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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Southbourne Cliffs, Dorset

Southbourne

in the county of Dorset

Largs Town, North Ayrshire, Scotland.

Largs

in the county of North Ayrshire

Pictures of Hayle

in the county of Cornwall

About Hayle

Three miles of golden sands backed by impressive sand dunes have made Hayle a perfect summer place for families to enjoy a holiday. It is an old town, made prosperous in the 18th-century when John Harvey opened his tin, copper and foundry business here which caused the port of Hayle to become the busiest port in Western Cornwall, with a regular packet steamer service to the port of Bristol. The closure of the foundry early in the 20th-century brought about the decline of the port. This caused fluctuations in Hayle's fortunes, but fortunately tourists brought in by the railways were quick to notice the charms of this lovely place and Hayle began to develop as a tourist destination.

Lying in the magnificent sweep of St.Ives Bay, Hayle has a lot to offer. The beautiful dunes backing the long sandy beach are a haven for wildlife and for the walker they reveal many rare and beautiful species. The sands, which in summer are packed with sun-worshippers, in spring and autumn become the venue for the increasingly popular sport of landspeed sailing, thus attracting competitors from Europe and beyond. The beaches spread to Godrevy Lighthouse. Standing slightly off-shore, this is said to be the lighthouse which inspired Virginia Woolf to write the novel - To the Lighthouse.

The town also attracts bird watchers and nature lovers. During spring and autumn the mild climate of this part of the Cornish coast acts as a magnate for migratory birds who flock here in surprising numbers to shelter from the storms and gales of colder, northerly regions. Paradise Park is a must for all the family, here you can see a range of endangered parrots, owls, birds of prey and small and large farm animals in a natural setting. The park has a miniature railway which takes you through tunnels and past Glanmor House which was the home of the Harvey family.

Pleasure craft of all shapes and sizes throng the waters of St. Ives Bay and jostle for position around Hayle's picturesque harbour. Beyond the harbour the town is split into two parts, both fittingly have names acknowledging Cornwall's rich industrial heritage - Copperhouse and Foundry. In the town the visitor is delighted with the tempting shops, cafe's, pubs, restaurants and range of accommodation to suit all tastes, including excellent self-catering accommodation for families.

Anyone visiting Hayle is in for a treat, there are spectacular panoramic views of St.Ives, Carbis Bay and Godrevy Lighthouse, seasports, cliff top and country walks, golf and a host of attractive Cornish towns and villages to explore. In Hayle there is always something going on, including a week long Heritage Festival, held annually each August.

Recommended towns & villages near Hayle

Hotel at St. Ives Bay, Cornwall

St Ives (261 Pictures) a Seaside Town in the county of Cornwall

(3.2 miles, 5.2 km, direction NW of Hayle)

There is a magical quality surrounding the whole of the Cornish coast of which St.Ives is a small but special part...

Marazion from St Michaels Mount, Cornwall

Marazion (109 Pictures) a Seaside Town in the county of Cornwall

(4.8 miles, 7.7 km, direction SW of Hayle)

The picturesque village of Marazion with its quaint cottages, shops and pubs, is in a sublime position on the west Cornwall peninsula..

Cliff view near Zennor on a gorgeous day

Zennor (23 Pictures) in the county of Cornwall

(6.4 miles, 10.2 km, direction W of Hayle)

This hauntingly beautiful village stands starkly above cliifs that in parts are over 300ft above the sea...

Penzance, Cornwall

Penzance (85 Pictures) a Seaside Town in the county of Cornwall

(7.1 miles, 11.4 km, direction SW of Hayle)

A jolly town with a year round holiday atmosphere, where everyone is made to feel welcome...

Hells Mouth Cove, Portreath, Cornwall

Portreath (54 Pictures) a Seaside Town in the county of Cornwall

(7.8 miles, 12.5 km, direction NE of Hayle)

Portreath lies on Cornwall's magnificent North-western coast, it occupies a picture-postcard valley setting of woods, streams and fine rural meadow-land, with its crowning glory being the beach lying beneath rugged cliffs topped with springy turf and heathers...

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Nearby attractions..

Godrevy Lighthouse

Godrevy (47 Pictures)

(4.0 miles, 6.4 km, direction N)

This hauntingly beautiful spot was initially made famous by centuries of shipwreck caused by perilous rocks scattered around its.....

St Michaels Mount from the gardens in Marazion

St Michaels Mount (138 Pictures)

(5.3 miles, 8.5 km, direction SW)

The priory on St.Michael's mount is dedicated to the Archangel who is believed to have appeared to local fishermen in AD 495. The.....

Path through the village.

Chysauster Ancient Village (25 Pictures)

(5.6 miles, 9.0 km, direction W)

This is a classic prehistoric site, quite possibly a Celtic settlement occupied almost two thousand years ago. In its wild.....

Cornish Beam Engine, Pool, Cornwall - National Trust

Cornish Mines and Engines (4 Pictures)

(7.6 miles, 12.2 km, direction E)

This museum set on lonely cliffs far above the swirling Atlantic Ocean is where visitors to the area can learn all about.....

Carn Brae, Redruth, Cornwall, on a beautiful clear day

Carn Brae Castle (6 Pictures)

(7.9 miles, 12.7 km, direction E)

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Lanyon Quoit, (5,000-6,000 year old ancient burial chamber) Bosullow, Cornwall, England

Lanyon Quoit (3 Pictures)

(8.4 miles, 13.4 km, direction W)

In this moorland area thick with pre-historic remains, this is the most accessible and without doubt the most famous of all the.....

Men an Tol, ancient monument in Cornwall

Men-an-Tol (2 Pictures)

(8.5 miles, 13.7 km, direction W)

The Men-an-Tol is a massive round holed stone standing between two uprights. It quite probably dates from the Bronze-Age and may.....


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