CONTENTS





Image credit: Up4it Outdoors


INTRODUCTION TO COASTEERING

 

A home-grown adventure


The British Isles, made up of the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as the countless smaller islands that surround them, are defined by their relationship with the water. That relationship comes into sharp focus on the long, complex and spectacular coastlines of these islands. It’s no surprise that the sport of exploring the zone where land meets water, coasteering, originated here.

Coasteering was developed by a couple of adventurers in Pembrokeshire, Southwest Wales, about half a century ago and offered as an outdoor activity experience for the first time in the late 1980s. In the decades since then, it’s spread throughout Wales, to Southwest England, Scotland, Ireland and the rest of the world. We believe that the best coasteering in the world is still to be found in the United Kingdom and Ireland, and we've put together this list of highlights to back up our case.

Coasteering in practice


Coasteering involves water-based activities (swimming), land-based activities (climbing, scrambling), and activities that combine the two (cliff diving). The coast is an ever-changing environment, shaped by tides, waves and weather, which means that there’s no right way to go coasteering. No two excursions - even to the same place - are the same, and you, the coasteerer, have to choose the action that seems most appropriate at the time.

The wild, variable, unpredictable nature of the sport also makes it essential that you go prepared. First and foremost, you should always go with a guide who knows the local area. You should also use the correct safety equipment - a wetsuit, helmet and buoyancy aid at least - and plan your trip well. To learn more about this side of coasteering, see our article titled “Wave, Tide and Rock - how to stay safe when Coasteering.”

When you’re happy with the basics, you just have to choose where you’re going to go. The UK and Ireland have thousands of miles of coastline, but we’ve made it really simple for you, picking out the nine best places in the British Isles to go coasteering.


Image credit: TYF Adventures



ST DAVID’S, PEMBROKESHIRE



If you like origin stories, make a beeline for Southwest Wales, where you’ll find Britain’s smallest city. Not only is St David’s the resting place of one of the country’s founding figures, St David, it’s also the birthplace of coasteering. It sits on a peninsula that has been battered and abused by the forces of the Irish Sea, leaving a never ending series of cliffs, coves, caves and more. Porthclais is one of the best places to start out. The coastline here is characterised by slabs of rock that tumble down to the breaking waves, ideal for climbing up and plunging back down.

There are tours on offer here to suit different kinds of coasteerers. Beginners or those with young children, from the age of 8 or even younger in good weather, will stay in more sheltered areas, whilst teens and adults with more experience can go further, moving more quickly and discovering the exposed parts of the coast. Porthclais is part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Other areas of coasteering interest within the park are the Blue Hole at Abereiddy and Stackpole Quay, near the seaside town of Tenby.

ANGLESEY, GWYNEDD



Anglesey is an island separated from Gwynedd on the Welsh mainland by the Menai Straits. In recent years, it’s become an increasingly popular destination for coasteering due to the rugged beauty of its cliff-backed beaches and clear waters. One of Anglesey’s most popular coastal attractions is Porth Dafarch. This slice of sand, surrounded by a fantasy land of rock and water, is actually on the separate island of Holy Island. Do you like the idea of coasteering on an island off and island off an island? Then look no further!

Porth Dafarch is a good entry-level location for newcomers to coasteering, including children. If you’re after a more adrenaline-pumping excursion, try Trearddur Bay, just along the coast, where an extreme, multi-activity adventure takes place. Reserved for over-18s, it starts with a abseil down the cliffs, includes coasteering par excellence and ends with a zip wire!

THE GOWER PENINSULA, SWANSEA



But you don’t have to travel to the western extremities of Wales in order to find fantastic coasteering opportunities. Right outside Wales’ second city, Swansea, the Gower Peninsula is one of the most picturesque places in the country for this kind of experience. Its dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches and marine wildlife - including seals and dolphins - led to it earning the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty title in the UK. At locations such as Rhossili Beach and Oxwich there are caves to explore and tunnels hewn out of the rock to traverse.

There are experiences of 2 and 4 hours available on the Gower Peninsula. The shorter ones involve a boat ride and are suitable for less confident/experienced participants. If you’re up for a longer trip, it’s advisable that you’re able to swim confidently in sea water for up to 10 minutes at a time.


