Carlyon Bay, Cornwall, England; The Jet-Ski Tour

The Escape

 

Finding myself between jobs, I took the opportunity for a road trip. Courtesy of some amazing friends, I had accommodation readily available so drove 6 hours through the night to reach them. McDonalds breakfast presented on the doorstep as their wake-up call, I dumped my bags and ran back out. I saw many places that week but here I will speak of one I returned to multiple times.

 

Armed with a bikini and a bodyboard, I drove down to one of the local beaches, Carlyon Bay. Parking was just £5 all day (free if you arrive before security – I think I was there at 07:00). The stairs felt like they were never-ending, and that was just on the way down. After a day in the sea, my poor little sea legs could barely cope with going back up. But I digress, one can bemoan their lack of fitness later.

 

The Beach

 

Arriving at the base of the stairs, you are presented with bins, a toilet block, and the rear of the shops and restaurants. Whilst unsightly, it is extremely clean, and everyone was doing their bit to keep it as such. Once you walk between the buildings, the beach opens up to a beautiful expanse of golden sands. Looks can be deceiving though, this is actually shingle and hurts to walk on – pack some shoes!

 

The bars offer various beverages, there’s a multitude of food on offer, and even a tea hut offering a great selection of cake. There are picnic benches and a covered area offering shade.

 

The Mussel Shoal pop-up served the best muscle chowder, I wanted seconds.

 

Alongside this, you’ll find shops equipped with the typical beach requirements, including buckets and spades, sunglasses, and flip-flops. Overall, a rather large selection of goods in a small space.

 

On my last day here, my friends joined me for the live music event they had. Showcasing a local band, Tregony Teachers, the drinks flowed, people danced and we had a wonderful evening together, despite the rain.

 

Extras

 

The highlight of my week was when I went out on a jet-ski, somehow picking the perfect day with regard to both weather and sea conditions. I opted for the solo safari, 90-min of 55mph cruising, with the odd stop off for photos and views. We saw an incredible bloom of jellyfish that stretched as far as the eye could see. Even my guide was stunned, having never seen anything like it in all the years he had worked there.

 

Still excited from seeing this spectacle, we saw a commotion further out to sea and directed ourselves toward it, hoping for whales. It wasn’t a whale; it was a pod of dolphins! As we jumped the waves to follow from a safe distance, we watched them break the surface and frolic between themselves. Halting our engines, we gave them the respect they deserved, and they eventually went on their way.

 

As we admired the spectacle, sat in the middle of the ocean, we noticed a wall of mist headed in from the deep, so we turned around and ventured closer to shore.

 

Broadly grinning after the incredible nature shows and laughing at how lucky we were to dodge the bad weather so far, we found ourselves in close proximity to another pod of dolphins. Only this time, as we killed the engines again, they surfaced less than 6 metres from us. I could only watch in awe as a small common dolphin breached to my right. Observing him, I felt as though time stood still.

 

Round Two

 

After the excitement of the jet-ski, and watching the Go-Pro footage taken, I settled myself with an IPA and soaked up some rays. After a few rainy days, it was just what was needed. Still needing a little excitement in my life, I wandered back down to Waverunner Safaris and hired a paddle board. An hour of paddling along the coves, seeing yet more jellyfish, and seal-spotting, I cruised back to base. I had removed my wet-suit for the paddleboard and felt a little vulnerable with the amount of jellyfish around.

 

I went paddle-boarding alone and as I paddled past the first cove, I realised I was in the ocean by myself. No-one could see me, the beach was now out of sight, and I made a mental note to ensure at least one person knew where I was in future. It took a while before I reached the next beach and saw people. There hadn’t even been a boat or jet-ski passing, as far as I know, during that first 20-minutes. Be mindful of your safety; the sea can be extremely unforgiving.

 

Paddle-boarding is not as difficult as I initially thought, having managed to stand up after a couple of attempts (I only fell in once…). I recommend giving it a go, you can travel a long distance without sacrificing as much energy as you would if swimming.

 

There are a whole host of other activities to choose from, including kayaking, so have fun seeing how much you can fit in. Surfing is also available at other sites.

 

Dog-Friendly

 

This is a dog-friendly beach so don’t be surprised if you have an overexcited snout peering over your beer can or rummaging in your lunchbox. As a fan of dogs, I made quite a few furry friends on my visits here but I appreciate it is not everyone’s cup of tea. I almost lost my Cornish pasty to a Golden Retriever.

 

Conclusion

 

Visit Cornwall! I will repeat myself; there is always something to do, something to see, and something to enjoy in Cornwall.

 

Carlyon Bay had clear water that was great for swimming in, while the jet-ski and paddle-boarding offered some amazing views of the coastline.

 

You will not be disappointed, give the guys a wave at Waverunner Safaris, and have yourself a fabulous holiday.