Activity Holidays in Cornwall

Angling, Cycling, Golf, Horse Riding, Watersports & More

Cornwall is one of England's finest destinations for an active holiday, with a remarkable variety of landscapes and outdoor experiences to enjoy. From the rugged Atlantic coastline and sandy beaches to the open landscapes of Bodmin Moor, wooded valleys, rivers and rolling countryside, Cornwall provides an exceptional setting for activities throughout the year. Whether you are looking for an adventurous family day out, a new hobby to try, or an action-packed break with friends, there are activities to suit almost every interest and ability.

The county's coastline is particularly well suited to water sports and outdoor adventures. Visitors can try surfing at some of Cornwall's famous Atlantic beaches, explore the coast by kayak or paddleboard, go sailing, windsurfing or kitesurfing, or discover the underwater world through scuba diving. Cornwall is also a popular destination for sea fishing and angling, while its beaches, harbours and rivers provide opportunities for more relaxed days beside the water. Many local activity centres offer lessons, equipment hire and guided experiences, making it easy for beginners to get involved as well as experienced enthusiasts.

Away from the coast, Cornwall offers an equally impressive choice of land-based activities. Walking and hiking routes include spectacular sections of the South West Coast Path, while cycling routes explore quiet country lanes, woodland trails, moorland and coastal landscapes. Golfers can choose from courses ranging from challenging clifftop layouts to inland parkland courses, while horse riding, archery, clay pigeon shooting, paintball, airsoft, go-karting and zip wires provide plenty of opportunities for a more energetic day out. Cornwall's varied countryside also makes it an excellent destination for wildlife watching, photography and outdoor exploration.

There are plenty of activities for families too, including swimming pools, leisure centres, bowling, children's play centres and attractions designed for younger visitors. Those looking to develop a creative or practical skill can explore photography, guitar and music lessons, while museums, heritage attractions and Cornwall's historic sites provide a more relaxed way to discover the county's culture and history. For a slower pace, Cornwall's growing spa and wellness scene offers everything from clifftop hotel spas to wild beach saunas and independent beauty salons in every main town.

Use the guides below to explore Cornwall's activities in more detail. From surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing to cycling, golf, fishing, walking and adventure activities, each guide provides useful information about popular locations, local providers, equipment hire and experiences. Whether you are planning an active Cornwall holiday or simply looking for something different to do during your stay, our activity guides can help you find inspiration and plan your time in the county.

Choose an activity

Children's Activities Airsoft Angling Archery Art Courses & Learning to Paint Blacksmithing & Metalwork Courses Boat Hire, Kayak & Canoe Hire Boat Trips & Sea Safaris Clay Pigeon Shooting Crafting - Sewing Lessons, Groups & Courses Crazy Golf Cycling Flying Go Karting Golf Guitar Lessons & Recording Studios Gyms & Fitness Centres Health Spas, Saunas & Beauty Treatments Horse Riding Jewellery Making & Silversmithing Judo, Karate & Taekwondo Kayaking & Canoeing Kite Surfing Laser Tag Lawn Bowls Museums Music Lessons, Schools & Shops Paddleboarding Paintball Photography Pilates Pitch & Putt Pottery Courses & Ceramics Workshops Sailing Scuba Diving Sea Fishing Skateparks & BMX Parks South West Coast Path Surfing Swimming & Leisure Centres Ten Pin Bowling Tour Guides & Blue Badge Scheme Guides Wakeboarding & Water Skiing Wildlife Windsurfing Writers, Writing Courses & Retreats Zip Wires

Angling

Carp, coarse and fly fishing across Cornwall and Devon's rivers, lakes and reservoirs, with family fishing holidays and day-ticket venues throughout the county.

Explore Angling

Sea Fishing

Beach, rock and boat fishing around Cornwall's 400-mile coastline, plus rod licence information, tackle shops and fishing holiday accommodation.

Explore Sea Fishing

Children's Activities

Indoor play, soft play, adventure parks and family attractions across the county, from Camel Creek to Paradise Park's JungleBarn, for family days out of all kinds.

