Landscapes Of England: Hayle

The sea roars, whipped into a frenzy by theHayle is part of a beautiful stretch of coastline
Atlantic winds racing across the bay. The wavesrunning from St Ives to the west, through to
look good today, surfers will be out for sure.Godrevy Point in the east and its symbolic
Come rain or shine, these boys are dedicated.lighthouse.
You can taste the salty spray as it draws youGodrevy Lighthouse features predominantly in
towards the water. The familiar smell of seaweedpaintings by John Miller who has captured the
was home. I knew I was back.stunning natural beauty on canvass in many of his
The Cornish town of Hayle sits in the farfamous prints.
southwest corner of England, near the midpoint ofWestwards leads to the estuary and inland to the
St Ives bay. It lies approximately 10 miles northworking fishing port. The small dock escorts you
of Penzance and is part of the Heritage Coast ofto the high street, a mixture of old and new.
Cornwall, owned by the National Trust.Shopping here is not great; Hayle's strength is its
The Trust has purchased large chunks of thecoastline.
Cornish coastline, ensuring protection for its wildlifeApproximately halfway along the high street are
and natural beauty.the best Cornish pasties money can buy. Upon
"Morning," greets an elderly man, his facethe corner sits the old bakers' shop, striving to
weathered, exposed to the elements and sandsmeet demand for the local delicacy.
of time. His dog retrieves his master's stick fromAt least half a dozen work the ovens tirelessly to
the white surf.satisfy the endless queues. Seagulls perch atop
"Wind's up. Pity the small boats today," hethe roof hoping for a taste of the action.
continues, his faithful companion by his side, stickAcross the road, the Cornish Arms serves a
in mouth.great pint of ale with which to wash down your
The small fishing boats leave regularly, setting outmeal. Relax and enjoy the unique Cornish
from Hayle harbour and sailing along the estuaryambience where strangers stop to say hello. Far
at high tide and into the big blue. They mustfrom the mega metropolis cities, life in Hayle
return before low tide else the estuary runs dry.slows down to a crawl.