Living in Cornwall

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

Of course, there’s surfing, too, and plenty of it. 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. The FXU Surf Club offers a lift-sharing scheme and uses the Students’ Union mini-buses to get to the best surf. Don't worry if you’re just starting out, everyone from complete beginners to sponsored riders goes along.

If it’s too windy to surf, try kitesurfing. Beginners can book lessons at the Extreme Academy at Watergate Bay on the north coast, or through Mobius kite school, who are based at Perranporth but offer tuition all over west Cornwall.

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. Cornwall Divers in Falmouth rents diving equipment and offers big student discounts on its PADI courses.

Sea swimming

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. There's a hardcore of year-round stalwarts, and up to 150 members overall. It’s just for fun, surprisingly enjoyable, and no one takes it too seriously.

On land

Cornwall’s unique location and diverse landscape mean that you have some of the UK’s best outdoor activities right on your doorstep.

The Adventure Centre at Lusty Glaze (Newquay) is a good place to start, perfect for all your adrenalin needs, on and off land, in and out of water. Try your hand at coasteering or abseiling, or step off a cliff into thin air and fly across the 750ft zip run from one side of the cove to the other, before lowering yourself 30ft to the beach. Good surf, a lovely café and friendly instructors make this a perfect spot to settle in for the day.

If skating/BMXing is your thing, then you can get a regular fix at Mabe Skate Park, just minutes from campus. For something more sophisticated, try the massive Mount Hawke Indoor Skate Park a mile and a half inland from Porthtowan: it’s one of the best in the country. Other ways to get your heart pumping in Cornwall include old favourites like paintball and quad-biking (near Truro), and go-karting (near Newquay).

But Cornwall offers more than just adrenalin. A great (and cheap) way to get outdoors is simply to walk or ride your bike, with hundreds of coastal and moorland routes to choose from. The walk from Gilly beach to Pendennis Castle is well worth taking, too: follow the coastline from the beach to the castle and, on the way, you’ll see ships and boats plus a fair bit of Falmouth. Look out for the secret beach (that's the only clue you're getting). For a different kind of beauty, try Lizard Point to Kynance Cove; it’s only two miles long but you’ll get enough amazing cliff top views in that short stretch to last you a whole term! Plus you’ll pass the Polpeor Café, which has the joint accolade of being ‘the most southerly café in mainland Britain’ and provider of delicious cakes worth writing home about. But don’t forget to leave room for something from Ann’s Pasties, believe us, it’s worth it.

Beaches and parks

Closer to home, Gilly beach is much loved and well used by students all year: it’s a 15-minute walk from the Moor in Falmouth, or a bus ride from campus (stay on the 41 after the Moor). In winter, surfers and sea swimmers congregate for adrenaline-fuelled fun; everyone else usually keeps dry and warm in the Gilly Beach Café with live music, or just great company and quality food. In summer, the beach is a hot spot for sun-bathing, late-night chilling sessions, barbecues and experiments with blow-up boats.

Falmouth's loveliest park is Kimberly Park, opposite the Broadmead Hotel. It’s beautifully decorated with flowers and plants, and its scattered woodland gives it a fairytale feel. It’s perfect for picnics, unwinding with a book or just catching some sun without all the sand ...

Get out there!

One of the great things about Cornwall is how simple it is to escape somewhere amazing. Take your tent and a barbecue to one of its many small campsites for a weekend with a difference. You can pitch your tent beach-side, treat yourself to some fresh local fish, or even catch one yourself. One weekend night away can feel like you've had a proper holiday, but without a proper holiday's impact on your bank account ...