Friday Photos – Journey to St. Ives

Writing and reading historical fiction is like travel. Fiction transports you to another place, and in the case of the historical, to another time. Vacations to a town just down the road or to a country thousands of miles away do the same thing.

I wanted to see Cornwall from the moment I first read about it in the novel Penmarric by Susan Howatch.

I was in high school at the time, and Howatch’s vivid descriptions of 19th century Cornwall were the only ‘pictures’ I saw. This was way way back, pre-Internet days.

Years later, on my first trip to the United Kingdom in 2008, I finally made it to this lovely corner of southwest England. St. Ives is a very busy tourist town with hilly and narrow streets lined with cottages and shops – lots of local pottery, artwork, jewelry and more.

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And the sea. . . Gorgeous views at every turn.

I have returned to Cornwall 5 times since my first visit. I hope to go again.

I will never tire of walking along the cliff paths. . .

or enjoying scones with Cornish clotted cream and jam. . .

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or having cream tea at the Tate St. Ives. . .

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Cheers!

  1. jadey36 Avatar
    jadey36

    We were there last year, just for a day during a mini-break to Cornwall. A delightful little town.

    I remember reading, and enjoying, Penmarric, many moons ago.

    That cream tea is making my mouth water!

    1. Char Avatar

      I love wandering the streets and roaming in and out of the shops, just enjoying the scenery. It’s such a gorgeous place. And the tea and scones were fabulous.

  2. cav12 Avatar

    Great photos. I’ve been to London but nowhere else. Will need it to my ever growing bucket list!

    1. Char Avatar

      London is a fabulous city, but I do love the English countryside. Cornwall is a 7 hour train ride west of London and so many people who visit the UK never get there, but it is an unforgettable experience. If you have a chance to go, take it!

  3. April Munday Avatar

    We had all our family holidays in Cornwall when I was a child. Although we were near St Ives I think we only went there a couple of times.

    1. Char Avatar

      April – I missed your comment back in August, so sorry for the late reply! St Ives is a popular destination, but maybe not for children, except for the beach experience. I enjoy browsing the artists’ shops, and to see the locally made pottery and jewelry, but the best part for me was the stunning scenery.

      1. April Munday Avatar

        The town has probably changed a lot since I was last there.

  4. bitaboutbritain Avatar

    So – did you put the cream on the jam, or the jam on the cream? This is an important distinction to many! 🙂

    1. Char Avatar

      I put cream on the jam. Lots of cream! Thanks for stopping by.


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