? Now you do!