Discover fun things to do in Hayle, Cornwall and fun day trips close by. Explore top attractions, activities, and hidden gems in this charming town and surrounding areas. Here you will find lots of free things to do and rainy day activities.
Contents
- Introduction to Hayle, Cornwall
- Top Places to Visit and Things to do in Hayle
- Hayle Beach and Water Activities
- Day Trips from Hayle
- Cornish Cuisine and Dining
- Exploring Historical Sites
- How long should you spend in Hayle?
- Useful Links
Introduction to Hayle, Cornwall
Hayle is a port town only a few miles from St Ives, on the West coast of Cornwall. It is in a perfect location to take day trips around Cornwall and has great links via, road, rail and bus services. Google Maps location.
A large estuary is the central point of Hayle and it has a beautiful 3 mile stretch of sandy beaches, local shops, supermarkets and a fabulous selection of food outlets – cafes, restaurants and bistros.
We have been visiting Hayle for over 20 years. Luckily, we live only 3 hours away and have a tiny cottage in a hamlet nearby. I find it to be the perfect place for a family holiday. We’ve had many caravan holidays here and accrued wetsuits and body boards to enjoy the surf.
You will find the beaches are fantastic and there are loads of day trips, beautiful walks and mouth-watering food. We hope you enjoy our recommendations for things to do in Hayle.
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Getting around Hayle
Hayle is pedestrian friendly with a main road and generous paths either side from one end of town, starting at North Quay Harbour down to other end of town, to the play park. There is plenty of parking and it is easy to find a parking space either along the main road or in the designated carparks.
Hayle has a train station and there are local bus routes too.
Where to Stay in Hayle
There are quality caravan parks and camping sites in Hayle, a few guest houses and many Airbnbs. We have stayed in Haven and Parbola Touring Park (tel: 0344 659 4132).
👉 Search for places to stay in Hayle on Booking.com
Top Places to Visit and Things to do in Hayle
Hayle Beach and Water Activities
Visiting the beautiful beaches, surfing and water sports are, without question, the best things to do in Hayle. Below are beaches in Hayle and there are lots more to explore in the surrounding areas. The Cardigan Bay area has blue clear waters frequented by dolphins, seals and basking sharks.
Towans Beach
Hayle Towans is a vast beach that connects to Gwithian. Towans means dunes in Cornish. The beach has huge sand dunes by the gorgeous blue Atlantic Ocean. You can reach the beach via the B3301. There is a large carpark and a path leading down to the beach. Dogs are restricted during the summer months.
Gwithian Beach
This is my favourite place. Gwithian is a beautiful long stretch of beach, which has so much space you can always find a quiet spot. Gwithian has golden sand, clear blue waters, rock pools and is popular with surfers. It is overlooked by a lighthouse and has stunning views of Cardigan Bay.
There are a few bays to park on the narrow road that leads to the main carpark. This carpark gets very busy so it’s best to get there early. You will find a couple of cafes located close to the carpark and public toilets. There is a dog friendly beach and a dog free beach. Lifeguards are on duty and there’s lots of great surf.
There are two ways to go when you reach the bottom of the steps, left will take you to the dog friendly beach. Keep an eye on the tide times because at high tide this beach is cut off by the sea. To the right of the path is the dog free beach that has a fantastic view of the lighthouse.
Godrevy Cove
Godrevy Cove is a wild, shingle beach. It is quiet and dog friendly. There are no facilities or lifeguards. What makes this beach particularly special is the grey seal colony that can be seen in Mutton Cove just past Godrevy Head. Bring your binoculars so you can really get a close look at them.
Surf School
There are a few surf schools in Hayle. The main ones are Hayle Surf School and Shore Surf School. There are also surf shops where you can buy your wetsuit and surf equipment: Down the Line Surf Co and West Cornwall Surf.
Lizard Adventure
This water-sports centre in Hayle offers water-sport activities like kayaking, paddle boarding and surfing.
Visit Lizard Adventure Water-sports
Day Trips from Hayle
Paradise Park
Paradise Park is an animal sanctuary in Hayle. There are penguins, flamingos, eagles, otters, red pandas and many more creatures. Also a fantastic indoor play area – perfect for a rainy day. There are plenty of opportunities for up-close animal encounters. My daughter particularly enjoyed getting to meet a penguin. It is a great day out for all the family.
St Ives
The pretty town of St Ives is definitely worth a visit although it does tend to be very crowded. You can get there by train from Hayle or car if you prefer to drive. There is a large carpark at the top of town and you can either walk down the hill or take the bus.
