We love adventures in Cornwall just as much as we love food and music, so to make your festival experience even more incredible we’ve pulled together 10 amazing outdoor activities that you can either add on to your festival ticket, or do for free in the beautiful Cornish countryside surrounding Rock Oyster Festival! Which one will you choose?
- Coasteering
Coasteering with Cornish Coasteering is everything you always wanted to do at the seaside when you were a kid but weren’t allowed! Let us guide your adventure safely as you swim, climb and jump your way along the cliffs, play in the waves and explore sea caves. Gain a unique perspective of the stunning Cornish coastline under the watchful eye of our qualified and experienced instructors.
Coasteering is a great activity for everyone as it is open to all abilities and with no previous experience required. We tailor our sessions to match group ability whether it’s your first coasteer or you’re a seasoned veteran!
Sessions run for 3.5 – 4hrs with all equipment and your shuttle bus there included in the price. Minimum age is 8 and all under 12’s must be accompanied by an adult. For a look at what you could get up to watch this Cornish Coasteering video.
This experience is an additional cost to your Rock Oyster ticket and takes place off site – find out more here.
2. Sufari Trips
Taking a surf adventure with Cornish Surfing is a great way to begin your surfing odyssey, and what easier way to start than with a surf lessons at one of Cornwall’s best surfing spots… Polzeath Beach. Learn the essential skills of catching waves, paddling out and of course standing up, under the watchful eyes of our experienced instructors. Surfari sessions last 3.5 – 4hours and our team take you from the festival site to the beach in their very own surf mobile so you can just sit back and enjoy the ride!
Cornish Surfing is open to everyone, with no previous experience required. Sessions are tailored to match the group’s abilityAll equipment is included in the price including travel to and from the beach. Minimum age is 8 and all under 12’s must be accompanied by an adult.
This experience is an additional cost to your Rock Oyster ticket and takes place off site – find out more here.
3. Sea Kayaking
Sea Kayaking with Cornish Kayaking is a great way to explore the Camel Estuary and Cornish Coastline. The Cornish Kayaking Company will guide you safely along sheltered beaches and coves, to play in the waves, and rest on hidden bays along the way. Take the adventure bus straight from site to join us for an unforgettable 3.5-4 hour adventure setting you up for the rest of the day!
Kayaking is open to all abilities, with no previous experience required. Learn the essential kayak skills under the watchful eyes of our experienced guides. All equipment is included in the price including travel to and from the beach. Minimum age is 8 any under 12’s must be accompanied by an adult.
This experience is an additional cost to your Rock Oyster ticket and takes place off site – find out more here.
4. Mussel Beach Workout
Our friends across the water at North Coast Fitness will be getting the toughies out of bed early over the weekend with their high energy fitness workouts! Think HIIT with some fun in it, or just whatever you can manage with a hangover!
This event happens on the Rock Oyster Festival site on both Saturday and Sunday mornings at 9am and is free. Meet at Mussel Beach and get stuck in! Find out more here.
5. Foraging
Caroline Davey, founder of Cornish wild food foraging and cookery school Fat Hen, will have you wandering the hedgerows and scouring tidelines, to gather treasures that frame the seaside and surrounding foliage.
Caroline is a forager, teacher, cook and mum of 3 who has lived in Cornwall for 23 years. She set up Fat Hen in 2007, whilst on maternity leave with her second child. A former professional ecologist, she is passionate about living close to nature and has a strong ethos of using good quality wild and local ingredients, sourced within a few miles of home.
Pre-booking essential. Spaces are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment.
This experience is an additional cost to your Rock Oyster ticket and takes place in the surounds of the festival site – find out more here.
- Badger Forest School
“Connecting people with nature and each other” and supporting play, nature exploration and creativity, Badger Forest School will take children on woodland walkabouts to truly immerse themselves in nature. Featuring a whole host of creative activities ranging from campfire cooking, whittling, fossil hunting, woodland crafts, face painting and clay workshops. Badger’s passion is to support children’s confidence, self esteem and wellbeing through learner inspired, hands-on experiences. Come and find them in our beautiful wooded garden.
This is a free activity carried out in our copse area on site, 11-5pm Saturday and Sunday. (children must be accompanied by an adult). Click here for more information.
- Coastal walks
Break in your walking boots now because epic Cornish trails await, from stages of the iconic South West Coast Path to rambles over ancient Bodmin Moor. Grab your map and sunnies and head out into the fresh salty air to discover Cornwall at its best: on your own two feet.
We’ve rounded up 10 of our favourite Cornish walks here.
- Swimming at Daymer Bay
You’ll find Daymer Bay between Rock and Polzeath, not far from the Rock Oyster festival site. It’s a glorious curved beach flanked by dunes and headlands that is another ‘best beach’ contender. The outgoing tide leaves a mirror reflection on its smooth, gradually shelving sands which, at low tide, link up with Rock itself. Blissfully peaceful and with safe waters for bathing, this is a magnificent spot to chew over the fat of an awesome Cornish weekend, before hitting the road for home. You can find out more about some of Cornwall’s best beaches here.
If you’re after more swimming inspiration, we’re very excited to welcome wild-swimmers, Matt and Sophie – author’s of ‘Wild Swimming Walks: Cornwall’, to Rock Oyster Festival! We’ll be announcing details of their swimming activities available during the festival soon, but for now, check out their beautiful new book for local swims around Cornwall, including our very own Camel Estuary.
- SUP Yoga
So you’ve tried yoga… but have you tried yoga on a paddleboard?! Nay’s SUP Yoga Nay offers a truly freeing experience, sitting on a paddle board on the water with the sea and the sky as your view. The mind can be heard and has a chance to find clarity while you practice your balance too.
This experience is an additional cost to your Rock Oyster ticket and takes place from the festival site – find out more and book here.
- Wild Running
This is why you packed your trainers! For those wanting a reason to use them while they’re away, this is your moment of you-time, exploring the coastal paths and beyond.
Discover the breathtaking scenery of the captivating camel estuary with a morning wild run led by Cornwall’s very own, Jordan Gardener PT. Shake off that hangover and breathe in the fresh sea air with a steady run from 8:00am on Saturday and Sunday morning. After meeting at Mussel Beach, you will be guided across the open grassy fields and through the winding countryside paths, experiencing the picturesque sights of the Cornwall coastline along the way.
Find out about all of Rock Oyster Festival ticket options and add-on activities here.