



Explore the unique charm of Newquay’s Gazzle coastline on our Low Tide Coasteer, a perfect mix of adventure and nature discovery. This eco-focused session lets you climb, traverse, and swim while observing the area’s diverse marine life in its natural habitat. It’s ideal for those looking to enjoy the coast safely while learning about Cornwall’s ecology.
The Low Tide Coasteer combines outdoor adventure with environmental learning. As the tide recedes, new sections of the coastline are revealed, offering caves, rocky outcrops, and shallow plunge pools to explore. You’ll climb through historic smugglers’ caves now home to grey seals, traverse rocky formations, and navigate natural rapids under the supervision of experienced instructors. Along the route, you’ll learn about local wildlife and the rich heritage of Cornwall’s coastline.
Starting at our purpose-built centre, you’ll be fitted with a wetsuit, buoyancy aid, and helmet in heated changing rooms. After a full safety briefing and guidance on coasteering techniques, you’ll follow a carefully chosen low-tide route along Towan Headland. You’ll move at your own pace, with alternative options available for those who prefer a gentler experience.
The adventure takes place along the Gazzle coastline in Newquay, a sheltered area renowned for its wildlife and dramatic cliffs. The low-tide route provides access to hidden coves, historic caves, and rock pools, offering a closer connection to the coastal environment.
Newquay itself is the heart of UK surfing and outdoor activity, with easy access from nearby towns and excellent transport links. The surrounding coastline is rich in wildlife, including seals, starfish, and lobsters, making it a memorable experience for participants of all ages.
Participants should be comfortable in the water and able to swim short distances safely. A basic level of mobility is required to climb and traverse low-level rocks.
All ages from 8 years and up are welcome, and the route can be adapted to suit your group’s abilities, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.
As one of the longest-running activity centres in Newquay, we prioritise safety and educational value. Our instructors are highly trained, and our coasteering routes are fully risk-assessed, ensuring a secure and informative adventure for all participants.
The purpose-built centre provides hot showers, heated changing rooms, secure storage, and separate male and female toilets, making your experience convenient and comfortable. Participants also receive in-depth wildlife and heritage information along the route, adding an enriching element to the adventure.
Coasteering was born from the exhilarating blend of mountaineering and orienteering, and was first mentioned in a climbing guidebook dedicated to Devon.
This dynamic activity marries sea swimming, low-level climbing, traversing, natural rapid riding and thrilling jumps from ledges into deep-sea plunge pools. Our coasteering adventures are conducted along the Gazzle, a Cornish term meaning ‘armpit’, which is a sheltered stretch of coastline teeming with a diverse range of native wildlife. Experiencing coasteering in Newquay, Cornwall is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning landscape and observe coastal flora and fauna up close.
All our Instructors are fully qualified Beach and Surf Safety Lifeguards, ISA surf Instructors and Coasteering trailblazers. They’ve undertaken extensive First Aid training and we endeavour as an Activity Centre to regularly train our staff so they have experience in all weather and water conditions. All coasteering routes have been risk assessed and developed to ensure an adrenaline-fuelled but low risk coasteer. We also work in close partnership with the RNLI presence on every beach to ensure your safety in and out of the water.
Yes! Coasteering is a year-round activity, you just need a few extra bits of kit to keep you warmer in winter months! We even coasteer all the way up to Christmas.
All our coasteering instructors wear exactly the same equipment as you, but carry some extra gear to ensure your safety.
We’ve found over 80 marine species along our coasteering route! Whilst making the most of the ocean elements the Gazzle has to offer, we think it is important to consider that it’s a thriving habitat. We work in partnership with the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and endeavour to ensure we make as little negative impact on the ecosystem as possible! You’ll be very likely see Native Seals, Kittiwakes birds, lobsters, and fish whilst on your coasteer.
Towards the end of your coasteer, we always run a 2-minute coasteer clean-up to give back to the environment and help protect the quality of the area.
If you have your own suit please bring it along but wait until you’ve spoken with our instructors before putting it on. Some wetsuits are not suitable for coasteering, specifically shorties and triathlon suits. The same applies for wetsuit boots / beach shoes. Some are suitable and others aren’t. Trainers for example, are perfect for the rocky terrain.
All you need to bring is your swimwear, a towel and some old trainers to wear in the water. We will provide you with everything else, including a wetsuit, buoyancy aid, helmet and a rash vest.
Please bring a pair of lace-up trainers to wear during your coasteer. They will of course get wet, so you can also hire wetsuit boots or trainers for a small charge of £5.
During your coasteering journey, various jumps await you, the highest reaching 8 meters. However, depending on the tide, this can fluctuate. Our skilled instructors ensure you master the necessary technique before you take on the big leaps.
But don’t fret if high jumps aren’t your thing – they’re entirely optional!
With years of local knowledge, we’ve identified all the route’s entry and exit points. We’ve made sure there’s an alternative path for every challenge, whether it’s swimming with an instructor or taking a scenic cliff path. Rest assured, we tailor each activity to your preference, ensuring you enjoy the experience just the way you like it!
If you have any medical needs, injuries or special requirements, just give us a ring and we can talk through how best we can cater for your needs during your coasteering experience!
We ask that everybody who takes part in our coasteering experiences can swim a minimum of 50 metres. However, you’ll be given a buoyancy aid as part of your coasteering kit so there’s no need to be nervous of you’re not the strongest swimmer!
Coasteering requires a basic level of fitness. During the route you’ll be doing low level climbing and will need to be able to pull yourself out of the winter onto rocky traverses. It’ll certainly get the heart pumping but you don’t have to be an athlete.
It is generally best not to wear glasses if possible. Talk to your instructor on the day and explain what level of sight you have without glasses and they will advise. In calm conditions it should not be a problem, however we always suggest glasses have a cord/lanyard, or that they are securely tied onto your buoyancy aid. Using disposable contact lenses is advisable.
We would love everyone to take part! We will tailor the session to everyone’s abilities and you don’t have to do anything you don’t feel comfortable with.
Having said that, the Gazzle is only a short walk from our activity centre and easily accessible for those not wishing to take part in the coasteer. You’ll be able to follow the coasteer group from above if you choose not to take part yourself.
We both loved it , the instructor was a gentleman . Clear , concise instructions and very helpful . Can’t remember his name sorry , very tall with long hair
Jamie was a good instructor but a bit disappointed with the time snorkeling and not seeing anything. The sighting of the seals and info about the coast was great
Everyone was so friendly. My crew leader Alex was really supportive and encouraging as I am not an avid swimmer and so easing my way into kayaking and coasteering was a breeze. The team back at their headquarters were amazing ... keeping my baggage safe as I toured and even…
We had a really good time with Heath today. He showed us all the safety information and kept checking we were all okay. Instead of just staying out snorkelling he showed us some caves and told us about the history and cool knowledge about the caves and rocks. Had a…
We had an amazing time with heath. He was so lovely and gave us a bit of history as we went along. Very caring and made sure we had a fab time
Fun and exciting. The guide Oleks made it really enjoyable for us
Olek was such a cool instructor…let you get on with enjoying the water whilst keeping you safe and giving lots of detail…dan was super helpful when we got there and having a chat afterwards 10/10 hope to be back next summer
Amazing time coasteering in Cornwall with our instructor James. Great fun and James was very knowledgeable and easy to chat to. Thanks for an amazing time
We partner with Rewilding Britain to help protect our natural spaces for future adventures.
All centres are vetted for safety and quality. Your adventure is in good hands with adventuro.
Operated by Newquay Activity Centre, a partner of adventuro.