A changing coast
From quiet bay to seaside destination
The railway changed Carbis Bay
The St Erth–St Ives branch railway opened in 1877, helping transform this once relatively undeveloped stretch of coast into a seaside destination. Carbis Bay station remains unusually close to the beach.
Historic accounts also associate Hawkes Point with Victorian pleasure grounds. The wider landscape carries traces of Cornwall’s long mining history.

A modern moment
Carbis Bay gained international attention when it hosted the G7 Summit in June 2021.