St. Ives Harbour (outside)

Today the low light clouds drift continually across the undulating plateau that is the Cornwall peninsula, making the sea here in St. Ives change minute by minute from sunny turquoise to more muted shades of green. In the shelter of the harbour, the sunseekers share the sand with the beached boats. But if you explore the tiny lanes just to the left of the massive harbour wall, you can find a ramp down to where the low tide exposes a sliver of sand with a glorious view of a misty Porthminster beach across the water. Two laughing girls stop only long enough to cool their feet in the still-cold water, then go on their way...