Cornwall Sea Kayak Tour: Photos & Guide
If you’re looking for a unique way to see the Cornish coast, taking a guided sea kayak tour could be just the ticket. The rocky coastline, hidden coves, and wildlife make it a pretty unreal experience, but picking the right tour, almost like your finding the perfect pasty, does make all the difference. This guide is, in a way, going to walk you through what to think about when you are thinking about doing one of these trips, along with some photos and recommendations to hopefully help you plan your sea kayaking adventure. This part of the UK has quite a history going back to almost the stone age, so there is lots to see.
Why Go Sea Kayaking in Cornwall?
Cornwall just might be almost perfectly set up for sea kayaking. The place is, at the end of the day, completely surrounded by water on three sides. What this means is that you are likely going to find a tour that matches how good you are at paddling. With that in mind, going sea kayaking offers a perspective of the area you can’t very often get any other way.
There are places where you can get out onto the water near picturesque spots, such as, for instance, close to Lands End, the Lizard Peninsula or you can find your peace near the relatively calmer waters on the north coast near Padstow and Port Isaac. What attracts folks? That would very likely be, the chance to see all kinds of wild animals, the sort of hidden beaches you can only get to from the sea and also the chance to go past all those places packed with history from when tin was a big deal, along with all of those stories about pirates from, you know, way back.
Picking a Tour: Things to Keep In Mind
There is the fact that not all sea kayak tours are built in the same way. Making a pretty good pick has to be something about matching how much paddling you have done before with the trip you want to go on. You are probably also going to have to have some thoughts regarding what you wish to get out of the whole trip; whether you are thinking of checking out secluded beaches or wanting to spot wildlife or just want a tough workout.
Skill Level
If this sounds very much like your first time out on the water in a kayak, there are guided tours meant for people who have not ever been in a kayak before. What happens on these shorter tours, more or less, is they take place in protected bays where the water tends to be rather smooth. On these trips you learn what you are meant to do in a kayak as well as learn all about staying safe while you are on the water.
More seasoned paddlers are, basically, going to have some thoughts regarding going for longer trips that go down a longer portion of the coastline and head out further out to sea. Such tours very often call for a reasonable degree of physical shape as well as prior experience in handling a kayak in differing conditions. The main thing to take from that is that you might be spending a very long time in that boat.
Tour Length and Route
Tours of what is around 2 hours might be a brilliant shout for those who wish to have their initial go at kayaking. Or, if you might be a bit short on free time. In contrast to that, tours that tend to fill up most of a day allow you to properly explore much more of the shore, very much with breaks for checking out beaches as well as other out of the way places.
Tour routes vary fairly often, a little, hinging on what the tour company has planned to showcase and the weather for that day. Several head down to particular rock formations, beaches that aren’t on maps and wildlife hotspots. Chat to the tour organiser and ask what type of things that they think you might well spot.
Group Size
Small group tours do, very often, result in something more intimate and provide a better chance to gain from your guide’s insight. The sort of feedback you get when in these groups allows the instructors to actually pay closer attention to the safety as well as how much you are enjoying the trip. Bigger group tours do have their own plus points though, such as perhaps, offering a far more sociable experience where you might well end up making a few pals.
What’s Included?
A decent kayaking tour ought to include everything that you want for being able to kayak safely. That means that they will give you the kayak, paddle, a life jacket along with a wetsuit, if necessary. Many tours will also, often, give you a dry bag to ensure that any bits that you might want to have with you, like phones and cameras, stay dry and safe.
Top Spots for Sea Kayaking in Cornwall
Cornwall is fairly blessed with brilliant spots for heading out onto the sea. Where is basically best for you tends to turn on how good you are and how you like your trips.
St Ives
St Ives might just be that stunning town, recognized for its beaches and art scene. Going from here by kayak allows you to check out the city from a pretty fresh point of view as you kayak along the coast and near to the little coves. In calm conditions, this area could just be superb for beginner to average kayakers. It’s almost best enjoyed in the morning when the light dances along the coastline.
Lizard Peninsula
This spot is the very most southerly part of mainland UK. Lizard Peninsula comes along with a coastline that looks impressive, rugged cliffs as well as hidden beaches. Going around here suits folks who are seeking more in the way of challenging tours. The Lizard is also incredibly well known as a place where wildlife live and hang out and is one of the places in the British Isles where the Cornish Chough calls home.
Padstow and the North Coast
The north coast almost guarantees less wind. The water close to Padstow is, maybe, an ideal site to get your feet wet with kayaking. Shorter trips might see you paddling down the Camel Estuary. Otherwise, in some cases you might go to see the coast near to such picture postcard places such as Port Isaac.
What to Expect on a Guided Tour
Thinking about going on a guided tour might be pretty scary in some cases if you don’t know what is due to take place. A good way of having any fears reduced, involves realising how trips tend to run. So that you know how this works, they include kit checks, safety briefings as well as the actual tour out on the water. Tours tend to put in regular breaks. These might be something like when the trips tend to allow those who go on them, to check out the shoreline up close as well as have something to drink or a light meal.
Safety Briefing and Kit Check
The guide will actually start by giving you a bit of talk about the risks and other info relating to the day ahead. How this might unfold is that they point out stuff to worry about whilst paddling like rip tides and submerged rocks. Also, you could say that everyone will be supplied with gear that keeps you safe that fits correctly, just like your paddle, life jacket as well as kayaking itself. Don’t ever not make the instructors aware of any discomfort you might well have with it, even if you only believe you might have it; if you think the life jacket isn’t just snug enough or the kayak foot rests don’t just feel right, mention it there and then!
