Lady sitting on a clock

Things are taking a little longer than usual, please bear with us...

Outdoor Activities In Cornwall

Read our guide for Outdoor Activities In Cornwall and Find and Book experiences, courses, activities and tours! Browse through the list of experiences, either instantly book onto your dates or enquire to book. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy! If you’ve got any questions about any specific experience, send a message and the providers will aim to get back to you as soon as possible. Have a specific experience in mind that we don’t have listed? No problem, drop us a message and we’ll send your quote around to hundreds of the best experience providers nationwide and come back with you the best quote, making it easy for you to make the most of your spare time!

Cornwall

This peninsula at the south-western tip of the UK is a tale of two coasts in many ways. The south coast is known as the ‘Cornish Riviera’ and is home to many pretty harbour villages such as Fowey and Falmouth, and some gorgeous estuaries. The north coast is much more exposed to the Atlantic swells and is a lot more rugged as a result, but home to one of the activities Cornwall is most famous for: surfing. Both coastlines are awash with stunning beaches, and between them are home to a huge array of great activities, pretty villages, superb restaurants and various other great attractions. And that’s not to forget about the inland areas too, most notably Bodmin Moor, which provides some spectacular vistas and activities. The region is host to a fantastic growing arts and crafts scene centred around St Ives, and home to the world-renowned Eden Project too. There is evidence both inland and on the coast of the area’s mining heritage too, often providing an interesting backdrop to many activities there, and related to its most famous literary denizen, Poldark.
outdoor activities Cornwall

Outdoor Activities in Cornwall

With over 300 miles of pristine coastline filled with glorious beaches, mysterious coves, peaceful creeks and stunning sea cliffs, Cornwall is a dream destination for the outdoor enthusiast. Should you ever tire of this varied and beautiful landscape then Bodmin Moor awaits: just over 200 square kilometers of heather-covered granite moorland, with its wild ponies and frequent bronze age hut circles.There are so many different activities it’s hard to narrow them down, but here’s a few to get you started!

Surfing in Cornwall

Surfing is pretty synonymous with Cornwall, with good reason. The north coast is the one exposed to the swells coming in from the Atlantic and has a huge number of great surf spots, with numerous great beach breaks alongside the few west-facing reefs in the country. From Sennen on the far west of the county to Bude near the border with Devon there is an almost continuous supply of surfable beaches, with workable options in nearly any conditions, with the sheltered north-facing coves often working well in stormy swells. It’s the beach breaks that are most popular and more accessible to most, so here’s a quick breakdown of our favourites:
  • Fistral Beach, Newquay: no list would be complete without Fistral, and not for nothing is it home to a World Surf League competition, attracting the best of British alongside some top international surf talent. Newquay is the home of British surfing and boasts several surf beaches. Fistral is a fantastic beach break though can get very busy. When the surf is messy try Towan beach - tucked behind the harbour and a headland it is generally smaller than Fistral but can stay cleaner in a westerly.
  • Sennen Beach: the furthest west of any beach in the country, Sennen lies just north of Land’s End and as the first point of contact with the land one of the most notable features is the incredibly clear and azure blue water. On a good day you’ll feel you’re in the Caribbean with the colour of both water and sand. Yours truly has also had the pleasure of surfing with dolphins here, so it will forever remain a personal favourite!
  • Perranporth: the beach here is extensive, meaning it’s easier to find some clear space when conditions are good. The Penhale end of the beach tends to get the best of the waves, and for those staying in the area it also has a great bar right on the beach to enjoy a rewarding drink or two afterwards and watch the sun go down!
  • Gwithian Beach, near Hayle: another really extensive beach and one which is really consistent and with varying wave size along the beach. It can get blown out very easily though so in anything remotely westerly best plan for one of the many other options nearby.
Also worthy of mention are Polzeath and Bude, mainly for their popularity. Polzeath’s quality of waves are perhaps not the best, but it’s a popular beach with the ‘Rock set’, and has lots of opportunity for surf hire and lessons. Similarly Bude has loads of surf schools, and several beaches to choose from. Explore more surfing in Cornwall
surfing in Cornwall

Coasteering in Cornwall

As you’d expect with over 300 miles of coastline, coasteering is popular in Cornwall and seemingly ever-present wherever you are. It’s a fantastic way to explore the coastline for the more adventurous - a combination of swimming, scrambling, climbing and jumping. It’s great fun for all levels, and most routes and activity providers will allow for those who don’t fancy certain climbs or jumps! Enjoy it on a calm day as a way to swim in the clear waters and enjoy a few cliff jumps of varying sizes, or in slightly rougher conditions enjoy the swells as they rush in and out of certain rock formations - all under the guidance and supervision of qualified instructors of course!

