Hayle was for many years a centre of the copper mining and smelting industry. The town is situated in St. Ive's Bay, at the mouth of the Hayle river. The estuary of the Hayle is an important habitat for wildfowl and wading birds, and today more visitors are drawn by birdwatching opportunities than the industrial heritage of the town!
Outside the town are three miles of lovely golden beaches, popular with surfers an windsurfers as well as the "spade and bucket brigade". The beaches are backed with an extensive network of sand dunes. The sand here as made Hayle a popular destination for landspeed sailing. Nearby Godrevy Lighthouse is said to be the model for Virginia Wolfe's novel "To the Lighthouse". Hayle hosts an annual Heritage Festival Week each August.
Near Hayle is the Paradise Park wildlife centre, an enjoyable family attraction that houses endangered species of parrots from around the globe, as well as owls, birds of prey, otters, penguins, and more. The park contains a Special Breeds Farm and Cornish Otter Sanctuary. The indoor Jungle Barn provides an energy outlet for the young folk on wet days!
