Charteroak Holiday Lodges in Cornwall
If getting out on the water is your idea of adventure, then you’re in the right place. Cornwall boasts a whole array of activities to get stuck into, many of which are within easy reach of both our Cornish sites. Whether it’s learning to surf, exploring on two wheels or heading out on a fishing trip to catch your supper, here are just a few ideas to help you engage your adventurous side.
One of the first things you’ll want to do when you arrive at your lodge is head to the beach, so why not pair this with a day out on the water? Polkerris beach is just over a half-hour drive from both Southern Halt and Stonerush Lakes and combines an idyllic sandy Cornish cove with first-class water sports facilities. It’s also an ideal destination for open water sea swimming. Whether it’s the thought of windsurfing or sailing that piques your interest, Polkerris Beach Watersports run RYA accredited taster courses for both, and it has to be said that moving across the water, in this incredible natural environment, is a truly wonderful feeling.
Perhaps you fancy something a little more leisurely. If so, why not give stand up paddle boarding (SUP) a go? With roots in Hawaii, SUP derives from surfing, but requires a rider to stand or kneel on the board and use a paddle to move. It’s also evolved into a much more leisurely pursuit, particularly on calmer days, making it perfect for gently traversing the hidden coves and inlets along Cornwall’s craggy coastline, exploring areas that are simply inaccessible from land. Polkerris Beach Watersports offer beginner lessons, tours and kit hire, perfect for exploring the coast at your own pace.
Another wonderful way to get out and explore the local waterways is by hiring a kayak. Surrounded by wooded slopes and meadows, most of which is owned by the National Trust, the river Fowey is a natural haven, home to a myriad of wildlife. It’s absolutely perfect for a kayak, especially on a sunny day when you can glide gracefully over the still crystalline waters and get up close to species such as herons, wildfowl, cormorants and even kingfi shers! Fowey Kayak Hire offers hire rates for half and full days, as well as rates for the full week, if that’s what you need.
Of course, for some, kayaking and SUP may not offer the ‘rush’ factor that gives outdoor adventure the edge they’re looking for. If this is the case, you can always head to north Cornwall and visit the Camel Estuary, where Camel Ski School, headed up by Charlie Toogood, offers a host of fun inflatable rides and adrenaline-fuelled action. In addition to waterskiing and wakeboarding for all levels, Charlie and the team also offer wakesurfing, an addictive and exhilarating combination of surfing and wakeboarding. As Charlie explains: “Basically, it’s like surfing an endless wave, and it’s a huge amount of fun!”
There’s also The Island Café, floating in the middle of the estuary. The Island Café is perfect for sitting back with a delicious coffee, or enjoying an evening meal with the family from the locally-sourced barbecue menu. You can also attend Island Yoga sessions here, and there’s nothing quite like starting the day with a spot of yoga surrounded by the water.
All this talk of ‘on the water’ activities is enough to inspire anybody to make the most of the coast, but what about venturing ‘under’ it? Cornwall offers some of the most spectacular diving in the UK and there’s a surprisingly diverse array of marine life to see, even just a short distance from shore. Diving is also exceptionally relaxing, but for anybody new to it it’s important to learn with professional, qualified instructors with intimate knowledge of the local dive sites. Fortunately, Viewpoint Diving is located just a 42-minute drive away from Southern Halt. This PADI 5 Star Dive Centre tailors each dive to your ability, so whether you’re an experienced diver or completely new to the sport, you and yours will be in safe hands whilst exploring Cornwall’s underwater world.
Cornwall’s rugged landscape is also home to a number of quarries, which once provided much-needed employment and were an important aspect of the local economy. Having fallen mostly into disuse, a number now serve as natural hubs of outdoor adventure. One such is Adrenaline Quarry, just over ten minutes from both our Cornish sites. Previously known as Clicker Tor Quarry, Adrenaline Quarry has since been flooded, now offering a whole host of fun both on and off the water. Activities include go karting, coasteering, axe throwing, a 490 metre long and 50 metre high zip wire, a giant swing over the water and, of course, an inflatable aquapark. Kids and grown ups alike can jump, slide and bounce their way around the inflatables and, if you prefer to sit back and watch them from the shore, you can enjoy a coffee and a bite courtesy of Blakes Bakery in Liskeard, which delivers fresh Cornish pasties to the site.
On a hot day, you may be tempted by the prospect of an ice cream and, having been in the business for more than 25 years, Callestick Farm ice cream is some of the tastiest you’re likely to find in Cornwall!
For those who’d rather stay dry, we have the two-wheeled approach. Linking the towns of Padstow, Wadebridge, Wenfordbridge and Bodmin via 18 miles of Cornish countryside, the Camel Trail also leads you along a disused railway and the Camel Estuary – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that proffers both stunning views and occasional sightings of some of Cornwall’s incredible (and often rare) wildlife. It’s a highlight for residents all across the Duchy, as well as thousands of visitors every year, and even if your trusty bike has found itself resigned to a rusty shed corner, worry not! You can hire bikes from Bridge Bike Hire in Wadebridge at the start of the trail. Whatever you need – be it special needs bikes with wheelchairs, trailers for dogs, child seats, balance bikes, or mountain bikes – Bridge Bike Hire has you covered, also offering super-comfort hybrid bikes for adults.
Perhaps you’re hoping to explore a little closer to your lodge. If so, you can make the most of your trip on two wheels with hire bikes from Go ByCycle. Offering high quality bike hire and promoting a healthy lifestyle, the Go ByCycle team has everything you could possibly need, from British-made steel and carbon fibre road bikes and German electric touring bikes, to family steeds of all kinds. What’s more, they can deliver your rentals straight to your accommodation, to the train station, or even to the airport, meaning you can hit the trails as soon as you arrive.
There’s so much to do in Cornwall’s great outdoors, and both our sites in Cornwall are in prime positions to enjoy the very best of it. Whether it’s just the two of you hoping to enjoy a leisurely bike ride, or you’re holidaying with energetic grandchildren, Cornwall’s outdoors is there for everybody to enjoy.
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