St Ives has gorgeous fisherman’s cottages and Victorian houses leading down to the town. Here you will find a characterful shopping high street full of independent shops. Also a picturesque harbour and a beautiful beach. You can wander around the shops, eat at the lovely cafes, take a boat trip, or enjoy the beach. Note, dogs are not allowed on the beach but there are many dog friendly cafes and you can walk around the Head and view the beaches.
Tate Modern
The Tate Modern is a great rainy day activity. It houses modern and contemporary art works by many artists including Barbara Hepworth. They have a fantastic exhibitions programme and often interactive exhibits.
On our first visit, the gallery was filled with hundreds of balloons and you could walk through them, or view from above. They had a room where people marked their height on a wall with a pencil and the whole room was covered in horizontal lines. The exhibitions change regularly – see their website below to see what’s on.
Healey’s Cornish Cyder Farm
Healey’s Cyder Farm give fun, interesting tours around their cider farm and you get to learn all about the history of cider making. The cider making process has much improved over the years and thank goodness because they used to allow dead rats to soak in the vats.
It’s unfortunate for the person who has to drive because the cider tasting session is very generous too.
There is a restaurant cooking up home cooked meals and cream teas also.
We learnt so much about the cider making process and bought lots of bottles from their shop at the end.
Cornish Seal Sanctuary
The Sea Life Trust Cornish Seal Sanctuary rescue and rehabilitate around 70 Grey seal pups from around the Cornish coast. It also is a permanent home to many animals that can’t be rehabilitated. You will have a wonderful day out and your ticket money is vital for the continuation of the fantastic work they do here.
It is situated in Gweek, near Helston. See their website for more information.
Other Activities and things to do in Hayle
Outdoor pool
Located on the King George V Memorial Walk. the Hayle outdoor pool is open, during the summer season. See website for opening times and ticket prices.
See website for outdoor pool, Hayle
King George V Memorial Walk
This walk is a lovely walk or cycle ride along the bank of the estuary in Hayle. It has wonderful views of the estuary, exotic plants and benches to sit along the way.
Cornish Cuisine and Dining
My main mission when I come to Cornwall is to eat as much of the lovely food as possible. I have a checklist of things I must devour. These include ice cream, cream teas, pasties, fish and chips, sea food and steak. Hayle is a foodie’s paradise. There are many little gems and unique dining experiences.
Mr B’s
Mr B makes the best gelato in the world (i.m.o). You will find the most incredible flavours of homemade gelato and at very reasonable prices. We usually try a different one every day of our stay. It is so popular that he has two ice cream parlours on the main road of Hayle. You will find them busy at all times of the year because they are popular with locals and tourists alike. Mr B’s even had an article written about them in a national newspaper.
Philps Famous Pasties
A family run, traditional Cornish pasty company. The pasties made here are so popular that there is a large queue down the road every day.
Be Kind Vegan Coffee Caravan
Serving sublime coffee, pastries, cakes and brunch. This cute little coffee place is situated at the North Quay, next to Asda.
The Mad Hatter’s Tea Room
Situated on the main street, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Room serve scrumptious cakes and breakfasts and lunch. The owners are lovely and the interior decoration is fun and quirky. It has a wonderful garden area too.
Angarrack Inn
Opened since 1756, the Angarrack Inn is child and dog friendly. They serve homemade, delicious pub food. It is best to reserve your table and request to sit in the old part of the pub, not in the family room.
Location: Steamers Hill, Hayle. Tel: 01736 752380
Salt Kitchen Bar
Nestled under the viaduct, near to Hayle’s harbour. Salt Kitchen Bar serves burgers, seafood and cocktails. A laid back, trendy hangout. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinners.
Find Places to Eat on Trip Advisor
Exploring Historical Sites
Hayle Heritage Centre
Hayle was the centre of the copper mining industry and has a fascinating history. Hayle’s Heritage Centre tells the story of Hayle from its prehistoric roots, industrial heyday to the war and present day. It is undergoing refurbishment but will be open in 2026.
St Michael’s Mount
Not far from Penzance, St Michaels Mount is a a rocky island with a historical village and castle. The oldest buildings date back to the 12th century and it is owned by the National Trust. You can either walk across the causeway at low tide or take a boat across to get there. It is a great day out and very memorable.
How Long Should You Spend in Hayle?
With so many places to visit, we recommend staying for at least a week in Hayle. Or a few days as part of a longer stay in Cornwall.
Have you been to Hayle? What are your top recommendations? Let me know in the comments.
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