Matt George
18 June 2026
Coasteering has earned its place as one of Cornwall’s ‘must-do’ activities, right up there with cream teas and surf lessons. But what makes Cornwall so special for coasteering? And what is coasteering?
The technical answer is that coasteering is a means of traversing the intertidal zone of a rocky stretch of coastline. I’ll translate that into simple terms: coasteering is the most fun you can have on the coast. It is a journey along a rocky section of coast that combines exploration with swimming, scrambling, and what it is best known for – cliff jumping.
Cornwall and coasteering are the perfect combination. With a coastline stretching over 300 miles (measured along the South West Coast Path), there’s a huge selection of coastline out there waiting to be explored. This guide takes a deep dive (pun intended) into what coasteering is and where to go for the best coasteering Cornwall has to offer. It is written by Matt George, a coasteering guide and business owner based in Cornwall.
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What is coasteering?
Photo credit: Kernow Coasteering
Why is it called coasteering? The word is the result of taking the word ‘mountaineering’, losing the mountain and replacing it with the word coast. That’s because the first people to coin the term were climbers who shifted their focus from mountains to exploring long sections of cliff. This is a far cry from coasteering as we know it today, but these early pioneers recognised that, instead of climbing upwards, some of the longer objectives available in the UK were to climb across the cliffs.
While any coasteering adventure today involves being in the water for a significant portion of the time, for these early pioneers, entering the water was a last resort. Short swims were a last resort, only when an obstacle, such as an unclimbable sea cave, presented itself.
As wetsuit technology arrived and improved, coastal explorers transitioned more towards the activity as we recognise it today. Then it was only a matter of time before coasteering became offered as a guided activity on the UK’s coast. According to coasteering lore, Pembrokeshire in Wales is where this incident occurred in the late 1980s.
Coasteering in Newquay
Today, Newquay is the undisputed epicentre for coasteering in Cornwall. And it was Newquay where coasteering was first introduced to the county, around the turn of the millennium. It’s easy to see why: out of all the resort towns of Cornwall, Newquay draws a crowd of adventure seekers, all there to enjoy the town’s beaches, nightlife, surfing, and other adventure activities.
Geographically, it’s also a great set-up. Its sweeping, sandy beaches are punctuated by long, rocky promontories, forming a classic bay-and-headland landscape. Innumerable providers now offer coasteering in Newquay on three of these headlands, all within easy reach of the town.
Newquay coasteering offers all the elements you’d look for on a good coasteering route: stunning scenery and exciting features to explore, as well as some tasty cliff jumps. It does have some great caves to explore, and I’d recommend the Pentire route as the best Newquay coasteering route. However, with a huge array of providers offering coasteering in Newquay, do your research and read some reviews before booking.
Here’s an insider tip that applies to pretty much anywhere, not just Newquay: if you are looking to do the biggest cliff jumps, make sure your session is near high tide, as many Cornish providers will take you out coasteering at low tide when all the water has disappeared, and there’s nothing to jump off.
Coasteering in West Cornwall
Photo credit: Kernow Coasteering
The Land’s End peninsula and West Cornwall as a whole are home to some of the most dramatic coastlines in Cornwall. There are some fantastic coasteering opportunities in the area. I am a little biased, as it's where I run Kernow Coasteering, but for anyone looking for a top-quality coastal adventure, away from the crowds coasteering in Newquay, a trip ‘out west’ is worthwhile.
The best coasteering route in West Cornwall is at Praa Sands, where you can find a stunning section of coast, home to a huge array of cliff jumps and some other amazing features, such as sea stacks and some incredible tunnels to swim through.
For those looking to take their coasteering up a notch, we also offer advanced coasteering under the towering cliffs of Land’s End. This is an adventure that feels a world away from the crowds milling above. It’s one of the finest sections of coastline I know of in Cornwall and is home to a huge concentration of large sea caves and sea arches, all waiting to be explored.
Coasteering in North Cornwall
Photo credit: Kernow Coasteering
Heading up the coast from Newquay, there’s a whole lot of coastline and some great opportunities for coasteering. Firstly, approaching Padstow, the area around Trevone Bay offers some great coasteering. In my personal explorations, we tackled a huge section, from the Camel Estuary to Trevone Bay. This 7-hour excursion is well outside the scope of any guided adventure you will see on offer in Cornwall, but suffice to say, I can attest to the amazing quality of the coastline around here.
On the other side of the Camel Estuary, the areas between Polzeath and Port Gaverne (next door to Port Isaac of Doc Martin fame) also have some great coasteering in their well-featured cliffs. And finally, the last stop on the North Coast is the area around Tintagel and Bossiney Haven.
Beyond here, towards Bude and beyond, the nature of the coastline changes to mile after mile of boulder beach – an excruciating landscape to move through and not really coasteering terrain at all. I undertook a 9-mile stretch from the Devon-Cornwall border along the foreshore to Bude. It was a gruelling day out and not something I recommend!
South Cornwall Coasteering
The North and South coasts of Cornwall are very different in nature. The North Coast is rugged, home to towering cliffs and long sections of remote cliffs full of immense sea caves. By contrast, the South Coast is relatively sheltered and offers a gentler coastline. It’s undoubtedly pretty, but not quite as raw as the North Coast.