Image credit: Cornish Wave


THE GAZZLE HEADLAND, CORNWALL



While most visitors to Newquay will be waxing down their surfboards and vying for space in the breakers, you can beat the posers by exploring the natural theme park which is the Gazzle Headland. It juts out into the sea, separating Newquay town centre from Fistral Beach and sheltering the lee side from the famous Cornish surfing swells. This means that the Gazzle is not only a safe choice for first-time coasteering, but also a haven for wildlife, with populations such as important nesting populations of kittiwakes and other seabirds. This is the perfect place to experience the thrills of traversing the coast while you learn something about the natural world.

The great thing about traversing the shoreline of the Gazzle is that all the obstacles, including jumps into deep water and longer swims, are optional - there’s always another way to make progress! This means that children from 8 years old and first-timers are welcome to join guided groups.

CROYDE, DEVON



The north coast of Devon is known for the wildlands of Exmoor, the quaint harbour of Ilfracombe and the sandy expanse of Woolacombe Bay, but it’s at Croyde Bay that things get really interesting. The stretch of rocky shoreline out to Baggy Point is characterised by gently sloping ridges of rock which descend to the water and occasionally rise back above the surface some distance offshore. Whether the tide’s high or low, there’s an intricate labyrinth of cliffs and pools to discover. When you reach the headland, the views over nearby beaches, the Bristol Channel and out to Lundy Island are hard to beat.

As with most locations, there are a number of different routes and experiences on offer in and around Croyde Bay that range from child-friendly fun to intense sessions that include big jumps and cave exploration.


Image credit: Coasteering NI


ARBROATH, ANGUS



Now to Scotland and the bracing water of the North Sea. The fishing village of Arbroath sits at the foot of impressive sandstone sea cliffs, which have become the most popular coasteering site north of the border. This is a real choose-your-adventure opportunity, as there are cliff jumps that range in height from 5 to 12 epic metres above the water. On top of that this part of Angus is one of the the sunniest places in Scotland, so don’t let the frigid waters put you off!

If you want it to be, coasteering in Arbroath can be one of the most extreme experiences in Scotland and there are trips for adults only that take in the wild side of the area. But more gentle tours are an option too, so you can enjoy the majesty of the Arbroath cliffs even if it’s your first time coasteering.

BALLINTOY HARBOUR, COLERAINE



Across the Irish Sea, the island of Ireland provides numerous opportunities for amphibious adventure. In Northern Ireland, you can’t do better than taking on the Causeway Coast, site of the famous Giant’s Causeway. Ballintoy Harbour is probably the best place in the area for a good coasteer. It’s a place where an archipelago of rocky islets stretches along the coastline, creating a maze of water channels and plenty of hiding places for sea creatures and birds. Not far away is the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which connects a small rocky island to the mainland. At the base of the cliffs are caves used by fisherman and smugglers, will you dare enter?

Families, stag and hen parties and school groups are welcome to sign up for a coasteering session here. No previous experience is required to sign up, but if you want to pull off some daring stunts once you're on the rocks, check with your guide first and go for it!

KILKEE, COUNTY CLARE



In the Republic of Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way follows the dramatic west coast of the country, one of the most exposed parts of the British Isles. Make a stop at Kilkee in County Clare if you want to see what happens when the full force of the Atlantic Ocean meets the Irish landmass. Coasteering here can see you open water swimming in oceanic swells, scrambling on rugged cliffs and following the water through tunnels and arches that it has carved in the rock. That’s the extreme end of the scale, but there are also secluded coves and sheltered inlets where beginners can find their sea legs.

In fact, the minimum age for participation here is just 6 years old, so you can baptise your children in the world  of adventure sports sooner rather than later!

GREVE DE LECQ, JERSEY



We know that some people feel the cold more than others. Don’t let that put you off having a go at coasteering! You’ll be surprised by how the combination of a thick wetsuit and intense activity can keep your body running hot, but if you’re still not convinced, choose the warmest waters in the country for your first experience. The Channel Islands are a group of islands in the English Channel, closer to France than they are to the South of England, and Jersey - the largest - is our recommendation for warm-water coasteering.

But it’s not just the temperature of the water that makes coasteering in Jersey an unmissable experience. The coast around the beach known as Greve de Lecq is a genuine coasteering paradise, with jagged rock, pools full of life, and a secret cove that can only be reached by a tunnel that cuts through the cliff. While the shoreline has some dramatic gullies and jump platforms that are 10 metres above the water, excursions for youngsters can be found here alongside the more extreme options.


Image credit: Jersey Adventures


We hope that’s enough to get you started! Take a look at our complete catalogue of experiences related to coasteering in the UK and choose the one that suits you best. Special prizes for anyone who ticks all nine locations off this list!