Connor Downs

Connor Downs - known in Cornish as Goongoner - is a village in West Cornwall, roughly two miles east of Hayle in the civil parish of Gwinear-Gwithian. The village straddles the old course of the A30, which has since been rerouted to bypass the settlement to the north.

The name Connor comes from Connerton, the medieval manor of Gwithian parish. The village has a primary school, a pub, a garage and a farm shop that offers a restaurant and pick-your-own fruit in season. Day-to-day essentials are covered by a convenience store and petrol station.

The beaches at Gwithian and Godrevy are a short drive to the north, with views across St Ives Bay to Godrevy Lighthouse - the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s novel. The South West Coast Path is within easy reach. Hayle’s harbour area and shops are about two miles west, while St Ives is roughly five miles along the coast road.

Connor Downs suits visitors looking for a quieter base with good road links. The A30 provides fast connections east towards Truro and west to Penzance, while the north coast beaches are never more than a few minutes away. The World Parrot Trust’s breeding centre at Hayle, about a mile south of the village, houses rare parrots and red pandas and runs keeper talks throughout the day. The Hayle Estuary RSPB reserve, roughly 2 miles west, attracts wintering waders and wildfowl between October and March.