The town and port of Hayle and the river it stands on get their name from the Cornish word ‘heyl’ meaning estuary.
Hayle’s golden sandy beaches stretch for over three miles with Mexico Towans beach near the centre. Towan is from the Cornish Tewyn, meaning sand dunes, and Mexico is likely connected with the name of a nearby mine.
Hayle is also home to Paradise Park – a wildlife sanctuary with over a thousand birds and animals.
The Estuary of the river Hayle, an RSPB nature reserve, is part of the Hayle Estuary and Carrack Gladden Site of Special Scientific Interest.