Kayaking Newquay 10 prices and offers 2026

Kayaking is a gift for your body, mind and soul. Although it might look like paddling in one of them is all about the arms and upper body, it actually involves the whole body when done properly and helps increase core strength. The repetitive, rhythmic motion of paddling is good for your heart, and releases pleasure hormones in your brain, and getting out on a kayak takes you into beautiful natural surroundings to give you a deeper connection to the world around you. Bearing alñ of that in mind, it makes sense that it’s one of the most popular activities in the watersports capital of Southwest England, Newquay.

This city is the number one destination for holidaymakers and thrill seekers in Cornwall. It’s known as the surf capital of the country, it’s surrounded by holiday parks and beachside accommodation, and it even hosts some extreme sports like jet skiing and bungee jumping. Sometimes, the crowds along the seafront can get a bit too much and that's when it’s great to jump into a kayak and get out onto the water. The town is busy, but it’s also small, so in just a couple of strokes of the paddle you can get away from it all and find yourself exploring a beautiful coastal landscape of coves, cliffs, inlets and rocks. When it comes to planning a trip to this area - or if you’re lucky enough to live there - a kayaking tour is a must!

Where are the best places to go Kayaking in Newquay?

• Newquay Bay: The harbour sits at the western end of a wide bay which is made up of several beaches at high tide, and one long sandy expanse when the tide goes out. It doesn’t take long to paddle the length of the bay, enjoying views of the town, before setting off around the headlands at either end to discover what lies beyond.

• Fistral Beach: This is the most famous surfing beach in the country. You can get there by paddling around the rocky spit of land known as Fistral Point, and start to feel the waves as you round the headland. On the other side of the beach is Pentire Point, a dramatic headland with a rocky shoreline to discover.

• Gannel Estuary: The waters of the River Gannel mix with the Atlantic Ocean in an estuary which comes out in the lee of Pentire point, at Crantock Beach. It’s a beautiful waterway that cuts through a green landscape and, what’s more, the tide can help you journey upstream and back if you time it right.

• Holywell Bay: As a general rule, the further towards Land’s End you go, the more rugged the landscape becomes. This is true of the stretch of coastline between Crantock Beach and Holywell Bay, where cliffs crash to the sea in a series of rocks, islets and caves.

• Watergate Bay: In the opposite direction, Watergate Bay is a wide, west facing beach north of the city. With a tranquil backdrop and headlands at each end, it’s a pleasant place to go paddling.

• Further Afield: The Cornish coast is one of the natural treasures of England, and it’s not just in the immediate vicinity that you find fantastic locations. Along the coast, the Camel Estuary snakes its way out to the sea passing the town of Padstow. This is a highlight of the area, where blue waters, white sandbars and verdant banks are like something on a picture postcard.

What are the options for organising a excursion?

- If you want to see the coastline of Newquay like never before, the best thing to do is take a kayaking tour with an expert guide. They can take you to see the highlights of the area, or lead you on a themed route so that in just 2 or 3 hours you can get a fully formed picture of the area. This could be focused on the environmental aspects - flora, fauna, and the geology of the cliffs for example - or a heritage tour that explores the human story of this landscape, from pirates and smugglers to storms and shipwrecks.

- Tours are suitable for beginners, but if you want to build up your confidence in this sport, you should take a lesson. This will usually take place in sheltered waters around and involve instruction alongside games and challenges. They’re particularly well suited to children, who’ll have a lot of fun learning a new activity, and they can last around 1 or 2 hours. It’s also possible to hire kayak equipment, which you can arrange to be taken to the launching point of your choice so that you can start your adventure directly where you want to be.

- As we’ve mentioned, this city is a hub for watersports, and you can enjoy some of them in combination with kayaking. Are you keen to try fishing off the Cornish coast? Do you like the idea of donning a mask and snorkel and exploring the underwater world as well as the land above the surface? Or perhaps you’d like to try the adventure sport of cliff climbing, scrambling and jumping known as coasteering? Well you can use a kayak to experience any of these activities in an innovative, entertaining way.

Requirements to do this activity

This sport can be a family activity affair. Most of the kayaks on offer here are sit-on-top models, which are buoyant and easy to climb back on if you fall in. In addition, they can seat two people, or two adults and a young child. This means that from just 5 years old, your kids can get involved in a paddling session.

When it comes to taking a coastal tour, the group will have a ratio of 1 guide to 8 participants. That means that they can make sure that everyone is getting on okay, and can hear their comments about the features of the tour. It’s also a great size for a group of friends - maybe a birthday party or a stag or hen do.

It might be more famous for surfing, but has just as much to offer to keen kayakers. But don’t just take our word for it - make a booking and find out for yourself!