Cornish Rock & Sea Tors

About Us

Cornish Rock Tors is an adventure sports provider run by two friends in Polzeath (North Cornwall) with a passion for extreme adventure activities. Simon and Matthew between them hold instructors qualifications in coasteering, sea kayaking, rock climbing and power boating. A perfect combination of skills, allowing you to enjoy the rugged and beautiful coast of North Cornwall under their professional and friendly guidance.

The North Cornish Coast is an absolute playground for the adventure enthusiast, with a stunning coastline and plentiful wildlife. We provide world-class outdoor experiences in the most awe inspiring surroundings for individuals, family groups, school/youth groups, stag and hen parties and corporate teams.

We offer tailor made adventure packages for complete beginners all the way through to seasoned adrenaline junkies, covering half day trips to multiple day courses in Climbing, Coasteering, Kayaking and Power Boating. Come join us for the best adventure in North Cornwall.

We are based on Polzeath beach itself, where you will find our giant stripy blue gazebo on the sand outside the Surfside Café. Please come over for a chat and see what adventures we can organise for you whilst you're here in North Cornwall.

Cornish Rock Tors Ltd was started in 2006 and we are proud to say that we hold an AALA (Adventure Activities Licensing Authority) license for all our activities and that all our instructors hold the relevant National Governing Body Awards for all the activities we provide.

Coasteering

Try the newest and most exciting adventure sport in Cornwall. This is high-octane exploration of the rugged coastline with something for everyone: climb along the cliffs, swim through white water and into caves, and leap off progressively higher jumps. Investigate unseen areas of the beautiful coast under the supervision of our seasoned guides, all qualified beach lifeguards and trained coasteering instructors. Join us away from the crowded beaches and experience the wild beauty of North Cornwall's coastline.

All our coasteering venues are within a short drive of Polzeath Beach. Typically a session runs for three hours with two hours in the water and on the cliffs. Introductory, intermediate and advanced routes are available. Participants must be 10 years or over and competent swimmers (i.e. be able to swim 50M in a pool unaided).

We provide all equipment; buoyancy device, helmet, a super warm 5mm winter wetsuit and thick soled wetsuit boots. If you prefer to wear you own wetsuit or your own boots then feel free to bring them along.

Cornish Rock Tors is a member of the British Coasteering Federation and is licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service and adheres to all their safety guidelines.

Introduction to Coasteering
Port Quinn Coasteer (4 miles from Polzeath)

Explore the caves, scramble over rock platforms, climb above deep water and take on jumps (all jumps are entirely optional). Port Quinn is a beautiful and historic natural port and as such is more protected from ocean swell than our other venues. This protection from the swell and all the excellent climbing and jumping features makes Port Quinn the perfect introduction venue.

Port Quinn is a requirement for under 18’s wanting to try out our intermediate venues.

The Introduction to Coasteering costs £30 per person. We provide all equipment; buoyancy device, helmet, a super warm 5mm winter wetsuit and wetsuit boots.

Intermediate Coasteering
Port Gaverne (8 miles from Polzeath) or Polzeath Coasteers

Both of these destinations are excellent coasteering venues but with very different features. Port Gaverne offers awesome cave exploration, suberb climbing routes and sensational jumps. Polzeath is a coastal journey and exploration taking in cave swims, rock scrambling, brilliant swell features and big jumps.

You can expect some good swell, involving climbing and some heady jumps. Intermediate venues require the participant to be confident in the water, we recommend you try the Introduction session first (this is a requirement for under 18s)

The intermediate coasteering costs £35 per person. We provide all equipment; buoyancy device, helmet, a super warm 5mm winter wetsuit and wetsuit boots.

Advanced Coasteering
Secret Venue

The advanced route is only available on request and is designed for the experienced coasteerer who requires a more significant test of their skills and fitness. The route takes approximately four hours and covers a long journey, taking in enormous cave systems, open water swims, rock scrambling, hard climbing and large jumps all with appreciable swell.

The advanced coasteering costs £50 per person as we use reduced instructor ratios. We provide all equipment; buoyancy device, helmet, a super warm 5mm winter wetsuit and wetsuit boots.

Power Coasteering
Several Secret Venues

The ultimate in coasteering thrills. Speed out of Rock on our sister company’s 6.3m RIB Mor Cannow to one of our secret and otherwise totally inaccessible routes. Great climbing, deep caves and awesome jumps in incredible remote surroundings.

