A guide to Extreme Sports and Activities in Cornwall
Cornwall can at times be like a blank canvas, ready and waiting for you to imprint your perfect holiday plans. Because no matter what it is that you have in mind, Cornwall is ready to facilitate it. Take extreme sports for example; there is a litany of activities and adrenalin inducing sports you can partake in, and Cornwall is standing by, ready to make it all happen.
From water sports to airborne activities, it’s all here. And if this seems like the perfect way to spend your next holiday to a Cornwall caravan park, then this rundown of who’s who in Cornwall’s extreme sporting world is just for you.
Extreme Academy
If water orientated thrill seeking is your game, then you will have arrived at the right place with Extreme Academy.
This beach set venue, which offers water-sport tuition and equipment hire, boasts a two mile sandy playground for you to enjoy.
A spokesperson for Extreme Academy spoke to us about just what is on offer.
“The Extreme Academy is based at Watergate Bay, a two mile stretch of sandy beach on the north coast of Cornwall. It’s is a specialist school for surfing, bodyboarding, kitesurfing, waveski, handplaning and stand-up paddlesurf, along with technical equipment hire. Whatever your ability or sea condition they have a sport and instructor to suit you.
“They are open all year round with fully trained and expert tuition, and most importantly, hot showers. They also play host to several top-class events including surfing and kite surfing championships and ‘Polo on the Beach.”
Whatever you are looking to participate in, it looks like Extreme Academy will have you covered. And if you can’t decide on which thrill to indulge in, then you can check out their Extreme Day plan – which is a great way for you and your group to try out all the activities that are available.
Adrenalin Quarry
When in search of that adrenaline rush on your extreme sports holiday to Cornwall, you’ll want to make you pay a visit to Adrenalin Quarry – home of The Zip.
Adrenalin Quarry is a wonderful outdoor environment for friends and family to enjoy a variety of exciting activities, all bound to get the heart racing.
Director of Adrenalin Quarry, Will Sneyd, spoke to us about what makes Cornwall and Adrenalin Quarry so ideal for extreme sports and activities.
“Cornwall is the right place to find the edge of anything. Sand, cliffs, water and wide-open spaces: it’s a big playground and the perfect place to take it to the limit.
“At Adrenalin Quarry its gravity, cliffs & water in a jaw dropping filmset, the scenery is so stunning you’ll forget about just how high off the ground you are.
“Coasteering with a human catapult? A blur of bodies on a double barrelled zip wire? A giant swing on top of a cliff? Axe throwing? Wild in the woods hammock camping with your own chef?
“When you’ve done all that, you get to watch red Bull Cliff divers practising at 76 feet defying gravity like a ballet dancers on the moon.
“Oh yeah, it’s free to enter, free to swim, free BBQ/picnicking, free parking and an 800m outdoor arrive and drive karting track. Did we mention the pasties, cake and ice cream?”
As you can see, Adrenalin Quarry truly is the place to be, and can be found at Menheniot, Liskeard.
BF Adventure
For sheer variety on your upcoming Cornwall trip, you won’t be able to do much better than a visit to BF Adventure.
This 60 acre site plays host to a plethora of activities; from archery to rock climbing, abseiling and more. And if you fancy taking the office down for a session of team building, or think that a high stakes stag night is what your buddy needs, BF Adventure can accommodate you there as well. With the company also doing some important charity work to help locals gain skills and confidence, this is certainly a place you’ll want to invest your time in.
BF Adventure is located in Longdowns, Penryn.
Shoreline Extreme Sports
This one is in the name, folks. Shoreline Extreme Sports is a one stop shop for all things extreme and certainly worthy of your patronage.
Operating at the highest of standards, and annually inspected by the Adventure Activities Licencing Authority, Shoreline Extreme Sports provides a spectacular setting for those who want to participate in a whole host of extreme activities. No matter what you’re in the mood for, be it sea kayaking, coasteering, or even climbing the jagged rocks and cliffs of the Culm Coast, you will be well catered for with Shoreline.
Based in Bude, Shoreline Extreme Sports operate in a number of locations.
Aerosaurus Balloons
If you are looking for an extreme experience this year, but would prefer to balance it with the ability to relax at the same time, than one should look no further than Aerosaurus Balloons.
This hot air balloon company offers awe inspiring flights over Cornwall’s dramatic coastline and stunning countryside, and are the largest hot air balloon operator in the West Country. Their chief pilot has even flown Sir David Attenborough about.
Aerosaurus Balloons spoke to us about just what you can expect when flying with them.
“A Hot Air Balloon flight is a great adventure and we can provide an experience that is extremely safe and a lot of fun that will be talked about for many months and remembered for many years.
“Aerosaurus Balloons offer a friendly, personalised and memorable flight experience – far more than just a balloon ride! We offer you a 3-4 hour ballooning experience launching from handpicked locations across the South West, offering uninterrupted, 360’ views of beautiful countryside, villages, towns and cities – an experience like no other!
“You can help us prepare the balloon for take-off, find out how the balloon works, enjoy about an hour’s flight and panoramic views of beautiful towns and rolling Cornish countryside, relax and enjoy a glass of chilled Champagne on touchdown and receive your personalised flight certificate signed by your pilot.
“Flights in Cornwall take place regularly between April and October from Launceston and Bodmin East.”
For those looking for incredible thrills, but wouldn’t mind the choice of sipping a nice glass of champagne while they’re at it, this is an incredible choice that you won’t forget anytime soon.
Vertical Descents
For all outdoor enthusiasts, putting your trust in the safe and reliable hands of the team at Vertical Descents is a no-brainer.
Dedicated to providing all under their care with a memorable trip, each member of the team specialise in their own disciplines. So whether you looking to jump on a jet-ski, launch into some power kiting, fire some paintballs, or fancy having a go at some extreme coasteering on the North Coast of Cornwall – “the Vindaloo of Coasteering” – Vertical Descents certainly knows their stuff. And considering there is go karting and kite buggies available too, you’ll certainly not be want for thrill-seeking options.
Sam Starkie, the Director of Vertical Descents, spoke to us about what makes Cornwall such a great location for extreme sports, and indeed for Vertical Descents.
“We have been running adventure activities for nearly 20 years now and Cornwall is a fantastic place for them. The diversity in the land and seascape creates unique opportunities for the adventurous mind. Offering over 25 water based activities and 10 land based activities we can offer something for everyone who is in Cornwall or comes to visit.
“The beauty and tranquillity as well as the raw nature of the county gives a unique aspect to any activity. The proximity to three coasts and a range of inland terrains means that you are never far from the greatest of adventures.
“Vertical Descents caters for everyone whatever your adventure needs… pioneering and inventing some of the finest most adrenaline filled adventure activities that can only be experience with ourselves.”
Vertical Descents’ offices can be found in South Quay Hill, Newquay.
Cornwall truly is the place to be for extreme sports and activities, for that there is no doubt. With all of the tremendous organisations listed above, plus many more, getting your kicks on your next Cornwall holiday will be a breeze. Now all you have to figure out is how many of these are you able to fit in!
