One of our favourite walks to do is to go up through St Ives Community Orchard, through Hope Wood and walk right to the top of Penbeagle Hill.
Getting There
To get to the orchard, turn up Penbeagle Hill from The Stennack (the turning between The Leach Pottery and the Fire Station). The entrance to what is actually called Palemon Best Recreational Park is about half way up on the right hand side. We always walk there, but there is a little car park which is free.
The Play Park
There is an actual play park here which is really good. I didn't film it at the time as a group of children from Little Seahorses were visiting and I didn't want to freak them out by filming them! However, the park is a gated one with swings, slides, a roundabout and lots of balancing and climbing things. My children love it and there is also a zip wire in the main field plus goals for playing football.
The Skate Park
The skate park has recently been rebuilt and is now pretty amazing. It is usually pretty busy but there is often a warden there to help with things. There is also rumours of a little cafe being set up there which would be wonderful!
St Ives Community Orchard
The orchard is one of the best hidden gems in St Ives. It is run by volunteers and sits behind the play park and skate park. It is a lovely, peaceful place to walk through and sit and look at the trees, hear the bees buzzing and to admire the view. The orchard holds lots of community events and things like yoga, forest schools and workshops.
Hope Wood
The little wood behind the orchard is beautiful. It is full of wild flowers and blackthorn (great place to pick sloes).
Penbeagle Hill
There are pathways leading up to the top of the hill, through swathes of ferns and wild flowers. When we did this walk at the beginning of June there were still lots of bluebells and the foxgloves had started to grow too.
The views from the top of the hill are amazing. You can see St Ives and The Island, Godrevy and Hayle Estuary, all the way round St Ives Bay. On a clear day you can see Trevose Lighthouse and Padstow Headland. Further inland you can see St Ives Secondary School, Knills Monument, Polmanter Campsite and round to Halsetown. In the distance you can see Trencrom Hill, Trink Hill and Rosewall Hill.
On the film I made, there were lots of white marquees on Trink field and by the rugby club. They are all temporary structures for the G7 summit meeting (on the 11th - 13th June 2021).
Lockdown Rock
The big rocks at the top (granite tors) have been named Lockdown Rock by us. My son also calls them dinosaur rock, as from certain angles they look like a dinosaur. There are several of these tors, including Carnstabba (which is in the next field to Lockdown Rock). The views from up here are sensational!
Facilities
I believe there are some portaloos by the Skate Park, but other than this there are no facilities. We always take some drinks and a snack to have at the top of the hill and to buy the grownups a bit of time to sit and admire the view!
Have you read 101 Brilliant Things To Do In St Ives Cornwall?
It will give you so many ideas of things you can do on your next visit to our lovely town!
Have You Heard About Our St Ives Game?
If you like St Ives you will love playing it!
