I’ll never forget the drive down to St Ives – we piled into the car from up country, kids buzzing in the back with crisps and iPads, me navigating via a dodgy sat-nav that decided to send us on a scenic detour through some narrow Cornish lanes. Just as we were getting peckish and a bit tetchy, we had a proper comedy moment: a rogue seagull dive-bombed the windscreen, leaving us splattered and laughing hysterically. “Welcome to Cornwall!” my husband quipped, wiping it off at the next layby. By the time we crested the hill into Carbis Bay, the anticipation was electric – that first glimpse of the sea sparkling under the sun had us all grinning like idiots.

Pulling up to our ground-floor apartment, we were bowled over straight away. Perched right near the coast, it’s got this cracking contemporary vibe with sea views that make you want to pinch yourself. Stepping inside, the open-plan living space hit us like a warm hug – plush sofas begging for a flop, Apple TV primed for Netflix bingeing, and a kitchen that’s all sleek white units with every gadget under the sun, including a dishwasher (hallelujah for tired parents). It screamed perfect family escape, cosy enough for downtime but stylish for rustling up a quick pasta without the faff.

We wasted no time settling in. First morning, we wandered down to Carbis Bay Beach, just a hop away – golden sands, gentle waves, and not too crowded even in peak season. The little ones built epic sandcastles while we sipped coffees from a beachside kiosk, toes in the sand. Lunch was fish and chips from Porthminster Beach Café, wrapped in paper and eaten picnic-style with gritty fingers – pure bliss, with the tide lapping nearby. Afternoons meant ambling into St Ives proper, all of five minutes by train from Carbis Bay station (cheeky shortcut!). We poked around the harbour, watching fishing boats unload the catch, then treated ourselves to cream teas at a quaint spot overlooking the bay – scones still warm, jam and clotted cream debated fiercely as per tradition.

Evenings were the best bit, that cottage-life chaos we crave. One night, I burnt the garlic bread spectacularly (smoke alarm symphony!), but no one cared – we cracked open a bottle of wine, streamed a family film on the telly, and watched the sun dip into the sea from the balcony. The kids conked out early, knackered from paddling and pebble-hunting at Porthkidney Sands. It got me reflecting, sat there with a cuppa as the waves whispered: when did we last switch off like this? No schedules, just simple stuff – beachcombing, pasty picnics, and the odd pastie from the bakery on the way back. Usual parenting mayhem ensued, like the time the youngest smeared jam everywhere, but that’s the joy of it, innit? A proper reset.

Short breaks like this recharge the batteries like nothing else. If you’re after that laid-back seaside vibe with sea views and zero hassle, this corner of St Ives delivers every time. We’re already plotting our return – sandcastles not optional.