We all know that, for the sake of the planet, we should be flying less. But when grey skies and drizzle make us dream of sun, sandy beaches, and playing in the water, it’s hard to resist looking for cheap tickets to exotic destinations. Well, let us remind you that you can find all of those things, and more, right here on the shores of the British Isles. Newquay is at the tip of England and, surrounded by the sea on all sides but one, it enjoys a mild, maritime climate - in fact, it has higher average temperatures than London. On the north coast, is the number one destination for everyone escaping from the routines and pressures of city life. It has fantastic beaches, beautiful coastal vistas and when it comes to playing in the water, there’s a raft of options available - quite literally!

You’ve probably heard of white water rafting, crashing over rapids on a fast-flowing river. There aren’t any mountains around Newquay to give rivers enough oomph to produce rapids, but, as the surf capital of the UK, there are plenty of breakers in the ocean that you can ride in a raft. Aside from surfing the waves, there are a range of other activities where rafts are the vessels of choice from coastal tours to raft building adventures. Your raft will have an inflatable structure or an improvised, DIY vibe depending on the activity that you choose, but one thing’s certain - it will take you on a journey that’s wet, wild and wonderful in this truly special part of the UK.

What kind of rafting adventure can you have in Newquay?

• Surf Rafting: Do you prefer the mountains or the beach? It’s a question that people often ask to find out something about your personality and preferences. But if you’re like us, you probably find it impossible to choose between them! You can get the best of both worlds, by taking the mountain based sport of white water rafting and relocating it to this coast. Here, the emphasis won’t be so much on travelling from one point to another no matter what obstacles appear in your path, but challenging yourself, and your crew, to catch the biggest waves and wildest breakers that rumble from the Atlantic Ocean to the beaches of the city. It’s a radical way to experience the world famous surfing here.

• Rafting Safari: If you want to go on a voyage of discovery from Newquay, a raft is one of the best choices you can make. Unlike boats, rafts float on the surface of the water and that means, along the rocky shorelines that separate the sandy beaches of this town, you can get as close as you like to cliffs, rocks and caves at the water’s edge. To the west of Newquay is Fistral Beach, the most popular surfing sport around, and this sandy bay is hemmed in by two dramatic promontories, Fistral Point and Pentire Point. These are fantastic places to go exploring, and you’re not limited to just looking, you can get hands on a rafting trip that includes coasteering activities. Climbing, jumping and swimming are combined with paddling in this adventure!

• Raft building: Another kind of hands-on experience involves constructing your own vessel on the beach, then trying it out on the water. You’ll be provided with all the materials that you need to build an effective raft, but it’s up to you to put them together correctly! Guides will be on hand to give as many pointers as necessary, and we recommend that you listen to their advice because the raft is going to be put through its paces once you set sail. Will you sink or swim?

How long does an experience last?

- It all depends on how you want to enjoy the fun on a simple, and simply fantastic, raft. If your chosen destination is the peaks and breaks of the waves that come crashing onto Newquay’s beaches, you’ll spend a happy 1.5 to 2 hours out on the water. The Atlantic generates a pretty constant series of waves of differing sizes and strengths, so you’ll be able to build some confidence on the smaller ones before taking a wild ride on the biggest.

- There’s a huge amount to see in the rugged zone where the land meets the sea. Whatever coastal feature you can think of, you’re sure to find it here. Cliffs, coves, caves, islands, tidal pools, estuaries, Newquay has it all, and you don’t have to travel a long way to see a whole lot of it. Watergate Bay, to the North of town, is a great place to start a raft safari, and in just 1 hour, or 2 hours if you prefer, you’ll paddle to some breathtaking locations, and maybe get a chance to get out of the raft and onto the rocks too.

- Raft building is a two part activity. First of all, you need to use all your engineering instincts and creativity to put together a seaworthy vessel using basic materials like plastic drums and wooden poles. Then, you need to put on your captain’s hat and embark on your maiden voyage - there aren¡t any icebergs here but we hope you don’t end up like the Titanic! Of course, the secret ingredient throughout is teamwork, and a 2 hour session is enough to form some strong bonds between the members of the group.

Requirements to do this activity

The inflatable rafts that can take you on a coastal voyage or to catch the waves are big enough for 6 people, plus a guide. For a radical surfing activity, everyone in the group needs to be over 12 years old, but that doesn’t mean that the youngest family members can’t go rafting in Newquay - from 8 years old you can take them on a safari, or even 5 years old if you organise the trip privately.

When it comes to raft building, the more the merrier! You need a group of at least 4 to be able to construct a raft, but bigger groups are very welcome. Your youth organisation, colleagues from work, or friends and family, can be split up into several teams and compete against each other to build the best raft on the beaches and outshine all the others on the water.

You don’t need to travel to a distant land for adventure to remember! Come and find the fun with us.