Influenced by the sandy beaches and clear blue water, we settled on a girl’s holiday to Cornwall, St Ives. As this summer’s weather has been very questionable, we did manage to enjoy some sunshine during our 6-day trip of beach days, shopping and wine drinking. A lovely combination for a holiday.

The harboured town, St Ives. A popular destination in Cornwall and I now understand why. Cute independent quirky shops, classic Cornish pasties on every corner, art galleries, local pubs and cobbled narrow pathways through the tiny cottages surrounding the harbour. Some picturesque moments where you pause and look through the alleyways to see clear blue water blending with the sky. This reminded me of Greece along with the bright white painted houses decorated with colourful flowers and branches, less so on the weather. It became our favourite place. A non-negotiable is a water activity – we opted for kayaking. A wholesome morning kayaking in the harbour and arguably the highlight moment. Fortunately to us, the sun began shining for a peaceful moment to enjoy the softly rippling water and the warm heat. Sunsets. Sunrises. Both my favourite. The sunsets in Cornwall are beautiful tones of orange, red and pink, reflecting off the calm tide. As our Airbnb was a short walk from Porthgwidden Beach, we set up our blanket and picnic to watch the sky change colours in awe. Soft clouds submersed with bright hues over the cliffs and water. A peaceful cosy evening, although St Ives is livelier than you think… Are you a rum lover? You should try the Crusty Juggler cocktail making class in the local pub if so. My personal favourites: Martini (the best one!), Pineapple Colada, Fruity Spiced rum signature.

If you’re looking for a secluded slice of paradise, I recommend Pedn Vonder Beach. The only access is via a coastal footpath along the cliff edge and scrambling down rocks to land on the sandy white beach. This beach is tucked away near Land’s End and slowly becoming known for its crystal-clear blue waters and sandy shore only on low tides, so timing is everything. The scenic hike is worth it, once you are lounging against the cliff staring at the turquoise sea and the only sound being the waves crashing softly. It was like having a private beach. A lovely pitstop for a cider afterwards in Mousehole, a small cosy harboured town with an old low beamed pub along the seafront.

A day trip to the famous Newquay – a bustling seaside town. We didn’t time the weather well with this one and experienced a miserable grey rainy day. However, there were plenty of bakeries, gift shops, vintage streetwear stores for us to run between. The laidback surf culture is unavoidable here! Golden beaches with clear waters to catch the surprisingly big waves on, surf shops to browse through along the main streets, the surf schools where you can test out the hype yourself. Would you give it a go? The Boathouse is a food market and bar located on the beach with the view of the small harbour. It is hidden away from the main town and sits in the sand with sheltered benches (perfect to escape the rain) with an array of street food, cocktails and desserts to choose from. It was now the perfect time for a classic fish and chips and it did not disappoint. I can also vouch that the rustic wood fired pizzas looked very good as we eyed them up behind us – a takeaway was debated. Perfect reason to go back!

Cornwall is full of beautiful scenery and hidden coastal paths that veer off into fern-covered banks and aged stoned stairs leading to the sea. As all the cosy towns within Cornwall are short narrow drives or hikes away, you can explore the cultural hidden gems with coastal backdrops with ease. Take the opportunity to beach hop and stumble across a new favourite rustic beach nestled within nature. We did. Do note: the roads are very narrow!

After exploring the Cornish coastline for the week, it is the perfect location for a cosy relaxing holiday. From the bays along the cliff edges, a coffee shop becoming our local during our stay, chic brunch spots on the harbour serving truffle parmesan fries (which set us up with high expectations for rest of the trip) to the first taste of local cider in the sunshine with glittering blues and white sand as the view. The ideal place to sit and relax and watch the world go by.

Yes, overseas is beautiful to explore but will you choose to have a holiday here at home?