If If Cornwall is the crown jewels of England's coastline, then St Ives is the sapphire that glistens the brightest. Gaggles of fishermen's cottages interspersed with small galleries and restaurants serving sparklingly fresh seafood give way to flaxen sands and azure bays. Between licks of rich Cornish ice cream and hours surfing the waves (or at the very least basking beside them), you'll soon realise why the town's population can treble in the summertime, as holidaymakers flock to this rugged stretch of shoreline. Indeed, you'll need to plan your visit in spring or autumn if you don't want to be knocking elbows.

We've consulted locals and ambled along the coast - inhaling salty air and Cornish pasties en route - to pinpoint the best places to spend a getaway in this bohemian enclave.