While my friends jetted off in the school holidays to exciting international destinations my family drove to Cornwall, it seemed like an unfair substitution. Now, years later, I can truly appreciate this amazing county, and particularly take advantage of its close proximity to London. Serene sunny beaches, stunning sights, charming pubs, long countryside walks and a carefree lifestyle, Cornwall is a blissful destination for a refreshing minibreak. A few weeks ago I visited the coastal town of Penzance to see family and took a day trip to St Ives. This idyllic seaside town offers unspoilt beaches, a thriving art scene, quaint cafes and craft shops, here is an insight into my favourite things to do in this charming Cornish destination.

Porthgwidden Beach – the number one attraction in St Ives, this lovely small beach is a sheltered stretch of land with crystal clear sea and the occasional seal sighting in the bay.

Cream tea at Olive’s – Tucked away in the backstreets of St Ives this tiny neighbourhood café is often named the best cream tea in St Ives. For less than £5 you can indulge in a huge fresh crumbly scone with a generous helping of homemade strawberry jam and Cornish clotted cream and a pot of tea.

Burger from Blas Burgerworks – these gourmet burgers are made from fresh local ingredients and are addictively tasty. The naturally reared, free range meat are cooked to perfection on the charcoal grill and are accompanied with toppings of your choice. Definitely the best burger I’ve ever tasted in Cornwall.

Tate St Ives for art – An architecturally spectacular modern gallery with sea views and local and international artworks. Located nearby to Porthmeor Beach.

Pasty at Pasty Presto – we couldn’t resist trying the World’s best Cornish pasty. This bakery was recently awarded the highest accolade for its traditional beef and vegetable pasty, flaky rich pastry filled with a tender delicious seasoned filling.

Little Jems Jewellery for vintage jewels – this small shop stocks beautiful one-off antique pieces of jewellery at reasonable prices.

Ice-cream at Moomaid – At the end of a day in St Ives nothing is better than a luxury Cornish Ice Cream from Moomaid. This creamy rich ice-cream made on the Farm at Tremedda Zennor and comes in a variety of indulgent flavours.

More information on St Ives here.

***My new travel book, CORNWALL by Weekend Journals is available to order here. Use the code TMM10 to get 10% off.***