Hayle to St Ives Walk -

The Hayle to St Ives walk follows the South West Coast Path for approximately 10.9km. It is a one way route rather than a circular walk, maintained as part of the National Trails network.

The route begins near Britain’s oldest surviving swing bridge, then follows the edge of the Hayle Estuary, with small detours possible down to the mudflats where birdlife gathers in genuinely striking numbers. As many as 18,000 birds have been recorded here in a single winter, among them curlews and oystercatchers drawn to the RSPB reserve that lines the estuary. An RSPB hide at Ryan’s Field is open to visitors, with identification charts to help pick out what you are looking at.

Hayle itself has a history far removed from its quiet present. It was once the most important industrial port in Cornwall, a centre for copper mining and smelting, and home to the Harvey and Co foundry, which at its peak exported Cornish beam engines around the world. Little of that industrial past remains visible today beyond fragments near the railway viaduct, though the town library and tourist information centre hold more on its history for anyone curious.

The path also picks up part of St Michael’s Way, an ancient pilgrim route that once carried travellers across Cornwall from Lelant to Marazion, from where they would continue their journey all the way to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in north west Spain. Its starting point, St Uny’s Church in Lelant, sits on ground believed to have once held a Roman fort, and the churchyard still holds a number of ancient Cornish crosses.

From above Porth Kidney Sands, the views stretch out across the dunes towards Godrevy. Limited parking keeps this particular beach quieter than most nearby. The path then continues alongside the railway line towards St Ives, passing the wide, sheltered sands of Carbis Bay, good for a picnic stop, before winding through the wooded edge of town and arriving at Porthminster Beach.

Those wanting a shorter walk can stop at Carbis Bay, around 7km in. For a longer day, the path continues on to Zennor, though this next stretch is considerably more rugged and should be allowed at least three hours.

Parking is available at Hayle, Lelant, Carbis Bay, and St Ives.

Take A Walk On Towans Beach, Hayle

Shot at the end of summer in 2019 on Towans Beach, Hayle.

Weather

Hayle to St Ives

18°

Overcast

Feels 19° Wind 4 mph Humidity 92%

Today

19° 15°

39%

Tue

20° 15°

75%

Wed

18° 13°

27%

Thu

17° 7°

Fri

19° 13°

22%

Sat

18° 7°

31%

Sun

19° 12°

58%

Weather data by Open-Meteo

Plan The Walk

Places along this walk

Places to stay

Talland House
Penhayl Cottage
Hindon Hall
Lordryans
Cohort Hostel
Palma Guest House
The Grey Mullet B&B
The Anchorage B&B
Poldhu Guest House
Beachside Guest House
The Western Hotel
Morwenstow Apartments
The Abbey
Treloyhan Manor
HF Holidays Chy Morvah
Lanyons House
White Hart Hotel
St Ives Harbour Hotel
St Ives Bay Hotel
Downlong Cottage B&B
The Cobbles
Harbour View House
Carbis Bay Hotel
Pedn Olva

Beaches

Porthminster Beach, St Ives Passes nearby

Where to park

Island Car Park
Sloop Car Park
Hayle Railway Station
Lelant Saltings Car Park
Carbis Bay beach
Porthmeor Beach & Tate Gallery
Barnoon Reserved Car Park
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park
Porthgwidden Car Park
Station Long Stay Parking, St Ives
Foundry Square Car Park
HF Holidays Chy Morvah
Carbis Bay Station Car Park

Pubs

The Watermill
The Badger Inn
The Union Inn
The Art of Brewing
Mine Taproom
The Castle Inn
The Lifeboat Inn
The Golden Lion
The Queens
The Three Ferrets
The Sloop Inn
The Badger Inn

Cafes

Skys Diner
Seafood Cafe
Silco Bar & Kitchen
Caffe Pasta and Pizzeria
Peppers Pasta & Pizzeria
Ocean Grill
Upalong Kitchen
Birdy Bistro
West Beach Bar & Cafe
Asda Café
Yallah Coffee
Firehouse Bar & Grill
Beer & Bird
The Balcony Bar & Kitchen
Palais Provisions
Surf Shack Café
The Rum & Crab Shack
Scoff Troff Cafe
CRAFTED
Truffles
The Razor Clam
Moomaid St Ives
Coasters
The Kitchen Table
Source Kitchen
St Ives Street Food Kitchen
Chapels Cafe & Takeaway
The Mex
Rajpoot
Curry Garden
Bamboo House
Porthminster Kitchen
Beach Cafe Bar
The Loft
Café at Tate St Ives
St Eia
The Courtyard Tea Room
The Mermaid Sea Food Restaurant
Olives
The Searoom Bar & Restaurant
Porthgwidden Beach Cafe
Porthmeor Beach Cafe
The Yellow Canary Cafe
The Market Place
The Beach Restaurant
Mount Zion Coffee
The Old Custom House
Talay Thai Kitchen
Hong Kong Kitchen
54 Lemons
MOR Beach Cafe
Huers
Bier Huis Grand Café
Onzo Pizzeria
Morva Koffi Seaside Coffee
Hub
Tretho Lounge
The Pier Coffee Bar
Old Quay House
Beachcomer
St Ives Bay Ice Cream and Coffee House
Blas Burgerworks
Porthminster Cafe
Duckies Cafe
Mr B's ice cream parlour
Harry's
Pedn Olva

Attractions

Harbour Pool & Billiards Club
Patsea Arcadea
Holy Well Of St Ia
Memorial Gardens
Porthminster Mini Golf
Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden
Trewyn Gardens
St Ives Museum
Chy an Gweal Gardens
Ellis Park
The Planation

Shops

Cornish Bakehouse
RNLI Gift Shop
Anima Mundi
So sweet
Simply Cornish
Fudge Kyst
Ayr Supply Stores
Warrens Bakery
Mountain Warehouse
Fore Street Deli
Cornish Cream
JOHNS Wines and Spirits
The Cornish Candy Shoppe
St. Ives Bakery
Roly's Fudge Pantry
Hudson
Myrings of St. Ives
Fudge Kyst
The Raw Chocolate Pie Company
Brocante
Osbornes
Warrens Bakery
Galleria St Ives
Cornish Deli
The Metta Centre
The Book Gallery
Rubydoobies
Morrisons Daily
St Ives Bookseller
Trespass
Cornish Bakehouse
The Cornish Bakery
The Whistlefish Gallery
John's Cornish Produce
Cornish Pasty Shop
Wicked Imp Studio
Galley of Fine Arts
The Corner Shop
Fishermen's Co-op
Barnoon Art
The Blue Wave
St Ives Pasty Bakery
Tarquin's Gin
The Paper Sailor
Finisterre
Spar
Back Road Art Works
Beach Shop

Toilets

West Pier Toilets
Porthminster Toilets
Dove Street Toilets
Porthmeor Carpark Toilets (Male)
Porthmeor Beach Toilets
Porthmeor Carpark Toilets (Female)
Smeatons Pier
Smeatons Pier

Take A Walk On Towans Beach, Hayle

Weather

Plan The Walk