beaches
A Local’s Guide to Hayle
Three miles of beach, undulating dunes, world-class surf, countless cafés, a top-notch brewery, and a rather explosive history. Welcome to Hayle.
17 April 2024
Hayle
Three miles of beach, undulating dunes, world-class surf, countless cafés, a top-notch brewery, and a rather explosive history. Once an industrial harbour built on copper and tin, Hayle shelters behind a wide sweep of golden Towans, looking out across St Ives Bay.
A mecca for everything from surfing to sand-buggying, it has seamlessly merged past, present and a wild side – boutique shops and foodie gems sit alongside nature reserves, an outdoor pool and centuries of heritage.
Hayle’s beach is a genuine giant – three miles of golden sand yawning from the harbour to Godrevy Lighthouse. When the tide floods, it’s divided into five main beaches: Hayle Towans, Mexico Towans, Upton Towans, Gwithian and Godrevy. Mostly dog friendly and rarely crowded – even in August – it’s a haven for surfing, kitesurfing and spread-eagling in the sunshine. Hands down, one of the best stretches of sand in the country.
On the west side of the estuary you’ll find Porthkidney Sands, known to locals as ‘Happy Dog Beach’ for its mile-long shoreline where dogs can bound all year round.
Beyond the sand, explore rockpools beneath Godrevy lighthouse, paddle a kayak up the estuary at high tide, or browse the independent shops in the converted Methodist chapel of Pratt’s Market. Need kit for the beach? Down The Line, in the heart of town, stocks one of the best ranges of surfboards in the UK – and everything else from wax to wetsuits.
For family days out, Paradise Park is home to red pandas, otters and Cornwall’s own coat-of-arms bird, the chough. And when the sun’s out, nowhere beats Hayle’s lido: tucked at the end of King George’s Walk.
Hayle’s food scene mixes cool beachside cafés with maestro-helmed kitchens serving seasonal delights. Seek out The Jam Pot, a converted coastguard lookout tucked into Gwithian’s dunes. Down at Riviere Towans, Rupert Cooper serves up local produce at Cove Café – much of which comes from nearby Trevaskis Farm.
Fancy a spot of wildlife watching while you dine? Birdies Bistro sits on the edge of the RSPB reserve, or grab fish and chips from Sanders and take them to the water’s edge.
From dune-backed holiday parks and chic harbourside apartments, to glam town houses and boutique beach retreats, Hayle offers easy access to the sand without St Ives prices.
Pitch up at Gwithian Farm Campsite, choose one of Unique Hideaways‘ Scandi lodges, or go for holiday park facilities including pools, restaurants and cafés.
How do we do Hayle? We park up at Sandy Acres, Mexico’s Beach at the foot of the dunes, beckoning for a surf or stroll. Then we fuel up with cake from Trevaskis Farm (a sweet treats counter worth a trip to Hayle alone), and take a walk to see the seals at Godrevy Head. We’ll always stop in to ogle dream surfboards at Down The Line, then meander King George’s Memorial Walk to the harbour, in time for sundowners at Gilbert’s Beach Bar.
Three miles of beach, undulating dunes, world-class surf, countless cafés, a top-notch brewery, and a rather explosive history. Welcome to Hayle.
Whether you’re an adventure seeker or sun lizard, discover Cornwall’s best beaches for families, watersports, swimming or naturists.