Summer’s here, which means it’s time for beach adventures and days out on the water. From white-knuckle thrills with a mighty splash, to coastal cruises where you can kickback with a tipple from the bar, Cornwall lays on water-bound activities for all ages and adrenalin levels. So whether you’ve got teens and tots in tow, or want to slip away from the holiday crowds, here’s how to cool off in Cornwall this summer.
Best for: Surf on flat days
If you’re a keen surfer and wondering what to do when the waves are flat, it’s time to try wake surfing with Camel Ski School. Their specialist boat is far more than a sleek vessel to cruise along the Camel Estuary and see pretty Padstow from the water. The powerful engine creates a wave that can be adjusted to different heights, so once you’ve been towed to your feet on a surfboard, you can drop the rope and free surf – just like riding an endless wave. Book a single lesson, or charter the boat for an afternoon and enjoy a private session for up to eight people.
Best for: Seeing Newquay’s wild side under paddle power
While Newquay is renowned as a surfing destination, its Gazzle area – a nook of caves and headlands wedged between Fistral and the town beaches – is a paradisiacal place to explore under paddle power. Head out with Newquay Activity Centre for monster SUP group fun, or learn how to paddle, navigate and read the wind and tide conditions on a paddleboarding tour with the Surf Sanctuary.
Best for: Walking on water
Cornwall is synonymous with surfing and summer brings with it some of the warmest weather to hit the water on your board. However, being the season for smaller waves and busy line-ups, we like to head to Sennen, which catches the brunt of the Atlantic swells and lures fewer crowds than the surf capital of Newquay. There’s a strong local surf crew who make walking on water look easy, but you can get some tips and tuition with the pros at Smart Surf School.
If you’re keen to experience waves all around Cornwall, check out the best beaches in Cornwall to match your surfing ability.
Best for: Family spills and thrills
Not all water-bound activities in Cornwall take you out to sea. There are a few giant slip and slides dotted around Cornwall, like these Monster Slip and Slide chutes just a few minutes from the beaches of Bude. Launch yourself down a 360ft drop on a bodyboard or an inflatable ring, for an hour of screech-worthy fun come rain or shine. While you recover and get your breath back, lose the kids in the maize maze, and you can even take home your memories with snaps from the onsite photographer.
Best for: Spotting marine life
Hop aboard for a full-throttle adventure with Orca Sea Safaris that brings you face-to-face with Cornwall’s incredible sea life and shows you the stunning coastline from the water. Speeding far out to sea and into the nooks and crannies of the coastline, you’ll encounter all sorts of wildlife from seabirds and seals, to dolphins and even basking sharks if you’re lucky. Whether you opt for a two-hour Coastal Explorer or one-hour Bay Discovery, your expert guides will share fascinating knowledge, as you explore the crystalline waters of the south coast.
Best for: Floating away from the crowds
The beaches are busy in the summer holidays, with the lifeguards keeping everyone safe in a designated swimming area. But sometimes you just want to float in your own ocean paradise, away from the waves, the crowds and the trill of summer. Which is exactly what you can do when you seek out this secluded pool beneath the cliffs at Porthtowan. Experience the ocean crashing against the wall of your swimming hole, bask on the rocks in the sunshine, then return to the buzz of the beach and the legendary Blue Bar.
If you’re keen to seek out more dipping spots to cool off in the area, check out our blog on the best sea pools in Cornwall.
Best for: Island adventures
Did you know that 28 miles off the south-west tip of Cornwall awaits a sub-tropical archipelago of over 50 islands, that’s home to white-sand beaches, exotic gardens and wild heathland? Take a day trip on The Scillonian ferry or the brand new fast Scilly Ferries service from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly, where you can roam along golden shores and rocky promontories, boat hop between paradise islands, and pause to refuel in tea rooms, traditional inns and seafood shacks.
Best for: Casting away from the beach crowds
Experience a different perspective of the Cornish coastline, from a Hawaiian outrigger canoe with underwater viewers. The deep-blue waters lapping St Ives’ Bay are one of the best places in Cornwall to spot sea life, and on an adventure afloat with Ocean Sports Centre you can see the likes of seals, silver pipefish and sunfish from the seat of your stable vessel, without even getting your hair wet.
Best for: Adrenalin adventures
Swim, scramble and cliff jump on an exhilarating coasteering adventure that will bring you nose-to-nose with North Cornwall’s rugged shoreline. The experts at Era Adventures will take you to your limits as you swirl in plunge pools, swim into sea caves and leap off rocky ledges on an energetic adventure. All ages over 10 are welcome and it’s up to you how high you dare to climb and take the plunge.
Best for: Mega wipeout challenges
Splash, jump and bounce your way around the Aqua Park at Retallack Resort, near Padstow. Wipeouts are inevitable as you take on the challenges of this huge, inflatable obstacle course on the lake. Inflatable ‘ringo’ rides and wakeboarding are also available, or you can pootle along on a pedalo if that’s more your pace. Boasting an array of watersports away from the sea, Retallack Resort is also home to the FlowRider stand-up wave, where you can practise your surfing and bodyboarding skills on a stand-up wave.
Best for: Kick back and cruise
If you’re looking to explore the North Cornwall coastline on board a more luxurious boat, venture sea-bound in style on the Jubilee Queen. An iconic vessel that has been cruising in Cornish waters for 40 years, this sleek liner welcomes the whole family – including young pirates and four-legged friends – to enjoy a 1.5-hour spin to see seabirds, marine life, secluded coves and rugged beaches. As you’d expect of a luxury liner, there’s also a well-stocked bar onboard.
Keep us tagged on your water-bound adventures in Cornwall this summer @cool.cornwall
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