5 Activities For Thrill-Seekers in Cornwall

July 20th, 2021

When you think about a trip to Cornwall, your first thoughts may be of a peaceful stroll by the beach with an ice cream in hand. While you’ll certainly find plenty of opportunities to relax by golden sands, there are also numerous activities and exciting places to visit for those that prefer a more active adventure.

To entice all the thrill seekers, we’ve compiled a list of our five favourite adrenaline-packed activities that you can find in Cornwall.

If you can’t wait to start the adventure, take a look at our luxury cottages in Cornwall to find the perfect place to stay and relax between each action-packed day.

Adrenalin Quarry

Based in Liskeard, Adrenalin Quarry has a diverse range of activities bound to get your adrenaline pumping!

When Adrenalin Quarry proudly states they’ve been ‘throwing people off cliffs since 2009’, that’s what they mean. Get a thrill from the main attraction, a 490m long zip wire that crosses the old flooded quarry.

If that’s not scary enough, you can also take a dramatic plunge from the quarry’s cliffs over the water in a giant swing, big enough to hold three people and reaching 170ft above the water.

Once you’ve exhausted all the cliff-jumping opportunities, you can also take to the Aquapark, a Wipeout-style inflatable playground filled with giant slides, trampolines and climbing walls. The 800m go-kart race track also offers endless fun as you compete for the top spot. For something a little different, you can also have a go at axe throwing, releasing your inner warrior.

Coasteering

With more than 400 miles of coastline, Cornwall gives you plenty of chances to have fun with coasteering.

This activity is all about exploring the coastline, scrambling over rocks, jumping from rocky heights and swimming in the waves below. Coasteering gives you the chance to get up close to sea cliffs, discovering the secrets of the coastline in a more exciting way than walking.

It’s important to be mindful that this activity is not without its risks, and you should always take part in this activity with the support of a dedicated business that provides guides, equipment and professional safety procedures.

There are various coasteering centres across Cornwall, including:

• Newquay Activity Centre
• Kernow Coasteering
• Cornish Rock Tors
• Lizard Adventure
• Cornish Wave Surf & Adventure

The Eden Project’s Skywire

While the Eden Project is most famous for its incredible biomes, seeing a giant rainforest packed inside a massive bubble in England isn’t the only exciting thing to do there.

For the uninitiated, the Eden project is not only home to some amazing greenery, but also boasts England’s longest and fastest zip wire.

Make your way 100m above the ground and strap into the special flight suit before zipping 660m through the air at 60mph.

For even more exhilarating experiences at the Eden Project, you’ll also find an aerial obstacle course, the giant swing, leap of faith and base jump – a dream turned reality for true adrenaline-junkies!

For a deeper dive into the Eden Project and everything it has to offer, take a look at our blog below:

Surfing

There’s no way we could write this list without mentioning surfing! This activity is often a main driving force behind many people’s trips to Cornwall, with people flocking to all of the glorious Cornish beaches for a chance to surf the waves.

With numerous surf schools located all around the coast, you certainly won’t be short on teachers and places to rent a board if you’re new to the experience. Fans of surfing will need no introduction to the beaches of Cornwall, as it is certainly one of the best spots in the UK to get out on a board.

Some great surf schools to help you get to grips with the sport include:

• Harlyn Surf School, Padstow
• Escape Surf School, Newquay
• Fistral Beach Surf School, Newquay
• Ticket to Ride Surf School, Perranporth
• Smart Surf School, Sennen Cove

Zorbing

Rolling downhill at great speeds in a giant inflatable ball will certainly help you see Cornwall from a new perspective.

With its expansive rolling hills and stunning scenery, Cornwall is the perfect spot for this action-packed activity, whether you’ve had a go before or have always wanted to try it.

This is a great activity to turn to when the sea and sky are too calm to catch some waves – come rain or shine, zorbing is a great all-weather activity for all the family.

There are several zorbing activity centres around the coast, including Cornwall Zorbing in Newquay and ZorBude in Bude.

Have we awoken the thrill-seeker within you? There are plenty of great adventures to be had all across Cornwall!

When you’ve had your fill of action and thrills, our Cornish cottages here at The Valley provide the perfect place for some much-needed relaxation and recovery.

Image Credit: Visit Cornwall

Who Knew These 9 Exceptional Facts About Newquay?