Explore Children's Activities

Crazy Golf

Pirate-themed courses in Newquay, a former mining valley at Lappa Valley and beachside greens from Padstow to St Ives, plus an indoor course in Plymouth.

Explore Crazy Golf

Swimming pools and leisure centres in Cornwall

Swimming & Leisure Centres

Indoor pools in every main town, run by Better/GLL, independent trusts and community groups, plus outdoor lidos and tidal sea pools including Jubilee Pool and Bude Sea Pool.

Explore Swimming & Leisure Centres

Boat Trips & Sea Safaris

Wildlife boat trips from Padstow, St Ives, Falmouth, Mevagissey, Looe and Penzance, plus a sea safari option in Plymouth's National Marine Park.

Explore Boat Trips

Boat Hire, Kayak and Canoe Hire in Cornwall

Boat Hire, Kayak & Canoe Hire

Self-drive boats, kayaks and SUPs to hire in Fowey, Falmouth, St Mawes, the Helford River and Looe, plus a Plymouth option.

Explore Boat Hire

Cycling

The Camel Trail, the Mineral Tramways and a wide network of traffic-free trails across Cornwall and Devon, suitable for families and experienced riders alike.

Explore Cycling

Skateparks & BMX Parks

An internationally rated free skatepark in Newquay, two indoor skateparks, a dedicated BMX race track and a free pump track at Par, plus a Plymouth option.

Explore Skateparks & BMX Parks

Go Karting

Outdoor circuits at St Eval, Adrenalin Quarry near Liskeard and Coast 2 Coast Karting in Hayle, plus fast indoor karting just over the border in Plymouth.

Explore Go Karting

Pitch & Putt

Traditional pitch & putt courses from Holywell Bay's South West-renowned 18 holes to community greens in Hayle and Falmouth, plus a Plymouth option.

Explore Pitch & Putt

Golf

36 golf courses, clubs and driving ranges across Cornwall, from championship links at St Enodoc and St Mellion to relaxed pay-and-play courses.

Explore Golf

Wildlife

RSPB and Cornwall Wildlife Trust nature reserves, plus the best places to see grey seals, choughs, basking sharks, dolphins and more around the county.

Explore Wildlife

Horse Riding

Stables, trekking centres and riding schools across Cornwall, with bridleways and beach rides for all abilities, from complete beginners to experienced riders.

Explore Horse Riding

Sailing

Sheltered harbours and estuaries including Padstow, the Fal, and the Camel Estuary, offering dinghy sailing, cruising and sailing tuition for all levels.

Explore Sailing

Scuba Diving

Wrecks, reefs and marine life around Cornwall's coast, with dive schools and charter boats offering trips for qualified divers and beginners.

Explore Scuba Diving

Surfing

World-class Atlantic breaks at Fistral, Watergate Bay and beyond, with surf schools and board hire for beginners through to experienced surfers.

Explore Surfing

Windsurfing

Some of the country's best windsurfing spots, including Rock and Daymer Bay on the Camel Estuary, suited to beginners and experienced short-boarders alike.

Explore Windsurfing

Kite Surfing

Wave and flat-water kitesurfing from Watergate Bay to the Bluff at Hayle and Marazion, with schools, permit requirements and access rules for each spot.

Explore Kite Surfing

Wakeboarding and water skiing in Cornwall

Wakeboarding & Water Skiing

Boat-towed wakeboarding and water skiing on the Camel and Fal estuaries, plus a cable wake park near Falmouth, for complete beginners through to experienced riders.

Explore Wakeboarding & Water Skiing

Kayaking & Canoeing

Guided sea kayaking near Port Isaac, gentle estuary paddles on the Camel and Fowey, and calm inland lakes on Bodmin Moor, plus a Plymouth option.

Explore Kayaking & Canoeing

Paddleboarding

SUP lessons and tours from Harlyn Bay to St Ives, flat-water estuary paddling on the Camel and Fowey, and Cornwall's lakes, plus a Plymouth option.

