St Ives is no stranger to being in the spotlight. Whether it’s the curve of the harbour, the sweep of the beaches, or the light that’s inspired generations of artists, there’s just something here that catches the eye and holds on to it.
So, it’s no surprise that, once again, the town has become a backdrop for stories being told around the world. And right now, two of those stories, one classic, one modern, are shining a light on this corner of Cornwall and the drama is literally playing out in the streets.
Rosamunde Pilcher was born just outside St Ives in Lelant, and while many of her stories are rooted here in Cornwall, they seem to have landed particularly well in Germany, where she’s a household name.
Since the 1990s, her novels have been adapted into more than 100 German TV films, many of which feature the coast, countryside and cobbled streets of St Ives and the surrounding area. These beautifully shot romantic dramas air weekly on German television and regularly attract millions of viewers.
Almost every year, St Ives host a German film crew filming a Rosamunde Pilcher story in Cornwall. And St Ives is one of their favourite locations. This summer, filming took place around Olives Café, the Surf Shack, and a little up the Cornish Coast on the Pentire headland, with St Ives once again standing in as the perfect setting for a love story.
It’s not just about what’s seen on screen, either. Rosamunde Pilcher’s work has created a genuine connection between Cornwall and its German fans, with 250,000 visiting each year to see the landscapes they’ve grown to love.
While Rosamunde Pilcher’s stories offer escapism and romance, this year The Salt Path brings something else, a true story of resilience, nature, and starting again. Based on Raynor Winn’s bestselling memoir, it follows a couple who lose their home and decide to walk the entire South West Coast Path, rediscovering life one step at a time.
The film adaptation, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, was released in spring 2025. Parts were filmed in Cornwall, including the wild, open coastline at Gwithian, just across the bay from St Ives. Like Rosamunde Pilcher’s work, The Salt Path shines a light on Cornwall’s landscapes, but this time, it’s through the lens of healing and endurance.
Keep your eyes open for the view from Porthminster Beach, the walk past Carbis Bay, or grab a coffee outside Olives, it might just feel a little bit familiar. Whether it’s a Rosamunde Pilcher scene or a moment from The Salt Path, you’re walking through stories that have travelled around the world, and all found their way home to St Ives.
