You can taste the salty spray as it draws you towards the water. The familiar smell of seaweed was home. I knew I was back.
The Cornish town of Hayle sits in the far southwest corner of England, near the midpoint of St Ives bay. It lies approximately 10 miles north of Penzance and is part of the Heritage Coast of Cornwall, owned by the National Trust.
The Trust has purchased large chunks of the Cornish coastline, ensuring protection for its wildlife and natural beauty.
"Morning," greets an elderly man, his face weathered, exposed to the elements and sands of time. His dog retrieves his master's stick from the white surf.
"Wind's up. Pity the small boats today," he continues, his faithful companion by his side, stick in mouth.
The small fishing boats leave regularly, setting out from Hayle harbour and sailing along the estuary at high tide and into the big blue. They must return before low tide else the estuary runs dry.
Hayle is part of a beautiful stretch of coastline running from St Ives to the west, through to Godrevy Point in the east and its symbolic lighthouse.
Godrevy Lighthouse features predominantly in paintings by John Miller who has captured the stunning natural beauty on canvass in many of his famous prints.
Westwards leads to the estuary and inland to the working fishing port. The small dock escorts you to the high street, a mixture of old and new. Shopping here is not great; Hayle's strength is its coastline.
Approximately halfway along the high street are the best Cornish pasties money can buy. Upon the corner sits the old bakers' shop, striving to meet demand for the local delicacy.
At least half a dozen work the ovens tirelessly to satisfy the endless queues. Seagulls perch atop the roof hoping for a taste of the action.
Across the road, the Cornish Arms serves a great pint of ale with which to wash down your meal. Relax and enjoy the unique Cornish ambience where strangers stop to say hello. Far from the mega metropolis cities, life in Hayle slows down to a crawl.
Age helps you appreciate the finer details in life. Suddenly Brean had become a beautiful stretch of coastline boasting windswept sand dunes and several miles of golden sands.
So the funfair may have grown and its visitors gotten younger, but Brean retains an inner calm, somewhere for the weekend to relax and recharge your batteries, run dangerously low by the rigours of city life.
And what a wonderful, panoramic view that unfolds before you. To the left, reaching out towards the horizon lies the rugged coastline of north Devon. Gazing straight ahead over the Bristol Channel, your eyes are drawn towards the south coast of Wales.
On a clear day, with the aid of binoculars, you can make out the Cardiff docks. Nearby is the magnificent Millennium Stadium, pride of the nation and home to the Welsh rugby team and many other great sporting events.
The summer months bring a large influx of tourists and are busy days for beach patrol. The flat sands leave a huge area of beach exposed at low tide, revealing dangerous mud flats.
The warning signs emphasize the danger of walking too far out towards the sea. Lives have been lost in the past, victims of the sinking mud and sand. The lifeguard's jeep patrolling up and down the beach is a familiar sight in summer.
"Move inland away from the sea," bellows the coastguard through the jeep's loudspeakers. It's incredible the number of people who ignore the warning signs, remaining oblivious to the dangers around them.
The receding tide has exposed a path of shells leading northwards along the shore to Brean Down, a narrow piece of land jutting out into the sea.
The one hundred or so steps to the top are a challenge. An ideal spot for binoculars, the summit of Brean Down casts its eye many miles. The coastlines of South Wales and southwest England feature predominantly in the skyline.
A clear day yields some memorable views. From up here, Brean appears to be carpeted with caravans spread as far as the eye can see. Holiday parks are everywhere; it's easy to appreciate why Brean is so popular with caravan lovers.
Steven Cronin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Football and Destinations. Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks website featuring city break special offers from luxury hotels to budget accommodations. For more information please visit