Hayle

Looking north from the golf course towards Godrevy lighthouse

Hayle is situated on the coast of St Ives Bay, which extends from Godrevy Head southwards to St Ives Head.

The lighthouse on Godrevy Island is an iconic landmark. At low tide it is possible to walk from the mouth of the Hayle River for three miles along the beautiful beaches to Godrevy. The clear blue sea is inviting to paddlers, swimmers and surfers.

The town’s twelve-hole golf course on the south dunes of the river offers panoramic views over the Cornish coast and countryside. This is a popular attraction for locals and visitors of all abilities and ages.

The beaches are backed by high dunes, called ‘towans’. The North Towans are the sand dunes on the north side of the Hayle River mouth. They are regularly frequented and are a spectacular viewpoint for the St Ives Bay, with St Ives town seen in the distance. However, it is advised not to stand too close to the edge in case it crumbles.

Viewpoint on the North Towans

The Hayle River flows into the Atlantic Ocean within St Ives Bay.

Hayle was originally settled and developed due to the river providing one of the few natural harbours along this stretch of coast. Now it is a residential town and holiday destination.

The poles in the water are guides for boats entering and leaving the harbour as the sandbars near the channel are a hazard to safe passage.

The Hayle River meets the Atlantic Ocean

Marran grass is a frontier plant. Unlike most flora, it can withstand sandy, salty conditions with little moisture and high winds.

The fine, shell sand is blown off the beach and trapped by the leaves of the grass. Marran grass can survive buried under 1m of sand.

The grass was once harvested and weaved into mats, fishing nets and shoes. More recently, due to its important role in stabilizing the dunes, harvesting the grass has been curbed.

Marran grass on the North Towans

It is the vast root system of marran grass which helps to stabilize the sand dunes.

The long roots grow rapidly downward in search of water and the lateral roots create a dense, matted network, which traps the fine sand.

More stable dunes help to encourage the colonization of other plants, which in turn increase the stability of this habitat.

Network of marran grass roots

The Cornish harbour town of Hayle, originally developed around the copper smelting industry, has been transforming into a tourist destination since the 1980s.

In 1952 a new railway opened, spanning the valley on the impressive Angarrack Viaduct which passed through Hayle on wooden supports. These were later replaced with the stone pillars seen today.

Looking inland towards Hayle town from the back of the North Towans

The proposed development within the harbour area includes a large number of homes, industrial zones, a hotel, sport and leisure facilities, and public spaces.

The old copper smelting buildings and related constructions are historically important. Some of these are located by the main harbour area, just beyond the viaduct. There were concerns about the impact the new development would have on this World Heritage Site and this issue is being studied and discussed.. However, work on the construction of luxury apartments is underway by the North Quay, which is further down river towards the river mouth.

Construction on North Quay

Hayle Harbour, once a cargo port used extensively during the copper mining era, now has only fishing boats and a few leisure vessels.

The local commercial fishermen work hard for a living and mainly depend on their seasonal catches of crab, lobster, mackerel, and sole.

Much of the boat maintenance is done on site in the harbour and on the docks.

Fishing boats by North Quay

Maintenance dredging has occurred in the Hayle Harbour area over many years to maintain a navigable channel for fishermen and other boat users.

The removal and sale of river sand has, over the years, resulted in a decreasing beach height. This in turn caused the undermining of the dunes at spring high tides.

The removal and sale of sand is now prohibited and the sand from dredging is moved from one area to another. Sluicing was reintroduced in 2017 to help clear the silt in the estuary.

Dredging the Hayle Harbour

In an attempt to control the silting of the Hayle estuary and its navigable passage to the sea, the sluice gates are closed at high tide and then opened 3 hours later. The released water rushes down the estuary and washes the silt out to sea.

Water gushing out of Copperhouse Pool as the sluice gate is opened

The Cornish Copper Company moved to Hayle in 1757 and built a copper smelting works on the eastern part of the Hayle Estuary. The area is now known as Copperhouse Pool because of the storage reservoir built to hold back water flowing through the Copperhouse Creek at high tide. At low tide this was released to clear the estuary of silt, so cargo ships had passage to the works.

Workers’ accommodation was built near the pool, with easy access to the smelting factory.

The winding path of Copperhouse Creek at low tide

A popular attraction for locals as well as visitors, King George V Memorial Garden Walk hosts a stunning variety of sub- tropical plants and fishponds.

The Walk was laid out in 1936. One of its main features is the Arboretum, a collection of ornamental trees planted along its entire length parallel to the tidal Copperhouse Pool.

King George V Memorial Garden Walk

The Hayle Estuary is abundant with birds and provides a natural habitat for many varieties of waders, including the European Curlew. It is a nationally renowned RSPB nature reserve.

During cold winters, up to 18,000 birds can be found here as the estuary is one of the few that never freezes. The area attracts local and visiting birders.

Curlew by Copperhouse Creek

As the sun goes down, the buildings lining Copperhouse Pool are reflected in the high tide waters. Some of these buildings date back to the mid-19th century.

In this photograph, the handrail of the low tide footbridge is only partially visible crossing the pool. The water creates a divide between urban and natural environments.

Hayle is a stunning Cornish harbour town, rich in history and natural beauty.

Reflections of old buildings in Copperhouse Pool at high tide

A Cornish Harbour Town

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