Explore Paddleboarding

Zip Wires

England's fastest zip line over the Eden Project, twin quarry zips near Liskeard, and a cliff-edge safari near Falmouth, plus a Plymouth-area option.

Explore Zip Wires

Paintball

Woodland and quarry paintball venues near Newquay, Redruth, Bodmin, Penzance and Delabole, plus a Plymouth-area option.

Explore Paintball

Laser Tag

Indoor and outdoor laser tag venues from Newquay to North Cornwall, plus indoor arenas and woodland laser combat just over the border in Plymouth and Tavistock.

Explore Laser Tag

Judo, karate and taekwondo clubs in Cornwall

Judo, Karate & Taekwondo

A well-served judo scene from St Ives to St Austell, established karate schools in Penzance and Newquay, and taekwondo in Truro and Gunnislake, plus a Plymouth option.

Explore Judo, Karate & Taekwondo

Airsoft

Distinctive sites including an underground tunnel system near Camborne and a 60-acre ground near Truro, plus a fortified island skirmish in Plymouth Sound.

Explore Airsoft

Archery

Established clubs from Penzance to the Lizard and Liskeard, taster sessions near Falmouth and Polzeath, and a combat archery option in Plymouth.

Explore Archery

Clay Pigeon Shooting

Clay-target grounds near Truro, Liskeard and Launceston for complete beginners and experienced Guns, plus a Plymouth option.

Explore Clay Pigeon Shooting

South West Coast Path

25 practical walking legs from Bude to Plymouth, with distances, times, difficulty ratings, parking and recommended bases for exploring on foot.

Explore the Coast Path

Museums

Mining, maritime, artistic and social history across the county, from Geevor Tin Mine to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall and the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic.

Explore Museums

Gyms & Fitness Centres

Leisure centre gyms in every main town, 24/7 private gyms, and independent CrossFit, functional fitness and boutique studios, plus Plymouth's chain gyms just over the border.

Explore Gyms & Fitness

Pilates

Mat and Reformer Pilates studios from Wadebridge to Liskeard, clinical Pilates and instructor training in Newquay, plus several Plymouth options.

Explore Pilates

Ten Pin Bowling

Dedicated bowling centres in Truro, St Austell and Bude, a family leisure park near Launceston, and hotel-based lanes near Newquay, for a rainy-day game with the family.

Explore Ten Pin Bowling

Lawn Bowls

Over 30 outdoor clubs across Cornwall, five indoor greens run by the County Indoor Bowls Association, and a note on why crown green bowls isn't a local option.

Explore Lawn Bowls

Health spas, saunas and beauty treatments in Cornwall

Health Spas, Saunas & Beauty Treatments

Distinctive hotel spas overlooking the Atlantic, a growing wild sauna scene from Hayle to Falmouth, and independent beauty salons across the county, plus Plymouth.

Explore Health Spas, Saunas & Beauty

Flying

Discover flying experiences including trial flights, pilot training and coastal sightseeing flights overlooking locations such as Land's End, St Michael's Mount, St Ives Bay and the North Cornwall coast.

Explore Flying

Guitar lessons and recording studios in Cornwall

Guitar Lessons & Recording Studios

Guitar tuition for all ages and abilities, plus professional recording studios across Cornwall and Plymouth, for anyone looking to learn, play or record.

Explore Guitar Lessons

Music lessons, schools and shops in Cornwall

Music Lessons, Schools & Shops

Piano, strings, brass, woodwind and drum tuition, plus instrument shops, across Cornwall and Plymouth for players of every age and ability.

Explore Music Lessons

Photography

The best coastal and heritage locations to shoot in Cornwall, from St Ives harbour to Botallack's clifftop engine houses, plus local tuition, workshops and camera shops.

Explore Photography

Writers, writing courses and retreats in Cornwall

Writers, Writing Courses & Retreats

Falmouth University's dedicated creative writing degrees, writing retreats, community writers' groups and short courses from Redruth to Liskeard and Penzance, plus Plymouth options.

