If sitting in a sun lounger for an entire week isn’t your idea of a good time – Cornwall is the county for you! Life here is all about making the most of the great outdoors no matter what the weather is doing. With that in mind here are four excellent ways to stay active on your next holiday to Cornwall.
1. Dive in the Atlantic Ocean
Cornwall is surrounded on three sides by the sea and the county boasts over 300 beaches to choose from. The upshot? Getting in the water is one of the easiest and most fun ways to stay active on holiday. During the summer months many of the beaches in Cornwall enjoy lifeguard protection, which is ideal for getting kids involved too.
Head to the north coast for excellent surfing breaks (Fistral Beach is considered the surfing capital of the UK by many) or head to the south coast for gentler waters perfect swimming or paddle boarding in. If you’d like the security of a swimming pool with the thrill of the sea, head to one of the county’s many natural tidal sea pools. Pick Bude Sea Pool for craggy charm and free entry or head to Jubilee Pool in Penzance for art deco touches at the UK’s largest seawater lido. As well as swimming and surfing you could also try your hand at coasteering, sailing, kayaking, body boarding, kite surfing…and many more!
2. Hike the South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is a marvel for any outdoor enthusiast; it goes from Minehead in Somerset along the coastline of Cornwall and Devon and all the way to Poole Harbour in Dorset. At 630 miles long it's the longest waymarked footpath in England! Cornwall is lucky enough to be home to a glorious 300 mile stretch of the path and given the length, the variety on offer here is astounding. Whether you go and explore the wild and windswept beauty of The Lizard, potter around the lush wooded Helford River area or take in the mighty Atlantic from the clifftops around Newquay, you can’t go wrong.
3. Explore a trail on two wheels
Keen cyclist? Cornwall has got your back. From idyllic meanders through postcard perfect villages to epic off-road trails that'll leave you breathless, this county has a ride suitable for all. The Camel Trail offers lashings of flat and traffic free terrain making it perfect for little ones or for anyone getting to grips with life on two wheels. And the estuary and woodland views along the way aren't bad either. If you fancy something a bit longer check out The Cornish Way which consists of over 200 miles of trails connecting Land's End with Bude.
4. Have an adventure
Head to Via Ferrata near Falmouth to scale the cliffs of a quarry and finish on the zip wire over the water. At the Eden Project you can take a ride on England's longest and fastest zip wire, have a go on Britain’s first 360 swing or get winched up 25m - the height of a six storey building - before free falling onto a giant airbag. Adrenaline junkies are well looked after in Cornwall. Adrenaline Quarry near Liskeard is the place to go if you're a thriller seeker; here you can zoom at 40 mph along a 490m long zip wire or take a ride on the giant swing AKA 'the scariest ride we've ever built'.
For somewhere to stay check out our self catering cottages in Cornwall.
