Walk - Portreath to Hayle

11.7 miles (18.8 km)

Portreath Hayle

Moderate - Moderate

After leaving Portreath the Coast Path follows the cliffs with some beautiful views of rocky coves, such as the wonderfully named Ralph’s Cupboard, apparently a favoured smugglers spot for stashing loot. After just a couple of steep climbs the Path soon levels and walking becomes fairly straightforward. As you follow the sheer cliffs, surrounded by brightly coloured spring and summertime flowers, such as blue sheep’s bit, primroses and yellow rattle, look down to the contrastingly raw, jagged reefs below.

Seals are a common sight around the waters of Godrevy and Gwithian and sunfish and basking sharks have been spotted from the North Cliffs. The dunes behind the spectacular beach which stretches from Godrevy Point to the entrance of the Hayle estuary are also rich with wildlife.

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There are a range of wonderful places to lay your head near the Coast Path for a well-earned sleep. From large and luxurious hotels, to small and personable B&B's, as well as self-catering options and campsites. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Loggans Lodge

07907 753219 / 01736 752021

Loggans Lodge has 3 en-suite bedrooms equipped with Tea/Coffee facilities, fridge, TV, safe, hairdryer. Close to bars, restaurants, take-aways and a supermarket

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Beachpads

01872 862439

Three Individual Properties directly on the SW Coastal Route. Sleeps 1 -22. Out of school holiday and summer season single night single bedroom stays available.

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The Little Holiday Co St Ives

Comfortable and cosy one bedroom, dog friendly with sea views

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Polmanter Touring Park

01736 795640

We offer the perfect base to explore West Cornwall offering award-winning camping, glamping and luxury self-catering properties

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Cohort St Ives

01736 791664

Educational Residential Trip Centre. Open to the public over Easter School Holidays and Summer School Holidays. Family rooms. Dorm rooms. Private rooms. Great facilities.

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Basset Arms

01209 643262

The Basset Arms is a cosy 18th-century inn in Portreath offering hearty food, local ales, and bedrooms - perfect for walkers on the South West Coast Path

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Portreath Arms

01209 842259

Family owned and run Bar, Restaurant and Hotel located in the centre of the village. The menu features good home cooked food with ever changing specials and daily locally caught fish dishes

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You'll be spoilt for choice for where to eat and drink along the Path. With lots of local seasonal food on offer, fresh from the farm, field and waters. Try our local ales, ciders, wines and spirits, increasing in variety by the year, as you sit in a cosy pub, fine dining restaurant or chilled café on the beach. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Pedn Olva

01736 796222

Perched on granite rocks above the sparkling waters of St Ives Bay, the Pedn Olva has been beautifully refreshed, with stylish rooms offering breath taking views over the harbour and the ocean.

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Lifeboat Inn

01736 794123

Warm rooms & apartments with free Wi-Fi in a down-to-earth pub featuring harbour views.

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What is on your list of things to do when you visit the Path? From walking companies, to help you tailor your visit, with itineraries and experts to enhance your visit, to baggage transfer companies and visitor attractions there are lots to people and places to help you decide what you'd like to do. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

NCI St Ives

01736 799398

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Bys Vyken Events

07576 521238

Bys Vyken Events are a Cornish trail race company that bring Cornwall to life through their races

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Highlights

The views from the top of Western Hill down to the harbour of Portreath and to Western Cove and the cliff paths ahead.

The contorted rock strata of Greenbank Cove.

Crane Castle: standing on the site of an Iron Age cliff castle, almost entirely lost to erosion, you look out to Crane Islands and to the Path ahead along the Reskajaege Downs, which are covered in swathes of wildflowers and heather in spring and summer.

The overwhelming mass of cliff and sheer drop to the sea at Hell’s Mouth.

Seal spotting from Navax Point, which is covered in wild flowers, pink heather and gorse in the summer months.

The National Trust have brought in a small herd of Shetland ponies to graze at the Knavocks and help maintain the habitat favoured by small birds and butterflies.

Godrevy Island and octagonal lighthouse (now solar-powered) is three and a half miles across St Ives Bay, and is thought to have been the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s novel `To The Lighthouse'. The island is covered in bright flowers in springtime.

Spotting the guillemots, razorbills, fulmars and cormorants from the North Cliffs.

The Red River which once carried the red iron oxide residue from the tin mines up the valley out to the sea at Gwithian.

Gwithian and Hayle Towans: the second largest dune system in Cornwall is home to hundreds of different species of plants, butterflies, moths and glow-worms. Apparently, St Gothian's Chapel has been buried three times under the shifting sands.

The 100 year-old swing bridge at the entrance to Hayle harbour.

The birds of Hayle Estuary.

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