5 Sports to Enjoy in Cornwall

October 12th, 2020

Whether you love reading on the beach or running on it, Cornwall has plenty of activities on offer amongst beautiful scenery!

 

If you’re a particularly active person in search of adventure sports, you will be pleased to know that Cornwall is a prime spot for sports activities, especially watersports! We take a look at Cornwall’s top activities and the best locations to experience them.

 

After an active day, what better way to unwind than in one of our luxury hot tub cottages Cornwall? The Valley specialises in beautiful self-catering holiday cottages nestled in peaceful countryside. A short distance from exhilarating attractions, including beaches and heritage sites, it is ideal for those who love to explore!

 

 

Hiking and Running

 

Cornwall is inundated with vast and stunning countryside and the county is most famous for being home to the South West Coast Path. The path outlines the South West coast, including the whole of Cornwall, starting in Minehead, Devon, and ending in Poole Harbour.

 

There are various walks you can experience throughout the path ,and you can do as much or as little as you want.

 

Some of our favourite walks include The Lizard Peninsula, Pentire Point & The Rumps and Talland Bay & Looe.

 

If you are an avid runner, the path is ideal for those who want to put on your running shoes and experience all it has to offer at a faster pace!

 

 

Cycling

 

If you want to travel further and faster, cycling might be the perfect sport to experience while staying in Cornwall. The county is home to plenty of cycling trails, and many are traffic-free.

 

Located near St Austell, The Clay Trails consist of five pathways which showcase the dramatic scenery belonging to the area. Visitors can enjoy them by walking, cycling and horse riding!

 

Another great place to explore by bike is Seaton Valley Countryside Park. The trial explores the countryside, riverside and the coast. It is perfect for spotting wildlife, including dormice, kingfishers and butterflies!

 

Cornish Hurling

 

Not to be confused with Irish hurling, Cornish Hurling is a unique sport belonging to the county.

 

It is one of Cornwall’s most original customs and has a history dating back to about one thousand years ago. It is quite a rough game where opposing teams try to keep the possession of a silver-coated ball.

 

It is now only played once a year in St Columb Major and St Ives. You can see locals play at the St Ives Feast, which is an annual event on the first Monday after 3rd February.

 

 

Rock Climbing

 

If you want to try something a bit daring, rock climbing could be the ideal activity for you!

 

Cornwall has plenty of opportunities to try rock climbing on its dramatic cliffs! At the Lizard Peninsula, one of Cornwall’s most stunning coastlines, an adventure company called Lizard Adventure work with the National Trust to provide such experiences.

 

Here, you can try your hand at rock climbing, coasteering, kayaking and paddleboarding! Their range of rock climbing programmes provide anything from introductions for beginners to guidance for experienced climbers transitioning from wall to outdoor cliff, and there is something for everyone to try, no matter your age or ability!

 

 

Surfing

 

Arguably, the UK’s most associated county for surfing if you want to ride some waves, there are few better places to start than in Cornwall!

 

Newquay is regarded as the surf mecca for the activity, with a variety of beaches and surf schools in the town and surrounding it. Sennen Cove is another popular spot which is favoured due to its sheltered beach.

 

For those just starting, a beginners lesson is thoroughly recommended as it will provide you with invaluable advice as well as teach you the basics of beach safety.

 

That concludes our top pick of watersports in Cornwall! Don’t forget to check out others such as bodyboarding, swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and coasteering! Cornwall provides a whole host of activities while being surrounded by some of Britain’s most inspiring scenery!

 

What are you hoping to master on your next visit to Cornwall? Why not let us know on our social media channels!

Best Diving Spots in Cornwall

July 27th, 2018

As a coastal county, where fun by the seaside is enjoyed by all who visit, it is no surprise that Cornwall is one of the best destinations in the UK for diving. The extensive Cornish coastline is the final resting place for many an unfortunate ship, and also finds itself home to a diverse range of marine life, making it an incredibly interesting area to go exploring underwater. We take a look at a few of the best dive sites around Cornwall.

 

Falmouth Bay

With a mix of shore and offshore dives, Falmouth Bay provides some of the best diving experiences, from wrecks to reefs, for divers of all abilities. The sheltered location, close to shore locations and shallow wrecks in Falmouth Bay are ideal for those only just getting started with diving, while boat trips can take the more experienced further out to deeper dives. With one of the deepest harbours in the world found in Falmouth, the area is home to a high number of shipwrecks, with the infamous Manacles dive site nearby. The waters around Falmouth are filled with a diverse range of marine life, including dogfish, pollack, goldsinny wrasse and conger eels.

 

Mullion

Found on the Lizard Peninsula, Mullion is a small town with a harbour leading to some great diving adventures. A number of wrecks lie beneath the waves, waiting to be explored, including the cannon from the galleon Santo Christo de Castello, a mid-17^th-century merchant ship. A mix of sea life can be found here, such as sea anemones and jellyfish.

 

 

The Manacles

One of the most famous diving sites in the whole of the UK, The Manacles is an impressive reef that has seen the end for over 100 ships. Setting off from Porthoustock Cove, there are a number of dives in the area great for beginners through to experienced divers. A deeper dive for the more proficient divers will see you exploring the Mohegan, a liner that met its end in the reef back in 1898, and is said to be haunted; although that might just be the conger eels that live in the wreck! The wreck of the Volnay, a cargo ship that sunk in 1917, can also be found at the Manacles, around 21 metres deep.

 

Land’s End

Land’s End looks spectacular both above and below water, with a number of dramatic wrecks and scenic dives to explore. While Land’s End marks the stopping point for above sea adventure, it acts as a launch pad for many underwater escapades. There are a number of spots to explore from, including Sennen Cove, where the remains of the s.s. Datetree lie nearby, Runnelstone Reef, which has over 15 wrecked steamships and is perfect for keen photographers, and Lamorna Cove, where the wrecks of s.s. Garonne and s.s. Avebury can be found.

 

For inexperienced divers, there are a wide variety of diving schools dotted around the coast to teach you the ropes, even if you can only manage to snorkel in the shallows! If you want to explore a coastline that is brimming with sea life and to discover the fates of some historical shipwrecks, then join us for luxury Falmouth holidays, with a great location for reaching all the best spots.