13 must-do outdoor activities in Cornwall

With over 400 miles of coastline and almost 1,400 square miles of countryside to explore, Cornwall is an adventure playground which attracts visitors from all over. Whether you’re hoping to take to the water, roam wild moors or take on an adrenaline-pumping challenge, there are so many Cornish activities to try.

As well as the most popular outdoor activities like surfing, wild swimming and fishing, there are other water-based days out you might not have considered such as coasteering, kite surfing and even whale watching! If you want to keep your feet on dry land but still want a day out filled with adventure activities, go-karting, quad biking and mountain biking will get your blood pumping.

Read on to discover our top 13 must-do activities in Cornwall and start planning your Cornish break by browsing through our self-catering cottages, easily refining your search to suit your party’s needs.

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Water-based activities in Cornwall

If you have a penchant for being in, on or near the water, take a look over these fun activities to indulge in on your Cornish escape.

Surfing

Cornwall is famous for being the surf capital of the UK – so if you’ve got a yearning to ride those waves, Cornwall has to be the best place to do it. For an all-round, crowd-pleasing break, we have to choose Polzeath as our favourite place to surf in Cornwall.

Polzeath, on Cornwall’s north coast, has a long stretch of golden sand and the waves here break slowly and consistently – plus there’s lifeguard cover in the summer. If you’re a brand-new board rider, there are plenty of surf schools to teach you the moves such as Wavehunters, alongside surf hire centres if you’re a little more capable. When you’re totally surfed out, there are ample cafés where you can relax while watching the waves, and plenty more things to do in Polzeath to fill your holiday itinerary.

Cottages in Polzeath

Kayaking

With miles upon miles of coastline and rivers to explore, kayaking is a great way of experiencing Cornwall’s waterways from a totally different angle. Whether you choose to explore sea cliffs or riverbanks, you’re guaranteed to discover a whole new perspective on Cornwall’s landscapes.

Our favourite Cornish spot for kayaking is the Fowey Estuary. Suitable for all abilities, the tranquil waters between Fowey and Polruan are easy to navigate – perfect for a relaxing day out. If you own your own kayak, you can launch from one of the estuary’s many slipways, or there are places where you can hire watercraft for the day, including Fowey River Hire. When you’re on the water, you can spot kingfishers, cormorants and herons in this beautiful National Landscape.

Cottages in Fowey

Coasteering

If you’re after a more action-packed way of exploring Cornwall’s seas, coasteering is for you. Traverse Cornwall’s craggy coast by scrambling, climbing or balancing along cliffs, gather your courage to plunge into the sea beneath you and float on the current in whirlpools and gullies.

With miles of coastline to explore, Cornwall is a great destination if you’re a keen coasteerer, but Mullion Cove, near the Lizard, is our absolute favourite coasteering spot. With lots of unusual rock formations to conquer, and turquoise tidal waters to dive into, it offers a challenge for all abilities. Why not book yourself onto one of the coasteering courses run by Lizard Adventure?

Cottages in Mullion

Fishing 

With a variety of rock fishing, sea fishing, river fishing and coarse fishing on offer, Cornwall is an angler’s paradise. With a rich fishing tradition, you can expect to catch mackerel, pilchard, mullet, pollack, trout and salmon in the well-stocked Cornish waters, plus you can enjoy a peaceful day out soaking in the beauty of Cornwall’s natural landscape.

Rock fishing

Our favourite spot for rock fishing is the sea around Trenance. Head to The Stack at Trenance Point which is a well-known rock fishing spot, where you might catch pollock, mackerel, wrasse and plaice. Nearby is the peaceful beach at Bedruthan, and the more well-known Mawgan Porth – great for occupying little ones for a few hours.

Cottages in Mawgan Porth

River fishing

For the best river fishing in Cornwall, we’d suggest heading to the River Camel just west of Bodmin, which is rich with salmon and trout. The season opens in May and runs through to mid-December with the best fishing around the summer months. You’ll need a permit before you fish, and there are restrictions on worm, spinning and fly fishing depending on which beat you fish – but you can easily check this when purchasing your permit.

