 The Towans are bounded to the south-east by Phillack village and the B3301 Hayle to Portreath road; to the north-west, the dunes face St Ives Bay across an intertidal beach.Substantial areas of The Towans rise more than above sea level, the highest point being at Phillack Towans.The southern half of The Towans is in Hayle civil parish and the northern half in Gwinear-Gwithian civil parish.