Hayle Estuary Walk
Enjoy a walk or cycle around the beautiful Hayle Estuary RSPB reserve in Cornwall. A section of the South West Coast Path runs along the estuary from Hayle Harbour to Lelant. There's tremendous views of Porth Kidney Sands and a visit to Griggs Quay to enjoy.
The route starts in Hayle near to the train station and harbour. You soon come to the delightful Carnsew Pool where there is a circular walking trail around the water. You continue towards Lelant Water and RSPB Ryan's Field. Here you will find a lagoon with little islands where you can look out for a variety of birds.
The next section takes you past Griggs Quay to Lelant where you have the option of continuing to Porth Kidney Sands.
The reserve is wonderful for bird watching with 18,000 birds including many wading birds, gulls and terns. Look out for teal, curlew, little egret and oystercatcher as you make your way around this stunning area. In Hayle you can also visit the Copperhouse Pool next to the harbour. There's a path along the Copperhouse Creek where you can get very close to the birds.
National Cycle Route 3 passes the site so you can extend your outing by heading south to St Erth along the River Hayle. Walkers can continue west along the South West Coast Path to Carbis Bay and St Ives.
Postcode
TR27 6JF - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsHayle Estuary Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Hayle Estuary Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Hayle Estuary OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Hayle Estuary Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Explore the Area with Google Street View 
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Continue your walking in the area by heading to the popular resort of St Ives on the Hayle to St Ives Walk. The Portreath Walk visits the estuary from the nearby village and the epic St Michaels Way also passes through the area.
The circular Gwithian Walk can be picked up just to the east. It will take you north east along the Gwithian Towans beach with sand dunes, wild grass, rock pools and Atlantic seals to look out for. The route finishes at Godrevy Head, another local highlight. The National Trust owned headland includes a lighthouse and some fine views over St Ives Bay.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cornwall Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
RSPB sign on the Hayle Estuary
Looking across to Lelant from the causeway road.
Lagoon off the Estuary. The large flyover takes the main A30 road. The embankment on the right channels the River Hayle, a tidal gate stops the river filling with salt water at high tide.
View across the mouth of River Hayle
Hayle Towans from Lelant Towans. Looking across the mouth of the Hayle Estuary. The word 'towans' is Cornish for sand dunes.
Traffic on The Causeway