Glide across the water on a stand-up paddleboard and experience Cornwall’s coastline from a fresh perspective. This session combines an introductory lesson with a guided tour, giving you the confidence to paddle while exploring secret coves and hidden corners of Newquay. With expert instructors and quality equipment, you’ll quickly gain the skills needed to enjoy the world’s fastest-growing watersport.
Your experience begins at the dedicated watersports centre, just a short walk from Towan beach, where you’ll be kitted out with your board, paddle, wetsuit and buoyancy aid. After a full safety briefing, you’ll head to one of Newquay’s semi-secret coves, reached via a rocky path with paddleboards waiting for you at the shoreline.
The lesson starts with a practical introduction to the basics of SUP, including how to launch, kneel, and gradually progress to a standing position. Step-by-step guidance ensures you build confidence before heading into open water. Once comfortable, the tour sets off along Towan Head, passing sheltered caves, wildlife-rich inlets, and into the scenic sweep of Newquay Bay. From the vantage point of your paddleboard, you’ll enjoy wide, open views of the sea and coastline.
As you paddle, instructors share local history and highlight wildlife along the route. You’ll practise controlling speed, steering effectively, and staying stable in different sea conditions. By the end of the session, most participants feel confident enough to paddle independently and continue their SUP adventures in the future.
The session takes place in Newquay on Cornwall’s north coast, a well-known hub for watersports. The sheltered coves near Towan beach provide the ideal spot for starting out on calm water, while the open headlands and nearby bay create an exciting stretch of coastline to explore once you’re more confident.
This part of Cornwall is a mix of dramatic cliffs, secluded caves and marine life, giving every paddle a sense of exploration. With both sheltered and more exposed areas available, it’s a location perfectly suited for lessons as well as guided tours, with plenty to see along the way.
Participants must be able to swim and feel comfortable in open water. All safety equipment is provided, and the activity is designed to be accessible to beginners.
No prior paddleboarding knowledge is needed. Instructors tailor their support to your ability, ensuring both new and returning paddlers can enjoy the session fully.
The centre is purpose-built for watersports and equipped with heated changing rooms, hot outdoor showers, lockers and additional hire facilities. Located close to the launch point, it’s designed to make the whole experience smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.
The team is highly experienced, award-winning and dedicated to providing safe, engaging and memorable sessions. With strong local knowledge and a focus on quality, every participant is well looked after both on and off the water.
Stand up Paddleboarding or ‘SUP’ for short is one of the fastest growing waters sports in the world. Using a very large, stable board (similar to a surfboard) and a single-blade paddle you can navigate your way along coastlines, rivers and lakes.
Rain is no problem for a water-based activity! In fact, there’s no better way to make the most of a damp day than to get wet anyway! You will get changed into your wetsuit in our warm, dry changing rooms, then when you have your wetsuit on the rain isn’t an issue.
No need to worry, it’s all part of the learning process and can actually be quite fun! You can climb back onto your board relatively easily, but if you struggle your instructor will be there to help out.
Everybody is different and the conditions on the day can greatly affect how quickly you will learn the basics. In calm conditions, most adults will learn to effectively knee paddle in the first 10 minutes and be stand-up paddling within half an hour.
You need to bring a towel and swimwear. Footwear will also be required so bring either a pair of trainers that you don’t mind getting wet or wetsuit boots. If not you can hire from us for £5.
Yes. We require that anybody taking part in any of our water sports, including SUP, is able to swim 50 metres.
Sessions last for approximately 2 hours from when you have got all your kit on. You can expect to be with us for around 2 and half hours overall.
We will explore one of two routes. ‘The Gazzle’ is our ocean-based route along Newquay’s famous Towan Head. We will launch from either Towan beach or the old Lifeboat slipway depending on tide and surf conditions. Our river-based route is on the beautiful Gannel estuary, only a 5-minute drive from the centre.
We regularly see the local seals up close; we have also seen dolphins in Newquay bay, as well as Sunfish and Lion’s mane jellyfish. Basking sharks have also been seen on rare occasions (don’t worry, they are completely harmless and have no teeth). There is also an impressive array of birdlife, especially on our Gannel estuary route.
We primarily use inflatable boards, however we do have some hard boards for more experienced paddlers to use.
Providing you meet the minimum requirement of 50 metres swimming capability and you have no current health issues or injuries preventing you from taking part in physical activity you can come. Don’t worry, it’s not a race and your instructor will make sure the group moves at the pace of the slowest paddler and will assist weak paddlers when needed.
All of our SUP Instructors are qualified British Canoeing Paddlesport leaders. They are also Beach and Surf Safety Lifeguards. They have years of personal experience in the water, and attend regular site-specific staff training. We also work in closely with the RNLI to ensure your safety in and out of the water.
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.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
From £38.50
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom
From £80
