Coastwalk , South West Coast Path

Hayle → Lelant Saltings

Distance: 1.79 miles
Ascent: 4 metres
Duration: 36 minutes

Estuary
« Portreath | St Ives »

This was always going to be one of the shortest walks we'd do, and with the early rain this was probably just as well. We'd not spent much time in Hayle when we were here six years ago - the gap in this part of the walk has remained unfilled since then - so it was interesting to notice that despite the town's outwardly shabby appearance, there was a row of proudly independent shops, colourful flower beds and several B&Bs. Although Hayle doesn't feel prosperous, it's an optimistic sign that the town is trying to resist the recession.

The river Hayle estuary is broad and tidal; bird watchers were braving the rain to spot late summer wading birds as we approached the turning to Lelant Saltings station. New houses have been built since we were last here, but the unfinished-looking car park was as we remembered it. Since we had time, we walked on to St Erth station to catch the mainline train to Reading, but it would have been satisfying to have had a last look back up the coast towards Portreath again.