Beach Activities
At around 3 miles long, Gwithian beach in St Ives Bay sits right below Beachside Holiday Park and offers huge amounts of space for exploration and relaxation during seaside holidays in Cornwall. Popular with everyone from water-sports enthusiasts to sunbathers, it’s the kind of place where hours easily fly by throughout the year. If you love the water, then swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and more are just some of the water activities that can tempt you here. Meanwhile on the sand, walking, yoga, beachcombing, volleyball, kite buggies and land yachts all promise lots of fun. The temperate sea breezes also make the bay perfect for kite flying.
Surf Lessons
Going hand in hand with the pura vida lifestyle and endless summer dream, surfing is a timeless activity for all and is loved around the world. If you’ve never tried surfing before or would like some tips to polish your techniques during your holiday in Cornwall, then a surf lesson could be just the thing for you. Offering one of the best ways to learn, our on-site surf school are located on the beach right in front of Beachside Holiday Park and offer expert tuition to novice and experienced surfers of all ages. All of their friendly, knowledgeable surf instructors are experienced surfers with ISA (International Surf Association) qualifications. From nose-dive to hang-five, you’ll be hooked in no time.
Equipment Hire
If you haven’t already got equipment with you, then you can hire a range of equipment from our onsite surf school. With a great variety of rental gear available, you can hire surfboards, paddleboards, kayaks, bodyboards, wetsuits and more.
Eating and Drinking
After a few hours spent on the beach, thoughts quickly turn to food. Fortunately, we have a great shop open onsite that’s well-stocked with fresh local produce and goods – perfect for putting together beach picnics for days by the shore. For hot food, you can also benefit from access to our fantastic family-friendly restaurant, Coast, which is located on our holiday park in Hayle and only a short walk from the beach. Open throughout the week in summer and on weekends in winter, Coast’s menu of classic, tasty favourites, has something for all ages and moods. Ample comfort facilities are also available onsite, both for our camping and self-catering accommodation guests.
Lifeguard Service
St Ives Bay is wonderfully versatile for a beach holiday and offers safe, shallow waters just right for bathing and swimming, as well as great conditions for surfing at most levels of experience. That said, it’s always important to be mindful of conditions and check the local RNLI lifeguard page for up-to-date information. To keep you safe, lifeguards are on duty at the front of Beachside Holiday Park from mid-May to mid-September each year and operate a flag system on the beach to mark lifeguarded zones. These are indicated by red and yellow flags and show lifeguard patrolled areas safe for swimming.
Wildlife and Tours
The beaches around Hayle are an important area for wildlife and it is not uncommon to see seals and dolphins in the sea or sea birds among the Towans (sand dunes), as well as along the South West Coast Path which coincides with the beach. If you’d like to see some of the area’s resident wildlife, make sure to take a pair of binoculars with you – remembering to always admire from afar instead of approaching to avoid endangering animals. To safely see Cornish wildlife in their natural habitats, you can also take part in guided wildlife tours from nearby Hayle or St Ives, with operators taking you along the coast towards Seal Island, Godrevy Lighthouse and more.
South West Coast Path
St Ives Bay’s long stretch of golden, sandy beach is just a few minutes’ walk along the private footpath from our self-catering accommodation and campsite among the sand dunes. Ideal for walking, the beach provides seemingly endless space for strolls beside the shore throughout the year. Connecting with the South West Coast Path – a world-famous long-distance trail following the entire coastline of Cornwall and beyond – there is ample opportunity for further walks nearby too. That said, if you’re after a less active holiday activity, the soft warm sands are an ideal place to take it easy, linger over a picnic and admire the views across the bay towards St Ives or Godrevy.
Beachside Holiday Park, Hayle
At Beachside, we are a family-friendly, dog-free holiday park in Hayle offering a beautiful coastal haven for families and couples. Get in touch to find out more or book your holiday by the beach in Cornwall today.
