'Picturesque haven' with golden sands dubbed 'ideal' beach for winter months

An award-winning beach in the south west of the UK has been dubbed "beautiful" in the winter months. Carbis Bay, located a mile out of St Ives in Cornwall, is popular with families wanting a sandy beach to enjoy, as well as walkers on the lookout for stunning scenery. The beach has won a Blue Flag Award and a Seaside Award - as well as a Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Award.

The beach offers a number of walks with breathtaking views. One of the most popular routes takes walkers along the South West Coast Path towards St Ives, where they can spot a medieval chapel and explore prehistoric field systems. Thanks to Carbis Bay's calm, sheltered conditions, it is known as a great spot for swimming and paddleboarding.

For those travelling to the beach by car, there is a small pay-and-display car park at the west end of the beach, or a larger one slightly further away.

You can also reach the beach by public transport, as both the T2 bus from Truro to St Ives and the 17 bus from Penzance to St Ives stop at Carbis Bay. There is also a train station 100 yards behind the east end of the beach.

Dogs are welcome on the beach for most of the year, other than between May 15th and September 30th, when there is a seasonal dog ban in place from 10am to 6pm. During the summer months, lifeguards are on patrol daily.

One visitor said: "Really beautiful, wide, sandy beach. There are toilets, parking and water sports in summer. Even in winter, the views are beautiful...until the mist rolls in..."

Another wrote: "Lovely beach, soft golden sand and easily accessible but beware the tide rushes in. In summer a pleasure I am certain, in winter bracing but clears the head!" A third said: "What a beautiful beach! We had the most beautiful weather so we were very lucky. The waterfall into a little pond/stream on the beach makes it perfect for little ones to play in the water without the danger of the sea."

Someone else called the beach a "picturesque haven", adding that the "golden sands and crystal-clear waters" provide the "perfect backdrop for a day of adventure". They continued: "The sheltered bay ensures calm waters, making it an ideal spot for both beginners and experienced paddleboarders."