Must do activities and experiences
Mermaid Pleasure Trips
Wildlife cruises – 2 and 3 hour trips delivering a memorable experience, with some Skippers mate hands on jobs for children pulling up lobster and crab pots. Tours follow the coastline allowing you to take in the amazing Minack Theatre from the sea before heading out to the ocean in search of Dolphins, Porpoises, Minky Whales and other marine life.
Sea fishing trips- Head out to good fishing grounds from Penzance and the Skipper and crew of the Mermaid ii will guide all those on board through first steps, so everyone experiences the thrill of sea fishing and for those experienced fisherman – well, you are free to just get on with it, knowing the team are at hand if you need them.
Beach horse riding
For a once in a lifetime experience try and match a horse beach ride on the picturesque Marazion Beach at the foot of St. Michaels Mount.
A 2 hour ride takes you trekking through woodlands and beautiful fields with stunning views of the sea. On the beach, when the tide is out you have a lovely long ride from Penzance to Marazion – splashing and crashing through the waves in an exhilarating ride.
Novice to experienced rides and all kit provided- it makes for a memorable holiday adventure.
Take to the Sea – Kayak, paddle boarding
Take to the sea with Paddle Board and Kayak hire at the Mount Bay
The experienced team at the Hoxton Special give you a great opportunity to enjoy the bay and take in the amazing coastline from the sea. Hire and lessons – as easy or challenging as you want them to be for all ages and abilities.
For those thrill seekers Kitesurfing lessons or rental is available – with Mounts Bay providing a perfect environment to give it a go.
And afterwards a coffee and warm at the beachside cafe
Surfing at Sennen
On the golden sands of Sennen Beach there cannot be any better place to try your hand at surfing than Sennen. The award winning Sennen Surfing centre delivers a variety of surfing courses in groups or 1 to 1 tuition, over 1 to 5 days ideal for beginners, improvers and intermediate surfers.
A memorable experience and all equipped is included in the tuition packages.
Marine Discovery
Join an experienced team on their sailing catamaran, Shearwater II, for a unique marine wildlife watching adventure. The diversity of the wildlife found in West Cornwall is what makes it special. Trips could encounter grey seals, various seabirds, or different species of dolphins and porpoises, enigmatic ocean sunfish or even giants such as minke whales, humpback whales, basking sharks and leatherback turtles! Sailing gives you the most special encounter possible, the quiet, meaning you can hear the splashes of the gannets as they dive and the whistles of the dolphins as they bowride alongside the catamaran.
Exploration trips for young and old, last between 2 and 4 hours and with capacities up to 12 passengers you have space, comfort and freedom.
Jubilee Geothermal pool
Opened in 1935 to celebrate the silver jubilee of George V, the Jubilee Pool is an Art Deco masterpiece. Built on a historic bathing spot of the Battery Rocks, it provided safe and sheltered alternative to diving off the rocks and straight into the sea.
It is Britain’s largest surviving seawater Lido and is has the luxury of the opening of the Geo-Thermal heated pool area - it’s a must-try
Coasteering
Coasteering was made for Cornwall and its an experience you have to try. You get the chance to experience the wild side of Cornwall. Climb, scramble, swim and jump your way along the Cornish coastline and get a whole different perspective that most will never see. You can explore caves, sheer cliffs, secret gullies, and stupendous jumps, in beautiful locations not accessible by any other way other than Coasteering. Even out of sight from even the locals.
Coasteering expeditions run for approx. 3 hour
You can also experience rock climbing and mine exploration with the experienced and trained team. Protective head gear, wet suits, and buoyancy aid are all provided
Helicopter to Isles of Scilly
On the Isles of Scilly, escapism mingles with adventure – and so kick off that experience with a helicopter flight from Penzance.
You will soar above the iconic Cornish coast before heading to the irresistible beautiful islands shimmering on the horizon. Flights take about 15 minutes to Tresco or St Marys so you can make the most of a full day on the Isles of Scilly having arrived in true style.
Inspired by the Arty vibe of Penzance and Newlyn
Newlyn has a rich heritage and connection with art – the Newlyn School colony of artists formed in the 1880’s putting this part of the world truly on the map.
That connection with art continues today with the Newlyn School of Art providing inspiring art courses and landscape painting holidays taught by over thirty of the most respected artists working in Cornwall today.
The art school is housed in the beautiful Victorian school building in the “artists” Quarter of Newlyn and is a must for those artists of all levels. Short courses, mentoring weekends, evening classes and painting holidays means something to suit everyone all year round.
Poldark filming
TV’s dramatization of Winston Grahams novels took in many of Cornwall's rich and stunning sites from Bodmin, Falmouth, Porthcothan but the stand out location had to be on our doorstep – at the St Just section of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site – in particular Bostallack. It is here that the bulk of the filmed mining activity takes part in the series. Bostallack is home to what is perhaps the most iconic Cornish engine houses. Perched at the bottom of rugged cliffs , barely above the sea sit a pair of granite engine houses. The mine shaft goes from here and over a mile out under the tempestuous Atlantic Ocean. The filming locations also captured Levant (owned by the National Trust) which was a working copper mine and partially closed after a disastrous mine collapse in 1919.
Penberth Cove, Porthgwara and Porthcurno were all featured in the dramatisation – coves and fishing communities – so you can walk in the shoes of Poldark and Demelza.
For Poldark Filming Location Guided Tours walking and cycling on the Peninsular close to Penzance www.penzancebikehire.co.uk
The Great Outdoors – Coastal path
Penzance is the perfect place to explore the peninsular via the South West Coastal Path. At every turn the stunning coastline views, hidden coves and dramatic landscapes jump out at you.
Choose your routes as the trail around the Peninsular have varying degrees of accessibility
Some of the stand-out path sections:
- Penzance to Mousehole and then Mousehole to Lamorna Cove
- Sennen to Lands End
- Penzance to Marazion and then Marazion to Prussia Cove
- Porthleven to The Loe
- Zennor to St.Ives