July 20th, 2018

When guests stay at our child-friendly cottages, Cornwall is their oyster. Newquay, the popular seaside town on the north coast, is less than an hours’ drive from our 5-star cottages and well worth visiting on a day out. Behind every destination, there is a captivating history, and Newquay is no different. Before you make your way to discover the delights of Newquay for yourself, why not read up on some fascinating facts about the Cornish town?

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Guide to Seaside Sports in Cornwall

June 15th, 2018

As a coastal county, water sports are one of the main activities enjoyed in Cornwall. While everyone knows about the surf in Cornwall, there are plenty of other seaside sports suitable for all abilities. Here are some of the best activities to try around the Cornish coast.

 

Sailing

When the weather is a little warmer or the sea a little calmer, and you don’t want to do something too exhilarating, opt for a gentle sail across the sea. There are plenty of boat trips available around the coast, but if you know how to sail or are lucky enough to have your own boat, then Falmouth is certainly the place to go. With the famous Falmouth Harbour, the third deepest natural harbour in the world, as well as the delightful Fal River, there are plenty of sailing adventures to be found! If you’re up for a bigger adventure, then heading off to the Isles of Scilly makes for a beautiful trip.

 

Canoeing and Kayaking

As well as at the beaches, water makes its way throughout the whole of Cornwall through a series of stunning rivers, lakes and estuaries. Hopping in a canoe or kayak and spending the afternoon paddling down the stream is the perfect way to explore the gorgeous Cornish countryside in a relaxing way. Alternatively, row your way out to sea and you may even be able to get up close with the local wildlife, including seabirds, seals and even dolphins!

 

Diving

You shouldn’t be limited to just the top of the water; try going under it too! As one of the top diving spots in the UK, the Cornish waters are packed full of marine life and shipwrecks ready to explore. There are many diving schools around the coast to choose from, although Falmouth Bay and the Lizard are incredible locations, as they sit either side of the vibrant Manacles Reef, where over 100 shipwrecks have occurred. An impressive range of sea life inhabits the coastline, including octopus, anemones, dogfish, seals, dolphins and even sea turtles!

 

Bodyboarding

An alternative to surfing for those not quite confident to stand up yet! Get up close with the waves on a bodyboard for some easy surf fun. Bodyboarding is a little easier than surfing, meaning you’ll be catching waves a lot quicker, which is good if you’re only visiting Cornwall for a holiday and don’t have the time to take up lots of surfing lessons!

 

Paddle Boarding

Stand Up Paddle Boarding, also known as SUP Boarding, is a water sport that is rapidly growing in popularity throughout Cornwall (and around the world!). If the name didn’t give it away, this activity involves standing on a board and paddling through the sea with a long paddle. Stand up paddle boarding is considered to be one of the best low-impact full body workouts out there, so if you’re missing the gym or trying to burn off all the ice cream you’ve enjoyed, this is your best bet!

 

Water Skiing

Water skiing will see you skimming across the top of the sea, pulled along by a speedy motorboat. Although water skiing can be a competitive sport, it’s all a lot of fun and can be enjoyed by skiers of all skill levels. You can ride the waves on two skis, one ski, on a kneeboard, wakeboard or even no board if you are brave! You don’t need to own your own boat either, as the numerous activity centres, boat rental companies and similar facilities will have everything covered.

 

Surfing

We couldn’t write about seaside sports in Cornwall without mentioning surfing; the sport the coastal county is renowned for. As the go-to surfing spot in the UK, there are hundreds of places around the coast that you can surf at. The best-known of these surfing locations is Fistral Beach in Newquay, which is famous for its great surf. With so many beaches perfect for surfing, it is no surprise that there are plenty of surf schools across the county, meaning you won’t be short of instructors to help you catch some waves!

 

If you’d like to try out some water sports in Cornwall, or even just to relax on the beach, luxury Falmouth holidays could be just the answer!

Sign up for the all-women’s Surf and Fitness weekend with pro-surfer Tehillah McGuiness in Newquay

July 17th, 2015

Visiting Cornwall is known for its many alluring features, and venturing out from our Cornwall cottages to experience the joys of surfing the waves on local beaches is certainly high on the list. If this is the sort of thing you and your family are keen to try your hand at then you might be interested to know that pro-surfer Tehillah McGuiness is returning to Cornwall with her surf tour next month, and this time it’s Newquay.

 

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