Portreath to Hayle Walk

The Portreath to Hayle Walk is 19.02 km with 386 m of climbing, so most hikers should allow a full day. On Cornwall’s cliff path, an easy-grade route of this length commonly takes around 5 to 7 hours depending on pace, stops, and coastal wind.

The Portreath to Hayle Walk is graded easy, but it is not flat. The route covers 19.02 km and gains 386 m, so the effort comes from the steady up-and-down nature of the coast path rather than any technical ground.

Yes. The South West Coast Path information for this section notes that the nearest train stations are Hayle and Redruth, and buses connect with Portreath, which makes this a practical point-to-point walk. That setup makes it straightforward to start in Portreath and finish in Hayle without needing a car.

The walk starts in Portreath on Cornwall’s north coast and finishes in Hayle. It follows the South West Coast Path between the two towns, ending near Hayle’s estuary and Towans area after 19.02 km of coastal walking.

Dogs can be taken on the Portreath to Hayle Walk, but beach restrictions apply at some points on this stretch. Cornwall Council lists seasonal daytime restrictions at Portreath Beach and at Hayle Towans from July 1 to August 31, 10am to 6pm, so dogs may need to stay on the coast path or use unrestricted sections.

The Portreath to Hayle Walk is a north Cornwall coastal route with sea cliffs, open headlands, sandy bays, and a finish near the Hayle estuary and Towans. The scenery changes from Portreath’s harbor setting to broad dune-backed coastline closer to Hayle and Godrevy Bay.

Spring through early fall is usually the best window for the Portreath to Hayle Walk, when daylight is longer and the coast path is generally drier underfoot. Summer brings the warmest conditions, but exposed cliff sections can feel hot or windy, and beach dog restrictions are in force in July and August at some locations.