Leisure and sport

Leisure & Sport

An extraordinarily beautiful and varied coastline, together with the warmest climate in the UK, make Cornwall a paradise for all kinds of outdoor activities. A few highlights:

Sailing
Cornwall's inshore waters offer some of the best sailing anywhere in the world. It's hard to think of any finer way to spend a day than exploring the sheltered bays and wooded creeks of the Carrick Roads, followed by a seafood dinner at a marina restaurant. Falmouth hosts many international sailing events - most famously Falmouth Week in August.

Surfing
The stunning beaches and Atlantic shore-breaks of Cornwall's north coast draw surfers and other watersports enthusiasts from all over the world. Newquay is now the undisputed surfing capital of Europe with a vibrant clubbing scene to match.

Golf
Golfers are spoilt for choice with courses ranging from the luxuriously appointed Trevose Golf and Country Club near Padstow, which has hosted many prestigious tournaments, to the wilder charms of the West Cornwall Golf Club, dramatically sited overlooking St Ives Bay.

Gardening
Gardeners can draw inspiration from Cornwall's many famous public gardens including the sub-tropical splendour of Trebah, the restored Victorian grandeur of Heligan and the lush exoticism of Tresco Abbey in the Isles of Scilly. They can also select from a huge variety of plants and shrubs available at some of the UK's best nurseries.

Walking and cycling
Walking is a fantastic way to explore Cornwall's natural beauty, with 300 miles of coastal footpaths and 2,400 miles of public rights of way inland. What's more, there are plenty of great pubs along the way where you can enjoy a well-earned pint and a pasty. The pleasures of cycling in Cornwall include the Camel Trail, a dedicated cycle track that takes you through some fabulously unspoilt countryside between Bodmin and Padstow.

For more information please visit the Cornwall Tourist Board website.