On the Water: Techniques and Exploration
Whenever you actually head off, the guides will show you some basic paddling stuff. How this works tends to depend, in that these techniques assist you in how to properly head along, how to turn, and even, sometimes, what you should be doing when you need help.
Something fairly decent about going kayaking with guides is basically their awareness about spots around which make checking out exciting places better. Guides are pretty great with regards to spotting stuff for you – keep your eyes and ears peeled because they may be familiar with such things like seals lying about on rocks as well as rare sea birds that may be circling overhead!
Breaks and Refreshments
Almost all tours allow a few short periods of chilling out or getting your breath back on the shore and getting hydrated. This might be said as also giving an awesome opportunity to actually stretch your legs and explore the local land somewhat better. Do make certain you carry water along with snack foods when going on the tour; your tour organiser will certainly let you know more with regards to that aspect too. As a matter of fact some might also just simply furnish food and drinks!
Photography on Your Kayak Tour
Basically going kayaking, of course, presents some incredible moments and sights that are perfect to photograph – you want ways by which photos may get kept secure though when on trips.
Keeping Your Gear Safe
Dry bags would more than likely seem that one necessity with regards to shielding devices with photography gear included. Confirm before even thinking about heading away from the start spot about how big each is in that you want any gear guarded correctly. Many persons, honestly, also prefer to stick things to themselves – a wrist strap may be perfect so as to avoid any unfortunate dropping of stuff happening with camera equipment, for instance.
Best Times for Photos
Days seem almost more rewarding when things have loads of sun because you could get amazing images with lighting! You can get better quality when it comes to taking snaps, that it may just pay off setting anything going earlier whenever conditions in Cornwall do remain quieter! And even if it appears cloudy/greyish, do consider having all camera kit go with one just so chances don’t ever go amiss whatever! These types may in certain situations lend moody and somewhat atmospheric qualities too.
What to Wear and Bring
Having some idea with regards to whatever might well just need packing would guarantee trips kayaking turn that bit smoother altogether; it would depend pretty strongly sometimes because weather on Cornwall comes along quite surprisingly so always think of getting prepared sufficiently whatever!
Clothing
Multiple slim clothing layers almost sound spot on because those enable folks modifying gear according need when conditions just might fluctuate from getting warmer to chilling while actually out at sea; it could generally make sure too of anything moisture-wicking fabric made so getting kept fairly cozy proves increasingly achievable when actually paddling about some amount!
Essentials
When going anywhere for any period always keep in your mind your essentials you’d like, like: sunglasses and sunblock, it all may assist avoid becoming extremely hot; hydration happens that something rather very worthy thinking more often to when really tiring with physical works – food too helps! Ultimately any camera really comes recommended by persons to capture everything cool experienced all through jaunt down coasts or inland waterways plus there probably also gets a certain degree sense when wearing reliable water resistant protective case plus anything to do having money to may enable purchasing anything on sites located by!
Booking Your Tour: Tips and Recommendations
Getting ready, booking early and basically getting more homework achieved sounds the key step when trips need properly organised especially should tours need securing just prior anything overly peak by terms seasons plus weather should ever represent major point requiring check ups! And whenever things sound not crystal just make touch quickly of all travel or tours business involved beforehand, what would just need becoming made crystal by those firms before any travels set anywhere! That really can turn out getting great insight with best ever options especially if you might have to make all personal special requirement as example.
When to Book
Securing any reservation by early stages comes actually that bit rather wiser in reality notably if any traveling happens within peaks just or the weeks anytime spanning through holidays duration; really tours spots sound rather often truly restricted by volumes therefore whenever secured early those basically means possibility getting turned somewhat better when something ever sound extremely booked elsewhere and any arrangements getting established at first comes the perfect chance ensuring everything might not simply go elsewhere due others arrangements.
Checking the Weather
Cornwall by periods offers just crazy weather, so any bookings may pay for should any local predictions receive routine monitoring plus any options just comes from such choices whereby trips prove easily switched with short alert span happens fairly sensible to prevent possibly unsafe environments especially really choppy waters due excessive wind something should ever go from those ways
Personal Anecdote
Not that long ago my partner and I actually took trips on tour through Cornwall around just awesome place known St Ives: that all proves some sight especially early through lights mornings: we truly could glide across waves so smoothly as nothing! Something happened – tour organiser also would prove insightful really since what may happen for animal with plants all through Cornwall from coast along plus waters, really proved perfect and that comes something for remembering often indeed; whenever thinking for Cornwall kayaking tour by the seas so then consider securing of St Ives some morning! It had been fairly amazing.
FAQ About Sea Kayaking in Cornwall
Is sea kayaking suitable for beginners?
Yes, there are sea kayaking tours available for different skill levels, with beginner-friendly tours often taking place in calm, protected bays.
What should I wear for sea kayaking?
Layered clothing is a good choice. A base layer of moisture-wicking fabric is a plus. Wetsuits are available for rentals too in some places, like your shoes.
What is included in a guided sea kayaking tour?
The rental very often has stuff like kayaks, paddles, life jackets, as well as briefings with information relating to safety issues. You could say that a fair few businesses might also supply you some waterproof compartments plus refreshments. And drinks. This sort of all depends.
Are there age restrictions for sea kayaking tours?
Quite often it isn’t rare by such tours which happens by each age or even children being accompanied either by adult to with such factors relying strongly when tours set by nature from length while considering just health and any swimming capability
What happens if the weather is bad?
Something happens often because Tours frequently provide that easy switches in periods whatever local forecast proving dangerous or maybe simply simply just bad that it becomes wise often getting one should just comes from anything whatever offering switching in any short while – local awareness.