Local Area Information
Our property is just 1 mile from the lovely town of Hayle with its shops, pubs and restaurants, and less than two miles from the golden sands of Hayle Towans, overlooking St. Ives Bay. Just 1.5 miles away is the stunning King George V Memorial Walk alongside the Hayle Estuary and marshes, with its beautiful tropical flora and fauna, ideal for a leisurely walk or, on Sundays, a safe family bike ride, as the area is coned off from traffic that day. Bike hire is available from the local cycle shop, or bring your own!! There are two or three lovely local pubs within easy walking distance.....We strongly recommend the Star at St. Erth, great food at reasonable prices and excellent real ale.
Just 7 miles west is the stunning town of St. Ives, with its pretty narrow streets, stunning harbour and fishing boats which offer fishing trips and seal safaris. 7 miles south east is Penzance and St. Michael's Mount, and we are 40 minutes drive from Lands End south along the A30 and 40 minutes from the surfing capital of Newquay taking the A30 north. Flambards Theme Park at Helston is just 20 minutes away by car and there are many dog friendly beaches in the area.
We have been been holidaying in the area for 25 years so in that time we have built up a good knowledge of things to do, places to see and best eateries, although our tastes may be completely different to yours!! But hopefully these are a few ideas for starters.
Below are a couple of our recent messages to one of our lovely guests enquiring where to go and where to eat:
PLACES
Ok. Let's start with the ice cream...there is a lovely new ice cream parlour actually in Hayle itself, in the part of the town called Copperhouse (near Home Bargains) and the queues outside say it all (they do seem to move quickly, haha!)
Places to go....We love Marazion, just 6 miles away, from which you can walk across the causeway to St Michael's Mount if you plan it at low tide. You can pay to go round the island or just walk over and walk back. On the same part of the coastline is Longrock Beach which is a lovely flat, safe beach with views to Penzance and Marazion, and safe bathing.
Penzance itself is worth a visit, although one of our fave things about it is the second hand and charity shops, which sadly haven't reopened as yet.
St. Ives 7 miles away is a must, very pretty, lovely shops and if you are happy on the water the seal or fishing boat trips are exciting, especially if there is a bit of a swell!! There are loads of good horse riding places nearby too.
If you fancy the wilder, more unspoilt parts of Cornwall (think Poldark scenery!) take a trip from St. Ives to Lands End. You will pass through Zennor where there is a very well known old pub called the Tinners Arms, rumoured to have been frequented by the author DH Lawrence. Then through to St. Just and Sennen Cove, a pretty little place, and Sennen is also where you will find the world renowned, atmospheric old First and Last Inn.
Lands End itself has become a bit commercial now, car parking costs are steep and I think there may be a small charge to go to the tip, but once there, it is pretty impressive with the crashing waves.
Another fab place to go is the amazing Minack Theatre...Google it for more info, absolutely beautiful, there is a charge to go in but the exhibition telling the story is worthwhile and there is a nice cafe.
If you have children with you Flambards makes a great trip.........anyway, that should keep you going...you may need another three weeks holiday for that lot!!
FOOD
Hi there!! You only need to bring quilt cover sets (Inc pillow cases) and sheets as we have pillows with protectors, duvets and mattress protectors. Eating-wise we have plenty of good ideas!
For fish and chips, eat in or take away, definitely Sanders Restaurant in Hayle which also happens to be the nearest (about 1 mile). Book beforehand to eat in.
Just over the road from there is the White Hart Hotel who do a fabulous Sunday lunch at a reasonable price. Again book in advance. The decor is a bit bonkers, very Fawlty Towers, haha, but food great and service pleasant.
Daytime meal suggestion would be Birdies at Lelant Saltings. A little pricey at £10 to £15 per meal but a really extensive menu, don't need to book. There is another daytime bistro near there called the Forge which we haven't tried yet but looks nice.
We have enjoyed meals in the past at the Star Inn at St Erth, their lunchtime menu has been a little limited lately but lovely food.
A very nice Italian in Hayle is The Terrace, again, book first. And they have an extensive takeaway menu which is bigger than their eat in menu, work that one out!!
The Water Mill at Lelant has always been nice in the past, not been this year but assume standards are still as good.
If you have little 'uns the Bluff Inn up at Riviere Towans is a good bet, quite like a Hungry Horse by way of food and has an amusement area for the kids and breathtaking views of the sea.
A little further afield is the First and Last Inn at Sennen, very atmospheric with a smugglers tunnel running underneath it and good food!
And finally, the Pedn Olva Hotel in St Ives boasts a wonderful dining room overlooking the bay, their prices are reasonable and the food excellent.
This is just a fraction of what is out there and we look forward to our guests adding more suggestions to our guestbook page into the future!!