The power coasteering costs £70 per person. We provide all equipment; buoyancy device, helmet, a super warm 5mm winter wetsuit and wetsuit boots. Participants must have previously completed an intermediate course.

Sea Kayaking

Exploring the North Cornish Coastline by sea kayak is simply breathtaking. Discover secret coves, unspoilt sandy beaches, venture into otherwise inaccessible caves and paddle through lagoon like gullies.

North Cornwall is also host to a wealth of marine and bird life. You maybe lucky enough to see Basking Sharks (plankton not people eating), Dolphins, Seals, Sun Fish, Sea lemons, Turnstones, Terns, Razorbills and Puffins.

We tend to use double sit-on-top kayaks which are particularly stable and that means you can just sit back and enjoy the scenery. Absolutely no previous kayaking experience is required as your instructor will introduce you to the boat and all the basic strokes.

Your guide is a trained Zoologist and keen naturalist as well as being a British Canoe Union qualified coach. With these skills and our local knowledge we can share this amazing piece of coast with you.

All our kayaking venues are within a short drive of Polzeath Beach. Typically a session runs for three hours with over two hours in the water. Introductory, intermediate and advanced routes are available. Participants must be 8 years or over and competent swimmers (i.e. be able to swim 25M in a pool unaided). We do prefer under 14’s to be accompanied by an adult.

Introduction to Sea Kayaking
Port Quinn (4 miles from Polzeath)

After a short safety briefing we’re off onto the water. Port Quinn is a natural fishing port and as such is protected almost entirely from ocean swell. This means Port Quinn is the perfect place to get to know your boat and learn the ropes.

The introduction to sea kayaking costs £25 per person. We provide all equipment (Buoyancy device, Helmet, wetsuit and wetsuit boots) but if you prefer to wear your own wetsuit or boots then feel free to bring them along.

Intermediate Sea Kayaking
Port Gaverne (8 miles from Polzeath)

We launch from Port Gaverne beach, familiarise ourselves with the boats and strokes, then head around the coast through a rock channel locally known as ‘the Gut’. From here we’ll explore giant cliff-backed zawns and go on to discover the hidden Cartway cove and its beautiful caves. We often see seals here and at certain times of the year several bird species nest on the cliffs in this area and your guide will be only too pleased to introduce you to them all.

The intermediate sea kayaking costs £30 per person. We provide all equipment (Buoyancy device, Helmet, wetsuit and wetsuit boots) but if you prefer to wear you own wetsuit or your own boots then feel free to bring them along.

Advanced Sea Kayaking

Longer, more committing routes and tailor made trips and tuition in closed cockpit kayaks are available for the more experienced paddler on request. Explore and rock-hop around some of the most beautiful and wild coastline in the UK, with sea kayaking routes anywhere around Boscastle, Port Isaac, Polzeath, Padstow and the Seven Bays area stretching down to Newquay.

The Advanced Sea Kayaking typically costs from £80 per day, please call us for current prices. We provide all equipment including kayaks, paddles, buoyancy devices, helmets, wetsuits and wetsuit boots but if you prefer to bring along any of your own gear then please feel free.

BCU Courses and Qualifications

For those who want to take their kayaking a little further we can offer BCU accredited courses from 1* to 5* with our highly qualified trainers. We offer courses and training in all four disciplines: Sea Kayaking, Surf Kayaking, White Water Kayaking and Open Boating.

Please call us for availability and prices.

Climbing

Experience the buzz of vertical movement over rock. Whether you are a complete beginner, expanding your horizons from indoor climbing or a budding rock monkey, our qualified and experienced instructors can guarantee you a great day out. Day courses run for different skill levels at a choice of venues in Cornwall.

Our climbing instructors have experience climbing all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the World and hold the relevant qualifications from the Mountain Leader Training Board for our activities.

We provide lunch and all equipment. Also unlike many other companies we believe it is essential to provide rock shoes for you to get the most out of your day. All ages and abilities are very welcome.

Introduction to Rock

In the morning you'll learn how to belay a climber, tie yourself into a rope and pick up tips on climbing techniques while trying a number of exciting and varied routes on top quality granite. Lunch is provided and then after a short rest we finish off with an afternoon of abseiling.

