Our Top Picks for Kayaking Spots in the South West
Porlock Weir and Porlock Bay, Exmoor.
© Exmoor Adventures
Adjoining the weir is Porlock Bay with a spectacular backdrop of the Exmoor coastline. Hours can be spent here paddling up the coast and admiring the scenery, and keeping an eye out for porpoises, fish and bird life.
Kayak Hire Providers in this area:Exmoor Adventures
Port Isaac, Cornwall
© Cornish Coast Adventures
Explore large sea caves, plenty of stunning coastline and some secluded coves, along with an array of sea and bird life.
Spot fulmars, cormorants, shags, oyster Catchers, razor Bills, guillimots, turnstones, black backed gulls, gannets and lots of other sea birds.
Kayaking here you might also spot grey seals and sunfish; you might even be lucky enough to dolphins and basking sharks on our trips. Not to mention the amazing world of the rock pools and tide lines that hide some of the most interesting creatures!
Kayak Hire Providers in this area: Cornish Coast Adventures
Kynance Cove, Lizard Penninsular
© Ianwool | Dreamstime.com – Kynance Cove Cornwall Photo
Cornwall has a plethora of options for kayakers of all abilities. On calm days the coast makes for great exploring of the beaches and cliffs, even for novice paddlers. On windier days with a bit more swell, it is the perfect opportunity to get in some kayak surfing on the waves. Pictured above is Kynance Cove, on the Lizard Penninsula. This is one of the most popular kayaking destinations in Cornwall due to the number of small sheltered beaches, cliffs and outcrops.
Kayak Hire Providers in this area: To explore this area by boat, it’s easiest to have your own kayak as there are no providers really close by. The Lizard Penninsular and surrounding area are full of campsites and lovely local B&B’s – perfect for an active weekend away.
Torbay, South Devon
© Reach Outdoors
Explore some of Torbays ancient coastline, visit remote beaches and go in search or marine wildlife in your kayak. Paddle through and around the dramatic geological formations and see the results of millions of years of creation.
Kayak Hire Providers in this area: Reach Outdoors, Sea Kayak Torbay
Minehead, Somerset
© Channel Adventure
For those coming from the Bristol area, this is a really easy location to get to, and for a day out kayaking it provides everything you will want! This lovely stretch of coastline comprises or wide beaches interspersed with tall cliffs. Minhead town is overlooked by North Hill, and is just outside the boundaries of Exmoor National Park. The ancient cliff exposures around the shoreline are dramatic and fossils are often exposed.
Kayak Hire Providers in this area: Channel Adventure
Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, Dorset
© kBandara | Durdle Door
Durdle Door and Lulworth cove are situated on the Jurassic coast, in Dorset and are brilliant places to kayak. Seeing this dramatic World Heritage coastline from a kayak is a fantastic experience. Lulworth cove is a beautiful round, sheltered cove, one of the finest examples of such a landform in the world. Durdle Door is a natural limstone arch (pictured) which you can paddle through. The surrounding coastline is famous for fossils and many other interesting geological features which you can view from the sea. It is a tourist trap in July and August however so we would advise going either in early summer or autumn to have the best experience here.
Kayak Hire Providers in this area: Jurassic Coast Activites
Where are your favourite locations to kayak? Comment below!
Happy Kayaking,
The Fatyak Team
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