Get Active

Cornwall’s natural assets aren’t just fantastic to look at but also provide a well-needed adrenalin boost for those of us a little jaded by life. The soaring sea cliffs, gigantic waves and wide-open spaces have become a magnet for adrenaline seekers who are getting active and definitely having lots of fun.

Friday Night: These days you can fly down to Cornwall in no time at all from all over the UK and before you know it, you’ll find yourself breathing in fresh coastal air from that little boutique hotel by the beach on the stunning north coast.

Saturday Morning: Keep breakfast light as you gear up for the morning’s coasteering session which basically involves a couple of hours plunging into the sea, riding the swell and discovering those nooks and crannies of the coast usually reserved for the seals. At Lusty Glaze Beach near Newquay enthusiastic pros will ease your nerves and help turn you into a super hero as you climb over the next clump of limpet-strewn rock to the next cove as the waves wash over you. It’s a perfect activity to share with like-minded friends and a great way to kick off the weekend.

Saturday Afternoon: Get with the in crowd as you learn to surf. Cornwall is chocker with surfers ranging from novice body borders to those who really have mastered those waves and look amazingly cool. At the Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay - you’ll find Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant here, too- the location is perfect and a half day lesson will almost guarantee you’ll get to stand up on the board for at least a few triumphant seconds.

Saturday Evening: Unwind for a while as you relax under the soft touch of a Swedish massage at the chic Watergate Hotel Spa, an hour of utter bliss before you go the whole hog and join your new surf dude and chick friends at the ultra cool Reef Surf Bar in Newquay. Order a cocktail and soak up the après-beach scene.

Sunday Morning: Get on the water and start paddling a kayak on the River Camel. A guided expedition from the bustling town of Wadebridge to the ridiculously charming harbour town of Padstow on the coast is a fantastic way to see the wildlife on the river and the sedate journey takes you past some fantastic scenery all the way down to the sea. Stop off for a light lunch with all the celebrity chef trimmings at Rick Stein’s Café.

Sunday Afternoon: Ride the waves on what is known as the 4x4 of the sea, a rigid inflatable powerboat. An exhilarating two-hour trip from the village of Rock, situated across the harbour, gives you a view of the stunning coastline from the seaward side. Discover the rich marine life that teems in the waters off Cornwall, pick up the gen on smugglers, learn tales about shipwrecks and say hello to dolphins, porpoises, whales and giant basking sharks.

Sunday Evening: After all that activity, share tales of your adventures with fellow intrepid buddies as you finish off with a meal at Custard in Padstow. At what has to be Cornwall’s quirkiest café, rediscover good old English food with a Cornish flourish as you choose from a menu ranging from Bubble and Squeak to egg custard.