Short answer: Hayle's beach is really one: three miles of golden sand and dunes, from Hayle Towans past Upton and Gwithian to Godrevy. For small children, the Hayle end has a gentle slope. For seals and the lighthouse, Godrevy. Gwithian's car park is free from November to March.
Hayle sits at the mouth of its estuary on St Ives Bay, and the beach that runs north-east from it is one of the biggest in Cornwall: three miles of sand backed by dunes, called by different names along the way.
Three miles of clean golden sand with a gentle slope and no steep drop — one of the safer, easier beaches for young children.
Good for: families, dogs, couples. 0.7 miles from the centre.
A vast, three-mile stretch of golden sand backed by dramatic dunes, linking through to Godrevy — one of the biggest beaches in Cornwall.
Good for: families, dogs, couples. 1.5 miles from the centre.
A National Trust beach with striking rock formations and regular seal sightings — links up to a huge sweep of sand at low tide.
Good for: families, dogs, couples. 3.5 miles from the centre.
All the details: Hayle beach parking.
See also: dog-friendly beaches near Hayle · flat-access beaches in Hayle · the full Hayle guide, filtered by who's with you.
Beach notes are based on visitor reviews and our own visits; lifeguard cover, dog rules and car park charges change with the season, so check the signs on the day.
See the full Hayle guide, filtered by who's with you.
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