Summer Vacation, Day 14: Hayle

July 24, 2026 · Summer 2026, day 14 of 22

Half an hour’s drive from last night’s stay in Penzance was St Ives. Nadine’s non-negotiable visit this vacation was going there and exploring the town.

The California with the roof up on the pitch between the dunes, the moon above

Alas, Nadine went alone after an hour-long search for a parking spot. I could not have imagined how crowded and overflowing that town is. At times it was like a maze, including reversing out of narrow streets because we could not get through a passage with the California. Eventually we dropped Nadine off and drove out of St Ives to a nearby park and church area: St John’s in the Fields offered parking for a donation of £5. The boys had snacks, played on the lawn and Nadine toured the town. After two hours we picked her up and went to our destination for the day, a holiday park with a campsite attached, right in the dunes. From there we walked on to the beach and stayed for the rest of the day. A lot of it reminds us of our camping experiences in Denmark.

Busy beach in St Ives with a green headland behind

Woman with a rollator sitting at the harbour wall, the pier and lighthouse behind

Hanging flower basket on a lamp post above the roofs of St Ives

Small sandy cove below the St Ives Museum

Juvenile herring gull begging from an adult in front of a kayak rack

Godrevy lighthouse on its island, a surfer carrying a board in the foreground

Paraglider over the sea, Godrevy lighthouse in the distance

Aika lying in the sand, Godrevy lighthouse in the distance

Summer Vacation, Day 14: Hayle

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