Where to stay

Hayle

Hayle sits on the edge of a beautiful estuary leading into St Ives Bay. To the north lie three miles of golden sand whilst the town itself grew as a industrial heartland during Cornwall’s mining boom years.

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Hayle Towans

Welcome to Hayle

An undersung part of Cornwall, Hayle has it all. Miles of golden sandy beaches, stunning wildlife, epic surf and a fascinating history are all on offer here. The harbour and foundry areas form part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, reflecting the town’s pivotal role as an industrial heartland during the nineteenth century tin and copper boom. The harbour, located at the mouth of the Hayle River, is one of only two protected harbours on Cornwall’s treacherous north coast, with a trading history that dates back to ancient times.

To the north of the town, a three-mile stretch of sandy coastline extends from Hayle Estuary to Godrevy Point. Known collectively as "The Towans," this area encompasses Hayle Towans, Mexico Towans, Upton Towans, Gwithian Towans, and Godrevy Beach. Godrevy is famed for its lighthouse and is a sanctuary for native seal colonies.

Hayle estuary is also a wildlife haven, and is designated as an RSPB Nature Reserve. Birdwatchers can spot thousands of migratory birds and waders, including curlews, little egrets, oystercatchers, teals, and wigeons, making it a must-visit for nature enthusiasts.

FAQs

Spoilt for choice! St Ives alone has five wonderful beaches, with both Porthminster and Porthmeor being awarded Blue Flags in 2022. Across the bay you will find three miles of golden sand stretching north from the Hayle Estuary. Then there's Porthtowan and Portreath just up the coast... Sennen Cove right down near Land's End is another popular stretch both with surfers and families, whilst Mount's Bay provides endless walking and is often home to kite surfers. There's also countless small secret coves, ideal for hiding away in, we would tell you where they are, but they wouldn't be secret then!
Hayle is famous for being at the forefront of the Cornish mining industry in the 1800s. It was here that most of the machinery built to power and pump out mines all over the world at that time was built. These days it's probably better known for being close to some of the finest beaches in Cornwall, and home to Phillps, makers of Cornish pasties.
Yes you can, the best way is along the South West Coast Path which leaves Hayle and follows the estuary inland past the RSPB nature reserve. It then heads for Lelant before rounding the mouth of the estuary on the west side and heading through Carbis Bay to St Ives. Approximately seven miles of easy walking, should take about three hours to complete. You can catch a bus back.
There's a good selection of shops, from galleries and antique shops to large supermarkets such as ASDA and Lidl. On the A30 where you turn off to Hayle is a small out of town shopping area with a M&S and Next amongst other shops.
At Godrevy you can spot the largest seal colony in Cornwall. You need to walk out to the east side of the headland and look down into Mutton Cove. The cove is home to a large colony of North Atlantic Grey Seals. The best time to see them is in the winter but even in the summer you will probably see a few seals hauled up on the beach. Please take notice of the signage around the top of the cove, keep quiet, keep dogs on leads and make no attempt to climb down the cliff.

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