The town and port of Hayle gets its name from the Cornish word ‘heyl’ for 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 to the name of a nearby mine.
Hayle is also home to Paradise Park a wildlife sanctuary with over a thousand birds and animals.
The Hayle Estuary, an RSPB nature reserve, is part of the Hayle Estuary and Carrack Gladden Site of Special Scientific Interest.