Explore Writers & Writing Courses

Art courses, painting classes and learning to paint in Cornwall

Art Courses & Learning to Paint

Residential art schools, watercolour workshops and painting classes from Newlyn and St Ives to Truro, Bodmin, Padstow and Callington, plus Plymouth options.

Explore Art Courses & Painting

Jewellery making and silversmithing courses in Cornwall

Jewellery Making & Silversmithing

From Krowji in Redruth to degree-level silversmithing in Truro, plus silver clay, enamelling and workshops near Fowey, St Austell and Charlestown.

Explore Jewellery Making

Blacksmithing and metalwork courses in Cornwall and Plymouth

Blacksmithing & Metalwork Courses

Working forges near Truro and Hayle, welding courses at Cornwall College Camborne, plus blacksmithing and welding tuition in Plymouth.

Explore Blacksmithing & Metalwork

Tour guides and Blue Badge scheme guides in Cornwall

Tour Guides & Blue Badge Scheme Guides

Qualified Blue Badge guides, private tours, town walking tours and boat & kayak trips across Cornwall, plus Plymouth and Tavistock options.

Explore Tour Guides

Pottery courses and ceramics workshops in Cornwall

Pottery Courses & Ceramics Workshops

Wheel throwing, hand-building and ceramics tuition from the historic Leach Pottery in St Ives to community studios in Penryn, Newquay and Helston, plus Plymouth.

Explore Pottery Courses

Sewing lessons, groups and courses in Cornwall

Crafting - Sewing Lessons, Groups & Courses

Dressmaking courses, quilting groups, social sewing sessions and fabric & haberdashery shops across Cornwall, plus Plymouth and Tavistock.

Explore Crafting & Sewing

Frequently asked questions

Cornwall offers a wide range of activity holidays, including angling and sea fishing, cycling, flying, go karting, golf, horse riding, guitar and music lessons, photography, sailing, scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing, kite surfing, wakeboarding, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, zip wires, paintball, airsoft, archery, clay pigeon shooting, walking the South West Coast Path, museums, wildlife watching, swimming pools and leisure centres, ten pin bowling, lawn bowls, gyms and fitness centres, health spas, saunas and beauty treatments and children's activities, thanks to its varied coastline, moorland and countryside.

Angling generally refers to coarse and fly fishing on Cornwall's rivers, lakes and reservoirs, while sea fishing covers beach, rock and boat fishing around the county's 400-mile coastline. Cornwall Online covers both, with separate guides for each.

Yes. Cornwall's Atlantic-facing north coast is one of the best surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations in the UK, while the sheltered estuaries and harbours of the south coast are popular for sailing, scuba diving, kayaking, paddleboarding and boat-towed wakeboarding and water skiing.

No. Most activities on this page, from surfing and kitesurfing to sailing, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, go karting, archery, paintball and horse riding, offer taster sessions and beginner lessons through qualified local schools, instructors and venues. A few pursuits, such as certain wreck-diving sites or kitesurfing at spots like the Bluff in Hayle, do require prior qualifications or insurance, and this is noted on the relevant guide.

It depends on the activity. Watersports such as surfing, sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding generally run from spring through autumn, with some (like diving and lake-based windsurfing) available year-round. Cycling, golf, angling, horse riding, go karting, archery, clay pigeon shooting, indoor pools and walking the Coast Path can all be enjoyed throughout the year, though summer offers the longest daylight hours and warmest conditions.

Yes, many providers cater specifically for families, including junior surf and sailing lessons, beginner-friendly cycle trails, pony trekking suitable for young children, indoor play centres, adventure parks, go karting, zip wires, archery, ten pin bowling and multi-activity days. Age and ability requirements vary by provider, so it's worth checking directly before booking.

Generally not. Most activity providers in Cornwall offer equipment hire and provide everything needed for lessons, from wetsuits, boards, kayaks and canoes to bicycles, fishing tackle, riding gear, bowling shoes, karting race suits and paintball or archery equipment. Bringing your own kit is usually optional rather than required.

Page last updated: August 2026.