10 Beach Activities for your holiday to Cornwall
1st July 2019
Make the most of Cornwall’s natural playground, right on your doorstep.
Hunt for starfish in a Cornish rockpool, fly a kite on a golden beach and watch the sunset over the ocean. Our Beach Retreats beckon families to enjoy the simple pleasures of seaside life. Here are the top 10 activities to inspire you during your stay.
Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.
Rockpooling
Head to many beaches in Cornwall at low tide and visitors will be pleasantly surprised with hundreds of rockpools just waiting to be explored. You’ll be treated to a natural display of fascinating and tough creatures, including the Cornish Sucker fish, Worm Pipefish and the Common Shore Crab.
Run down a sand dune
There’s nothing quite like standing at the top of a sand dune and shouting ‘I’m the king of the castle’ whilst running down the golden sand. In Cornwall there are many beaches where you can do just that. Some of our favourites include Crantock, Holywell Bay and Fistral beach.
Want to stay in Fistral? Have a look at our luxury holiday cottages in Fistral.
Feast on a BBQ
After a full day of exploring Cornwall’s fantastic beaches, it’s time to bring the family back together and refuel with a Cornish BBQ. From locally caught mackerel to homemade buns and burgers, you’ll be in for a treat if you buy local. See our guide to eating local in Cornwall.
Go caving
There’s something quite enchanting about a secret cave in Cornwall, and luckily, we have many of them for you to explore. Our must visit cave is in Tintagel. Merlin’s Cave is steeped in history and perhaps the most magical of them all. Located beneath Tintagel Castle, it is 100 metres long passing completely through Tintagel Island from Tintagel Haven.
Build a sandcastle
Bring back those childhood memories and create new ones with a sandcastle competition for the whole family. If you’re really competitive, we love this article by the Telegraph on how to build the perfect sandcastle.
Jump the waves
If you’re not quite brave enough to go wild swimming or take up a surf lesson, or if you have little ones in tow, then jumping over the shallow waves is the one for you. Hold hands, count 1,2,3 and you’re off. (Be sure to stay in between the red and yellow flags and watch the tides).
Read our blog on the best things to do in the sea in every season!
Go surfing
Surfing should be on everyone’s checklist when holidaying in Cornwall. Get suited and booted and ride with the locals for a feeling like no other. Will you stand up on the board on your first try? Hire your wetsuit and board from a local surf school with lessons included for all abilities.
View the beach from a different angle
With panoramic views from all angles, we highly recommend walking part of the south west coast path during your beach day. Visitors are spoilt for choice on which direction to take with its 300-mile trail. Head to north Cornwall for the rugged cliff top walks or if you prefer, visit tropical South Cornwall and its hidden coves. Whatever path you take, you’ll find something different and exciting each turn you take.
Family Super SUP
New to the Newquay Activity Centre collection is the Super Stand Up Paddleboarding. Fun for the whole family, you’ll take on your fellow shipmates in a myriad of fun games including ‘King of the SUP’ and ‘Sumo SUP’. In addition to the guaranteed giggles, you’ll learn how to kneel and stand up paddle, perfect paddle strokes, navigate the coastline, and negotiate the swell and waves back to the beach. Find out more about Super SUP.
Go fishing
Fishing has enjoyed a long history in Cornwall and remains central to our local culture. Before you choose your rocky outcrop or traditional fishing boat to throw your line from, why not take some tips from the locals and see which spot suits you best. If you prefer a guided tour, there are many fishermen that take out both small and large groups.