The reason is simple: the North Coast is much more exposed to swells coming in from the Atlantic Ocean. The incessant waves over millennia have sculpted the cliffs into exactly the kind of dramatic landscape you’d expect from this relentless onslaught. The South Coast enjoys relative shelter, and as a result, the cliffs are less imposing, and the coastline is altogether friendlier. Which coast you prefer depends on the amount of adventure you’re seeking.
Starting from the west, we have the Lizard Peninsula. It is the embodiment of the description of the South Coast I provided above. It’s pretty, with spots like Kynance Cove drawing people from far and wide. It is possible to go coasteering here. If you are staying on The Lizard, it makes perfect sense, but if you’re staying elsewhere in Cornwall, I’d suggest heading to the West or North coasts to get your coasteering fix.
Around Falmouth Bay, I'd suggest that only those seeking a very beginner-level experience should seek to go coasteering here. And staggeringly, from the Fal Estuary, all the way to the Tamar Estuary, no in-situ coasteering providers are offering the activity. As such, the Cornish Riviera is perfect for quiet days at the beach and leisurely coastal walks, but sadly doesn’t offer much for us coasteerers.
The Isles of Scilly
Photo credit: Kernow Coasteering
As a final curveball for Cornish coasteering locations, we have the Isles of Scilly. Lying 28 miles off Land’s End, these low-lying granite islands offer tranquillity and a sub-tropical setting that, on the right day, does a very good job of imitating the Maddalena islands in Sardinia.
The coast is dominated by golden sand and boulder beaches, but here and there granite crags rear up and provide an adventurous landscape to explore. Nowhere more so than Peninnis Head on the archipelago’s main island, St Mary’s. It just so happens that yours truly also guides coasteering here. It really is a top-tier coastline, with amazing scenery and huge cliff jumps. For any visitor to these islands, it’s a must-do.
What equipment do you need for coasteering?
You already know that modern coasteering is a water-based activity. I am sure you also know that the seas in Cornwall are on the colder side. Therefore, the most important piece of kit you need for coasteering is a good wetsuit. For a coasteering adventure of a few hours, you will want a winter-weight wetsuit, which is 5mm thick around the body.
And for an adventurous activity where you’re in the zone where ocean waves meet solid rock, you’ll need a few extra pieces of equipment. You’ll need a suitable helmet intended for water sports, as well as a buoyancy aid. The good news is that coasteering providers will lend you a wetsuit, helmet, and buoyancy aid as standard.
Typically, you’ll need a few other bits and bobs. Crucially, you need some robust footwear to protect your feet from the savage coastal environment – a world of sharp rocks and even sharper barnacles. Basically, you want an old pair of trainers that will protect your feet, and you’re happy to get wet.
The final icing on the cake, as if we didn’t look silly enough already, is a pair of shorts worn over the top of the wetsuit. The aforementioned rocks and barnacles make short work of a wetsuit that’s repeatedly scratched and slid across the rocks. A simple pair of shorts can extend a wetsuit’s life by years.
Frequently asked questions about coasteering
In this section, we will look at some common questions people ask about coasteering, whether it’s simply to find out more about the activity or to help them plan a coasteering adventure.
What skills do you need for coasteering?
The great thing about coasteering is that it’s very beginner-friendly. Some swimming ability is generally required, as well as a basic level of fitness. Beyond that, all you need is a sense of adventure and a willingness to get in the sea.
How long does coasteering last?
The length of a coasteering session will vary from provider to provider. Some will be trying to ‘process’ you in time for their next group two hours later, whereas other providers will give you two or more hours in the sea, not including prep time.
What shoes to wear for coasteering?
The best shoes for coasteering are simply an old pair of trainers. I speak for all coasteering providers when I say, please do not bring your flimsy sea slippers. They are not robust enough to protect your feet in this environment, and they are very prone to getting stolen by waves, never to be seen again.
Is coasteering difficult?
Coasteering is an adventurous activity, so we don’t want to make it too easy, do we? You can expect a thorough workout during your session, a few hours of scrambling and swimming in the Atlantic swell, and you will have definitely earned your pasty afterwards!
Why is it called coasteering?
Coasteering is similar to words like mountaineering and orienteering, where the suffix ‘-eering’ is joined with another word that describes the activity. In this case, we replace mountain with coast and get ‘coasteering’.
Experience Cornwall for yourself
Whichever part of Cornwall you decide to visit, you're never too far away from some top-quality coasteering options. Whether it is in the heart of Newquay, the wild west of Cornwall, or the gentler South Coast, there are options for all levels of ability. So what are you waiting for? Grab your wetsuit and leap into adventure on your next Cornish holiday.
Written by Matt George
Coasteering guide and explorer
Matt owns and operates Kernow Coasteering, offering adventure activities in West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. He’s also an avid coasteering explorer and is currently engaged in a long-term project to coasteer the entire length of Cornwall’s coastline, having explored over 150 miles of Cornish coastline to date.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.