Now you know that Cornwall’s a top Blue Health destination, why not plunge into some of the activities that will boost your wellbeing by the sea? From the thrill of coasteering to the head-to-toe relaxation of a coastal spa experience, here are some of our favourite ways to release bucketfuls of the feel-good factor and improve your mental and physical health.
Brace yourself for a combo of adrenaline, adventure and head-to-toe immersion in the ocean, as you scramble, swim, climb and cliff jump your way around the nooks and crannies of the coastline. Swirl in plunge pools, swim into sea caves, leap off rocky ledges and come nose-to-nose to marine life, all while getting your cool water hit and working your fitness levels.
In the hands of an expert guide from Cornish Wave, Era Adventures or Cornish Rock Tors, it’s an energetic adventure, but all levels are welcome and it’s up to you how much you push your limits.
Grab your bathers or boardshorts and dive into the Big Blue. Wild swimming guarantees a heady rush of feel-good hormones that leave you feeling euphoric, and regular dipping can help alleviate depression and boost your immune system. Cornwall is a wild swimmer’s paradise, with inviting sea pools scattered around the coastline from Bude to Cape Cornwall.
The natural tidal pool in the rocks at Treyarnon Bay is a big enough to do a few laps, while being a safe haven from the Atlantic swells. Or you can seek out a magical cove for a sea dip – whether you want an adventure down to the lagoon at Pedn Vounder or easy access to the glassy waters of Porthpean. If you need a swim buddy there are plenty of local swimming groups to sign up to, or if you fancy a longer, guided swim, join the pod at Sea Swim Cornwall.
You don’t have to step foot in the ocean to feel the flush of its powers. Simply taking a walk beside the Big Blue promotes better physical and mental health, reduces blood pressure and lowers stress levels. Swap your phone for an OS map and take a ‘digital detox’ walk along the South West Coast Path.
Tuning into nature, listening to the waves, scouting for wildlife and watching the light reflecting on the water, feelings of stress and anxiety are replaced with mindfulness and relaxation. There are over 300 miles of coastal trails to choose from, whether you fancy tackling the thigh-burning cliffs of Crackington or ambling along the seafront from Marazion to Newlyn.
Surfing enables us to park our internal thought patterns on land and snap us into a mindful state, as our senses are overtaken by the rolling waves, the sounds and motion of the ocean, and the physical demands of riding a board in the ever-changing terrain. If you’re a beginner, tap up the experts at one of the many surf schools, and you’ll be gliding shoreward with a Cheshire cat grin in no time.
We love KingSurf at Mawgan Porth beach, Surf Sanctuary on the surfing capital of Fistral, and Grishka’s Surfaris for his one-to-one approach. If you’re already a confident surfer there are plenty of outlets for kit hire, just make sure you’re genned up on surfing etiquette, know your tide times and check in with the lifeguards about rip currents and hazards if you’re not sure about a new break. Find out more about Cornwall’s surf scene at Surfing Cornwall.
Get even closer to the waves and the roots of surfing on a wooden bellyboard. A playful and less technical form of surfing, all you need to do is wade into thigh-deep into the ocean and launch yourself shoreward on the whitewater. With all the benefits of surfing and sea swimming stripped back to its simplest form, it’s bound to bring a grin to your face while promoting fitness and health benefits.
Plus you’re gliding right back into the history of surfing on your wooden, finless board, as it’s the oldest form of surfing that harks back to ancient Hawaii and the Polynesian islands. A sustainable alternative to polystyrene bodyboards, you can try a Dick Peace bellyboard for free, in over 20 locations around Cornwall.
How about combining the Zen of yoga with the natural calming effect of sea views? When you stretch into a yoga session beside the sea, you’re building strength and flexibility, promoting mindfulness and relaxation, and benefitting from the focus and stimulation of gazing out at the Big Blue.
In Newquay, you can take sea-view yoga sessions year-round at the Ocean Flow studio overlooking Fistral beach, and there are also outside yoga sessions on the green by the sea throughout the summer months. Or, you can go one step closer to the water and test your balance doing yoga on a paddleboard, with Harlyn Surf School or Lizard Adventure.
Imagine an ocean-edge spa experience, where your senses are invigorated by the sea spray, crashing waves and stunning coastal views, while your body is pampered into a state of head-to-toes relaxation. In many of Cornwall’s coastal spas, the natural benefits of the beach environment are all part of the experience, with hot tubs perched on the cliffs, saunas peering out to the rolling surf and spa treatments incorporating natural seaside ingredients.
The Sensory Spa Garden at Bedruthan Hotel is a back-to-nature spa combining Nordic thermal therapy and Cornish coastal wellbeing in the sea air. Or, at the neighbouring, adults-only Scarlet Hotel, dip in the freshwater pool, pad down to the beach for a mindfulness walk, gaze at the seascape from every angle, and enjoy Ayurveda-based treatments that draw on the elements of the region, including a salty scrub, a seaweed soak and full body massage using strokes that represented the waves of the ocean.
The colour blue is associated with calmness and feelings of peace, and simply relaxing beside the waves can lure us into a mild meditative state. Ease yourself into a deeper meditation by focusing your gaze on the ocean, tuning into to sound of the waves and breathing in time to the ebb and flow. When busy thoughts pop into your mind, gently push them away and hone back into the soothing sounds and sights of the elements.
Even a brief meditation beside the Big Blue will increase the blood flow to your brain, lower cortisol levels (a stress-inducing hormone) and enhance the production of feel-good neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. If you would like some guidance join an evening of breath work and meditation on St Agnes beach with Mindfit Retreats.
Being by the sea and realising the ocean’s influence on us, as well as our influence over the ocean, encourages us to protect and improve the environment we love. Simple actions such as beach cleans, realising the importance of leaving just footprints, and the desire to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, can all be aroused by reconnecting with nature beside the sea.
Surfers Against Sewage and other environmental groups organise group beach cleans year round, or next time you’re padding along the beach pick up any plastic and rubbish along your way and feel great about taking care of the environment that makes you happy.
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