Cottages in Bodmin Moor

Coarse fishing

If you’re looking for coarse fishing while in Cornwall, you have plenty of options, but we’d recommend Upper Tamar Lake near Kilkhampton. It’s well stocked with carp, bream and roach and you can even night-fish if you fancy a nocturnal adventure. Permits are available to buy online and the lake has a tackle and bait shop, fishing tuition and tackle hire.

Cottages in Kilkhampton

Kitesurfing 

Perhaps not as well-known as surfing but no less exhilarating, kitesurfing is growing in popularity in the UK. It’s a great way of utilising the elements Cornwall has in abundance – coastal winds and stretches of water!

If you’re a kitesurfing novice, there are plenty of schools up and down the Cornwall coast which will teach the basics, from how to fly your kite, to getting up and riding. Ocean High and Pasty Adventures are great options for tuition. But for the more experienced, we’d recommend visiting the Camel Estuary – in particular, the Daymer Bay and Hawker’s Cove area.

This flat and shallow section of water between Padstow, Wadebridge and Polzeath has a car park close by and benefits from a steady north-to-north-westerly wind off the coast (north-easterly at Hawker’s Cove). Plus, the abundance of pubs and restaurants in the surrounding towns means you’ll easily find somewhere suitable to fuel up and chill out.

Cottages in Saint Minver

Whale watching and dolphin spotting

Cornwall is the gateway to the wild Atlantic Ocean, so it’s not uncommon to find the sea’s greatest creatures – whales and dolphins – swimming closer to land than you would expect. The seas around Cornwall are a great place to spot these marine mammals, especially in the summer months and around deeper waters.

The best place to spot whales and dolphins in Cornwall is in the waters around Penzance, as this is often where they choose to feed in the warmer months. Marine Discovery Penzance runs regular boat trips from Penzance out to deeper waters where you can observe these impressive sea creatures. Dolphins often bow ride in the wake or bow of a boat for fun, and there’s also an opportunity to spot seals, seabirds, sunfish, turtles and even sharks! The season runs from April to November so make sure you plan your trip accordingly.

Cottages in Newlyn

Crabbing

There are few easier ways to get up close and personal with Cornwall’s sea life than with a day of crabbing. This traditional seaside activity keeps both young and old delighted for hours and requires not much more than a crabbing line, a net, a bucket and some bait – chopped-up bacon always yields a good catch!

With many harbourside towns in Cornwall, where the deep quays provide the ideal habitat for crabs, you have a wide range of locations to choose from for a day’s crabbing. Our favourite is Looe, where the long quayside gives you plenty of room for catching these Cornish crustaceans. The best time to go is at slack water – the time around high and low tide – as this is when the crabs are most active and the tidal water is at its stillest. Just remember to keep the crabs in plenty of saltwater and put them back in the sea regularly.

Cottages in Looe

Geothermal bathing

The first of its kind in the UK, Cornwall is home to a geothermally heated lido. The ultimate way to relax and unwind, the triangular-shaped Jubilee Pool is the largest and most celebrated seawater pool in the UK. Situated near the harbour at Penzance, it has been a huge draw for bathers since 1935 looking to enjoy a natural seawater swimming experience.

In 2020, a new section was added, with the water heated to between 30–35 degrees by a geothermal well – meaning it has a very low carbon footprint. As this section is much smaller than the main pool, we recommend booking a ticket in advance. Once you’ve finished your dip you can enjoy a coffee on the terrace, soaking up the panoramic views of Mounts Bay.

Cottages in Penzance

Land-based activities in Cornwall

If you’re more of a land dweller and prefer to feel the ground under your feet or the sand between your toes, cast your eye over these exciting pastimes to dabble in during your holiday in Cornwall.

