Places to visit in and around Hayle, Cornwall

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by: lw
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Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 Time: 5:12 AM
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As the nights become noticeably shorter, many families may have already started looking to the Easter period as a time to take a well earned break. Yet, with many of us continuing to be quite hesitant to spend too much on travelling long distance, the small town of Hayle on the North Cornish coast is proving an up and coming destination, and with its temperate climate and an abundance of Cornwall self catering and hotels to choose from - this lesser known addition to the World Heritage list is easy to get to and offers great connections to the wider area.

St Ives Bay
The North Cornwall coast is well-known for being one of the most rugged and spectacular coastlines in the UK. Consequently, the three-mile long beach backed by dunes up to Gwithian may seem a little out of place. The beach is a prime destination for surfers as well as bathers, but if the water is too cold it offers a fantastic walk up towards the dramatic Godrevy Point, and Hells Mouth beyond. At the right time of year the area is home to spectacular amount of seals visible from atop the cliffs.

Paradise Gardens
If the seals are nowhere to be seen during your stay don't worry, the Seal Sanctuary at Gweek is just a short drive away, and Hayle itself is home to its very own Paradise Park. Established in 1973 as a tropical bird garden , the park has since grown to accommodate otters, red pandas, red squirrels and the Cornish Chough. The park is also a great example of Cornwall's mild climate and boasts a diversity of flora in and around its own walled garden - while the JungleBarn play centre offers plenty of activities for young children in all weathers.

St Michael's Mount
One of the county's more unique attractions, St Michael's Mount is located just off the south coast around seven miles from Hayle. The castle and surrounding island is home to the St Auben family and a community of villagers which works to sustain itself as a self-contained parish. Subsequently, the mount and castle is open to the public at specific times relating to the seasons. Yet, despite the necessity to plan your visit, the attraction is more than worth it - and perhaps one of the best links to Cornwall's unique past, another way of life, as well as the county's wider relation to the rest of the world.

Tate St Ives
Travel west from Hayle and you will get to the well-known town of St Ives, home to the popular Tate gallery. The gallery specialises in international modern and contemporary art and has boasted a great number of famous works from names such as Damien Hurst and Derek Jarman over the years. The gallery also promotes work from local artists such as those from the well-known St Ives School including Bernard Leech and Peter Lanyon. It is located to the north of the town overlooking Porthmeor Beach.

About the Author

Sam Southern writes about Cornwall self catering and hotels in the region. For more details about staying in the area visit: http://www.killanoon.co.uk/