If you think a holiday in Cornwall is all about sandcastles and tea rooms, perhaps you ought to take a look at some of the newest attractions in this popular holiday county. Vertical Descents certainly plays to more adventurous spirited tourists as it takes full advantage of Cornwall's dramatic cliffs and coastline to provide all sorts of adrenaline-pumping activities.
Located on Newquay's Watergate Bay, which is well known for its surfing and watersports, Vertical Descents adds some more land-based adventures to the list of things to do.
The well-equipped base at Mor Lodge is where most fun activities start and finish. There are modern changing facilities with showers and there's also a bar and café. You can hire all your equipment form here before hopping on the Adventure Bus which will take you to your chosen activity.
Coasteering in Newquay
One of the most popular activities offered by Vertical Descents is Coasteering and the company is actually part of the National Coasteering Charter. The challenge is to navigate along a section of coastline, usually as part of a team with an experienced guide.
Cornwall's craggy north coast is perfect for providing the perfect combination of activities within a very small area. You need to be ready for rock climbing, scrambling, canyoning, caving, jumping, abseiling, diving and swimming in rough seas (helmets, wetsuits and buoyancy aids are provided) as you navigate waves, rocks, cliffs, caves, gullies and more.
There are coasteering trips aimed at a variety of levels of experience and fitness from beginner through intermediate to advanced. Jet ski coasteering and extreme coasteering are just some of the more unusual options. Coasteering is not a race and is not about the final destination, but more about the physical challenges of how you get there.
Activities offered by Vertical Descents Newquay
Altogether Vertical Descents offers over 20 different experiences from their adventure centres combining coasteering, a surf school, kiteboarding, kayaking and surf rafting. All the activities are well organized and safe with experienced instructors encouraging and guiding the group through the various natural challenges they encounter.
These adventures are suitable for all ages, from families staying in a Cornish cottage holiday rental to scout groups, corporate team-builders and those wanting to participate in some military adventure training. If you are looking for something crazy to do for a stag weekend, this experience is highly recommended and is sure to be talked about for years to come.
Even juniors can take part in their own adventurous activities, which are ideal for fearless youngsters to learn the correct way to approach potentially dangerous activities. The experiences are also great for helping others to gain confidence as they do new activities under the expert guidance of complete professionals. Most people agree it absolutely exceeds all expectations, offering great fun with the right element of safety awareness.
Kayaking, kite surfing and quad biking
Other activities offered by Vertical Descents include lessons in surfing, body boarding and stand up paddle boarding. Explore this beautiful area by kayak, mountain bike or on quad bikes, or try jet ski coasteering for an added element of fun. Kite surfing, kite buggying and power kiting all make the most of the windy conditions and firm sandy beaches around Newquay while raft building, deep sea fishing, paintballing and go karting are all part of the fun.
Prices range from £25 to £75, depending on the activities you choose, plus reasonable equipment hire charges. When added to the cost of shared rental accommodation in nearby Newquay, you can have a great long weekend break in Cornwall with plenty of adventure even on a tight budget.
We'd love to hear some feedback from anyone who has done coasteering or one of the other sports offered around Newquay. Feel free to offer advice and tips to other visitors by commenting below. Thanks!
Born in Cheshire, Gillian Birch moved to Cornwall at her earliest opportunity and never looked back. After 20 years, her ongoing discovery of popular attractions, quiet footpaths and local eateries has made her a fount of knowledge as she entertains readers with her informative articles on the hidden gems of Devon & Cornwall from a local point-of-view.