The full days climbing costs £60 per person. Equipment (Including rock shoes) and lunch are provided.

Intermediate Rock
After the introduction to rock, why not push yourself a little further and get a real feel for technical rock climbing. Experience a different, more advanced venue, learn more skills, and work your way through progressively longer, harder routes. Several venues are available for this course including Bodmin Moor and the Sennen sea cliffs near Lands End.

The full days climbing costs £80 per person. Equipment (Including rock shoes) and lunch are provided.

Advanced Rock
The next step to becoming a proficient free climber: With a maximum of 1:2 instructor/client ratio, you'll learn to lead-belay, 'second' a lead climber up a technical route, place protective gear, and achieve a greater understanding of the equipment and rope systems of the traditional rock climber. You may even be able to bag your first trad lead climb.

The full days climbing costs £100 per person. Equipment (Including rock shoes) and lunch are provided.

One To One Instruction

We also provide highly rewarding, intensive courses of one or more days, for individuals wanting to increase their knowledge and skill in a personalised learning environment.

Prices from £120 per day, please call us to discuss your requirements. Equipment (Including rock shoes) and lunch are provided.

Powerboat Tours

RIB Sea Safaris with Cornish Sea Tours Ltd

What better way to explore the awe inspiring coastal scenery and wildlife of North Cornwall than by powerboat? Our boat is a 6.3m RIB called Mor Cannow (Cornish for Sea Song) based at Rock on the Camel Estuary just over the river from Padstow. We meet at our office on the Rock pontoon and then away to sea for a boat trip of a lifetime.

We run trips to various locations from Newquay to Bude and regularly see wildlife such as Basking Sharks, Dolphins, Seals, Sun Fish and all sorts of sea birds including Puffins! We carry several pairs of binoculars on board so you can see them all close up!

Your skipper holds a Commercially Endorsed Advanced Powerboat Certificate and is also a trained Zoologist and keen naturalist.

The tours run for approximately 2 hours and all safety equipment is provided. We do recommend bringing a warm layer, a waterproof jacket and trousers and this Summer perhaps some sun cream.

Rock to the Rumps Tour
Heading out from Rock the tour crosses Hayle Bay (Polzeath) then around the stunning Pentire Headland past Newland Island. We then pass under the looming 350ft laval cliffs of Pentire as we head towards the Iron-age hill forts of The Rumps, passing sheltered reefs where we often see seals.

The Rumps Tour costs £45 per adult and £35 per child under 14. The tours run for approximately 2 hours and all safety equipment is provided. We do recommend bringing a warm layer, a waterproof jacket and sun cream.

Rock to Gulland Tour
From Rock we head West around Stepper Point to the Butter Hole and then straight offshore to Gulland Rock. Gulland is a large Island which the local Seals use as a nursery, here you’ll almost certainly see these inquisitive beautiful creatures.

The Gulland Tour costs £45 per adult and £35 per child under 14. The tours run for approximately 2 hours and all safety equipment is provided. We do recommend bringing a warm layer, a waterproof jacket and sun cream.

Port Gaverne to Tintagel Boat Tour

We launch from the historic fishing village of Port Gaverne and head out East to see the cathedral like caves of Cartway Cove. Next we encounter the breeding colonies of sea birds Including Razorbills, Guillemots and Fulmars. Then off past the slate mining town of Trebarwith onto King Arthur’s Tintagel and Merlin’s Cave. Offshore here we regularly see dolphins.

The Tintagel Tour costs £45 per adult and £35 per child under 14. The tours run for approximately 2 hours and all safety equipment is provided. We do recommend bringing a warm layer, a waterproof jacket and sun cream.

Safety

Cornish Rock Tors Ltd has an unfailing commitment to safety and best practice. All our instructors are professionally qualified and all of our activities are licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (License number L6307/R1528), who ensure our compliance with nationally recognised standards of best working practice. We also have Technical Advisors for all our activities who as experts in their own fields ensure we maintain our high standards. All our activities are designed to perfectly balance the thrill of adventure with proven risk management to produce the absolute best in outdoor experience.

Cornish Rock Tors Ltd occasionally employs freelance instructors for the summer, all these instructors hold the relevant national governing body awards for the activities they teach and have also undergone thorough in-house training.

Cornish Rock Tors Ltd. has a comprehensive child protection policy based on guidelines provided by Sport England and is available on request.