Cornwall outdoors

Falmouth is a place blessed with captivating scenery; and a lot of people have views of the sea from their bedroom windows. In a place like this it’s hard to stay indoors when there’s so much to explore. To get more involved with the land, sand, sea and surf just pick one of the many outdoor activities to do here. You won’t be disappointed.

On the water

Falmouth is one of the UK’s most historic harbours, so if you’re interested in sailing, watersports, tall ships, sea shanties and oyster festivals, you couldn’t come to a better place. Plus if surfing’s what you’re after, a string of top-class beaches lie less than half an hour’s drive away - it’s also not unheard of to get surf in Falmouth! Here’s a small selection of what’s on offer. For other FXU (our Students' Union) clubs and societies, visit the FXU website.

Sailing

Sitting on a strip of land between two river estuaries, Falmouth is renowned for offering some of the best sailing in the UK. Learn to sail in the sheltered creeks of the Fal and Helford estuaries, or head out to the open sea for some salty exhilaration. Falmouth School of Sailing and FXU’s own Sailing Club both offer excellent tuition – start in a dinghy and work your way up.

Alternatively, you can explore the coast’s secluded beaches and waterside pubs by kayak or canoe. Hire kayaks and Canadian canoes from Elemental UK on Swanpool beach, and head along the sheltered coast to Maenporth beach or even around to the Helford River to land up and indulge in a spot of sunbathing. You can also get hold of windsurf equipment and lessons at Elemental. Or, back in town, you can hire a rowing boat for the day from Falmouth Watersports Centre.

Surfing

Then there's Cornwall’s other best-known activity, surfing – and plenty of it too. Falmouth Surf School is affordable and friendly, and offers transport, equipment and tuition at a number of Cornwall’s best surfing beaches. Gwithian is great for learning, while Porthtowan is a lovely beach that is suited to more experienced surfers. Meanwhile, Praa Sands is a good spot for south coast action.

The FXU Surf Club offers a lift-sharing scheme and makes use of the Students’ Union mini-buses to get to the best surf. They’ve won the BUCS Championships for the last two years, but don’t worry if you’re just starting out, they have everyone from complete beginners to sponsored riders on their books.

Scuba diving

The area around Falmouth and the Lizard Peninsula offers some of the best diving in the UK. With clear waters, diverse marine life and many wrecks to explore, what more could you ask for? There’s also the Scylla Reef, a superb leisure diving spot off the south coast, just this side of Plymouth. Cornish Diving in Falmouth rents diving equipment and offers big student discounts on its PADI courses.

Sea swimming

With almost 300 members, the FXU Sea Swimming Club is one of the biggest. Every Sunday, a bunch of students pitch up at Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth, have a bit of a swim and then talk about it in the Gylly Beach Café afterwards. It’s all just for fun and no one takes it too seriously.

On land

Beaches and parks

Gylly beach is the much loved student hangout all year round. It’s a 15 minute walk from the Moor in Falmouth or you can get the bus there from campus (just stay on the 41 bus after the Moor). In the winter the surfers and sea swimmers congregate there for some adrenaline-fuelled fun. Everyone else usually keeps dry and warm in the Gylly Beach Café with live music or just great company and quality food. During the summer Gylly beach is a hot spot for sunbathing, late night chilling sessions, barbeques and wacky adventures in blow-up boats.

The best park in Falmouth without a doubt is Kimberly Park, opposite the Broadmead Hotel. Its colours change throughout the seasons making it a peaceful place all year round. It’s beautifully decorated with flowers and plants, and the woodland scattered around gives it a fairytale feel. It’s perfect for having a picnic or unwinding with a book, and also great for catching the sun without getting sandy on the beach!

Walks

The walk from Gylly beach to Pendennis Castle is one well worth taking. Just follow the coastline from the beach to the castle (it’s all in a straight line) and on the way you’ll get to see ships and boats plus a fair bit of Falmouth. Look out for the secret beach.

For a gentle amble around town, it’s worth taking a stroll along the quays and piers – particularly the ones outside the Front and the Chainlocker. For a slightly longer walk, you could head from Falmouth to Penryn, which takes about half an hour. A good way to keep fit instead of catching the bus to lectures!

Of course, this is Cornwall, so if you step outside the town you’ll find hundreds of walks capturing all the breathtaking scenery the county has to offer. If you want someone to enjoy it with, try the FXU Walking Society.

Cycling

There are some great routes for cycling around Falmouth. At the big roundabout near Lidl, follow the signs to Mabe (you can even stop at the skate park when you get there). Or if you have two or three hours, then maybe try venturing to Helston for some rural vibes with grass that’s certainly greener. Or why not cycle from Bissoe (5 miles from campus) to Portreath through historic mining country, being sure not to miss out on the Portreath Beach Café at the end! If you head towards Truro, you could go to Playing Place, with a good mix of hills and level ground. Just don’t try this in rush hour! If you want some company, try the FXU Cycling Club.

If skating/BMXing is your thing, you can get a regular fix at Mabe Skate Park, just minutes from campus. For a longer session at a bigger venue pay a visit to Truro Plaza or Mount Hawke Indoor Skate Park (near Truro). Either way, for the best experience, hook up with Falmouth Skate Society.

Get out there!

One of the great things about living in Cornwall is being able to escape for the weekend. Take your tent and a BBQ for a weekend with a difference at the many small campsites all over the county. Cornwall is designed for enjoying the al fresco life, where you can pitch your tent at beach-side spots and treat yourself to a bit of fresh local fish or catch it yourself! One night away at the weekend can feel like a proper holiday, and it’s a lot cheaper!