Golf

Fancy teeing off while taking in the epic coastal and countryside views? A golfing holiday in Cornwall will be right up your street. There are plenty of golf courses to choose from that match your ability, but our favourite is West Cornwall Golf Club.

Based in Lelant, near the crystal-clear waters of St Ives, West Cornwall Golf Club is the oldest club in the county and overlooks the shimmering Atlantic Ocean. Visitors are welcome to take on the challenging 18 holes where conditions can range from a gentle breeze to a full-on gale. At the 19^th hole, you’ll find a chilled-out clubhouse where you can enjoy a range of refreshments from little snacks to a full a la carte menu.

Cottages in St Ives

Go-karting

Get the adrenaline pumping with a high-octane go-kart race around the track. Offering a great day out for all ages, Cornwall has plenty of options for go-karting but our top pick is St Eval Kart Circuit near Mawgan Porth.

The 1.6 mile, all-weather track means this activity is a great option come rain or shine. With a range of carts suitable for ages three and above, you can bring the whole family along for an action-packed day out on the separate children’s kart circuit. The track is located between Mawgan Porth and Bedruthan Steps, meaning you can follow up your day behind the wheel with a slightly more sedate walk along the beautiful beach.

Cottages in Padstow

Horse riding

Another way to explore Cornwall’s epic landscape is on four hooves! Whether you own your own horse and you’re looking for stabling, or you want to try riding for the first time, there are plenty of Cornwall stables that can accommodate you. There’s nothing more exhilarating than galloping across golden sands or trekking across ancient moorland.

Our top spot for horse riding in Cornwall has to be Bodmin Moor. You can trek across open moorland enjoying the sights and sounds of this fabled land, or hack through locations you may recognise from TV’s Poldark. Hallagenna Riding offers riding for all abilities, plus stabling if you want to bring your horse on holiday too!

Cottages in Bodmin Moor

Quad biking

Another action-packed activity you can try while in Cornwall is quad biking. You can take on mud-splattered tracks, tackle a variety of terrain and enjoy the fresh Cornish countryside air with this increasingly popular driving adventure.

Cornwall offers lots of places where you can experience the adrenaline rush of quad biking, but our top pick is The ATV Centre in Blackwater, just west of Truro. Suitable for all abilities, and most ages, you can take on the centre’s three dirt tracks – one of which is the largest in the country with over 17 corners to tackle! There’s also a tuition circuit if you’re new to quad biking, and there are specially designed vehicles for kids aged 6 and up. The circuit is only 3 miles from the beach at Porthtowan, so you can combine a high-octane day out with a trip to the seaside too!

Cottages in Porthtowan

Cycling

From sedate cycles along car-free trails to muddy mountain-bike rides and on-road routes, Cornwall has something to please every variety of cyclist. Explore the county on two wheels and you can truly appreciate the fresh air, beautiful scenery and the tranquil atmosphere of this lovely county.

For an all-round route, our favourite place to cycle in Cornwall has to be the Camel Trail. Encompassing 18 miles of mostly traffic-free track, the Camel Trail stretches between Padstow and Bodmin and is virtually flat, making it a great choice for a gentle cycle between the coast and the countryside. Following the route of a former railway line, there are plenty of lovely places to stop for a drink or a snack along the way, it’s a gentle and peaceful way of taking in the wildlife-rich landscape in this special part of North Cornwall. There are a few cycle-hire centres in Wadebridge, which then gives you the option to cycle west towards the coast, or east and further into the countryside.

Cottages in Padstow

Holidays in Cornwall

Is your Cornwall bucket list full to the brim with activities to try? If you need a little more inspiration, check out our top things to do in Cornwall. Whatever you choose to do on your Cornish break, come back and relax at one of our high-quality holiday cottages.

From cosy fishermen’s cottages just right for a romantic break to large country homes where you can gather the whole family – plus plenty of dog-friendly accommodation too – our Cornwall cottages provide the perfect setting for your unforgettable getaway. Take a look at our full collection and book your next action-packed holiday.

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