Canoeing, Kayaking and SUP in Cornwall

Cornwall has a massive range of canoeing and kayaking opportunities, from sea kayaking, surf kayaking, inland canoeing and more. To see a more detailed review please see our separate page for kayaking and canoeing in Cornwall or Paddleboarding in Cornwall

Walking in Cornwall

With the South West Coast Path covering all 300 miles of this stunning coastline most walkers will have plenty to keep them occupied! Add to this the 2000+ miles of other footpaths that crisscross the country and you’ve got a match made in heaven for the keen walker. Varied and spectacular coastlines, stunning estuaries, quiet rivers, bleak moorland and much in between, there’s so much to explore, with a variety of flora and fauna to keep an eye out for too. To see a more detailed review please see our separate page for walkin in Cornwall
walking in Cornwall

Cycling in Cornwall

There are few better family days out than all getting on bikes and exploring the trail along one of the stunning estuaries here. The Camel Trail stands out as one perfect example, running inland from Padstow to Wenford Bridge, though perhaps the most popular section is from Wadebridge to Padstow, running for much of it’s length alongside the stunning Camel Estuary. Make sure to enjoy a well-deserved fish and chips at the end from the famous Rick Stein fish and chip shop in Padstow! Other notable cycle paths include the Tamar Trails, the Clay Trails, the Coast to Coast route, and for keen mountain bikers try the singletrack trails of the Bodmin Beast cycle trail in the Cardinham Valley. See more cycling in Cornwall
Rock Climbing in Cornwall Near Me

Climbing in Cornwall

Whilst the sea cliffs at locations such as Bosigran, Sennen, Chair Ladder, The Lizard, Rosemergy Towers and Land’s End are the most obvious outlet for climbing in the region, there’s also moors (eg The Cheesewring on Bodmin Moor), quarries (eg Carn Brea Quarry), and even underground caves to capture the attention of climbers of all levels on single and multi-pitch routes. There are also many indoor climbing walls for all levels. For a more detailed look at what Cornwall has to offer climbers please check out our specific page for climbing in Cornwall

Fun adventurous activities in Cornwall

Whilst the various watersports activities might be the most synonymous with Cornwall, there are loads of other great activities to try your hand at. For those hoping to spot some of the great sea life that visits the shores there are numerous Sea Safaris where you might spot the many seals that inhabit the coastline, as well as the prolific birdlife, and perhaps even some of the rarer visitors like dolphins, basking sharks and even sun fish. If you fancy trying to catch your own dinner there are of course fishing trips too. For those looking for something land-based you can try your hand at riding a Segway, or monkey around on a high ropes course, and for those looking for something a bit more competitive perhaps a spot of paintball!
cultural activities in Cornwall

Cultural Outdoor Activities in Cornwall

It’s not just the more physically demanding activities that can be enjoyed outdoors in Cornwall. There is a burgeoning arts and crafts scene in the area, centred in St Ives where the Tate Gallery is located. There are many painting courses that can be done in the great outdoors and on some of the many picturesque beaches, and the cliffs make for an impressive backdrop. Similarly photographers have much to catch the eye, and many photography courses combine with walking tours. Cornwall has it’s fair share of great vineyards too - why not take a tour and enjoy the stunning settings some of these are located in, with the obligatory sample (or two) at the end of course!## Outdoor Activities for Kids and Toddlers Getting kids outdoors is vital to mental and physical health. What can sometimes seem daunting to parents, it doesn’t have to be anymore. Facilities have improved vastly across many places. What’s important is to stay stocked up with all necessary supplies and never be too far away from facilities. Search for Suitable for families in our listing page and you’ll find all activities that providers have suggested are suitable for kids. If you’re looking for other alternatives for your kids, check out the National Trust Outdoor Spaces, Forestry England and search for your local AONB.
outdoor activities for adults

Outdoor Activities for Adults

Beyonk is the home to finding outdoor activities to do. Simply search through our listing page to explore your local outdoor activity for adults! Rock climbing is often a sport we try out in school which many adults are returning back to. It’s becoming ever more popular as a great way to get fit, see the best of the UK and gain a strong community of like-minded people. There’s a wealth of kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding and other Watersports opportunities nearby and a wealth of adventure activity weekends to choose from. If you’re after something more specifically, drop us a message and we’ll scout it out for you.

Other searches

Book Experiences

Looking to sell tickets to your own experiences?

Try Beyonk, the all-in-one ticketing system to grow your business. Trusted by top organisations to maximise bookings and ticket sales.