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On the northern coast, on the shores of St Ives Bay, is the town of Hayle, once a powerhouse of Cornwall's Victorian industry and with a fascinating heritage as a result. Hayle boasts a river estuary brimming with rare birdlife, while the town's other bonus is its three mile beach that encloses the eastern shores of St Ives Bay.
At the beach's northern end is the island lighthouse of Godrevy, a dramatic final flourish to the bay's glittering expanse of water and its hem of silken sand. Behind Godrevy lie cliffs of dark slate and shale with enthralling names like Hell's Mouth and Deadman's Cove. Yet, within a mere kilometre of the cliffs edge lies Tehidy Country Park where a wandering network of paths lies within deep woodland that in turn protects a fine golf course. From towering ocean cliffs to the sweetest of bluebell glades in yards - underlining the endless diversity of West Cornwall.
The Hayle area is popular as a self-catering holiday venue and the town's many shops and facilities are only a short walk from the beaches. Lifeguards patrol the beaches during the summer months and, as well as swimming, surfing and sunbathing, Hayle's sands are ideal for the fast-growing sport of land speed sailing and, in 1998, hosted the World Wave Ski Championships.