Searching for Pasties in Saint Ives, Cornwall

After learning about a Cornish-baked pastry filled with meat and cheese, a pasty, I was eager to devour one.

This dish is easy to find in Saint Ives, Cornwall, a five-hour drive from London. An expensive £80 train or eight-hour bus ride is also available from London. Although this might seem long, the destination is worth the effort.

What to Expect from Saint Ives

• Narrow cobbled-stone streets filled with quaint shops and old pubs

• A wave to surf at one of the many sandy beaches

• Large seagulls that will steal your pasty

Many towns in Cornwall are worth visiting, but Saint Ives has the liveliest town centre. With old English pubs scattered along narrow streets, there is always somewhere to escape from the cold.

For places to eat and drink, I recommend...

Talay Thai Kitchen and Cocktail Bar

Talay is a Thai restaurant that will blow your tastebuds away. With tapas options and Singha beer on tap, this restaurant is a great option for dinner.

The Hub

A place for those who enjoy cocktails, The Hub provides a seat with a view under millions of fairy lights. Serving burgers and two for €£12 cocktails, you won’t want to leave this funky bar,

Lifeboat Inn

Lifeboat Inn is a cozy old pub and a good place to grab a beer. I enjoyed the steak and tribute ale pie, but plenty of other classics are on the menu.

With such an abundant town centre, it was easy to find a pasty shop. The Cornish Bakehouse on the harbourfront offered various pasty filling options. However, walking past the Saint Ives Bakery is hard, especially with its big fluffy meringues in the windows.

With hundreds of seagulls around, eating your pasty inside or hiding it in your jacket is best.

After visiting one of the bakeries, you'll need to walk off your pasty by wandering through the shops. Of course, there are big-brand shops like Mountain Warehouse, but Saint Ives hosts a number of eclectic local shops. Although expensive, you'll be sure to find a funky fleece jumper in this town.

There are many great holiday rentals to choose from, but I’d recommend staying near the Saint Ives harbour and town centre. Be wary of where you stay if you're driving a large vehicle. The roads are very narrow, and you may not be able to reach your accommodation if your car can’t fit or turn down the tiny streets of Cornwall.

While I'll need to go for a large run after eating too many Cornish goodies, I would happily revisit this little town. Saint Ives is the perfect spot for a weekend escape by the sea.