Cornwall’s coastline is beautiful when observed from a distance, but is even more impressive to explore up close. Coasteering provides an exciting and immersive way to see the beauty of Cornwall’s coastlines.
Cornwall’s coves, cliff faces, and plunge pools make coasteering here an extraordinary experience. The county is known for being one of the best areas in the UK for coasteering, particularly for those who are new to the sport.
What is Coasteering?
Coasteering is an adventure sport involving climbing, swimming, and jumping to explore coastlines. As its name suggests, it was developed from mountaineering, using similar techniques in order to move along the coast in place of a mountain.
Coasteering has become something quite different since this development, being popularised as an accessible adventure activity on Britain’s coasts.
Coasteering allows you to explore the coasts in areas that are not always accessible by boat or on foot. Each session is unique, with the combination of the weather, group, instructor, and sea conditions affecting the experience.
Good Places to Go Coasteering in Cornwall
Newquay
Newquay is a prime location for coasteering, often being called the capital of the sport, outside of its birthplace in Pembrokeshire. Newquay is known for its breathtaking cliff jumps, being home of the Gazzle headland.
Port Gaverne and Port Quin
The rugged coastline around Port Gaverne and Port Quin makes for some incredible coasteering trips. The deep water and rocky cliffs of this stretch of coast create the perfect scene for coastal exploration, with opportunities to explore caves, swim in the deep water lagoons, and climb the rocky cliff faces.
Lizard Point
Lizard Point is a hotspot for kayaking, swimming, and cliff-climbing. The Lizard provides great opportunities for coasteering beginners with its low-level routes, so you can explore even if you are not ready to tackle big cliffs and caves yet. The coves around the Lizard, particularly Mullion Cove, are popular on coasteering routes due to their sea caves and clear, turquoise waters.
Tintagel
On Cornwall’s north coast, Tintagel has natural rapids and sea caves like Merlin’s Cave to offer, as well as interesting cliffs and arches. Bossiney Cove near Tintagel boasts incredible scenery, making coasteering here a magical experience.
Companies that Offer Coasteering in Cornwall
Cornwall is home to countless excellent coasteering adventure companies, with experts to guide your experience.
These are some of the county’s best-loved coastal activity guides:
The Newquay Activity Centre provides guided coasteering trips around the Newquay area. They offer a range of experiences catered to different group sizes and abilities, providing an experience for everyone in England’s coasteering capital.
Coastal Rush is based along the picturesque coastline of Saint Agnes, which is rich in caves and cliffs to explore. They offer 2.5 hour guided coasteering sessions from April to September, led by experienced local guides to aid you throughout your adventure.
Kernow Coasteering is renowned as the south west’s leading provider of adventure activities. Based in Newlyn, Penzance, Kernow Coasteering offers adventures around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for both beginners and advanced coasteerers.
Cornwall is a great destination for coasteering, with countless different locations offering unique coasteering experiences. Even for those who are looking to try coasteering for the first time, Cornwall’s coasts are a great starter, particularly with the help of local guides.
Our holiday cottages in Truro make the perfect base for adventures in Cornwall – pick one of our hot tub cottages and relax your muscles in the warm tub after an exhilarating day of coasteering or other watersport activities in Cornwall.