Sea kayaking in Cornwall is a brilliant way of enjoying the ocean and exploring the beautiful coastline or stunning local estuaries. Our sit on top kayaks are designed for use for one or two people and you do not need any previous kayaking experience. We use sit on top kayaks on our guided kayak tours so there are no issues with entrapment and they are exceptionally stable to help you relax and enjoy the incredible experience – join us on our special kayak coastal and estuary tours – just get out there and have the time of your life!
Sit on Top Kayaking Tours
Nothing beats the view of the coastline or stunning estuary and our guided kayaking tours are one of the best ways to explore Cornwall! Let our experienced guides take you to unspoilt sandy beaches and rocky lagoons and you may get the chance to see some of the amazing wildlife including sea birds, seals, and maybe even dolphins! We want to share our incredible local area with you and give you the chance to enjoy what we do! See our Kayaking FAQ’s
Choose Your Kayaking Adventure
Guided Kayak Tours
Our kayak tours either depart from Harlyn Bay or Padstow estuary and you will learn some basic paddling and turning skills before setting off on your kayak adventure. We use double sit-on-top sea kayaks that are extremely stable and allow you to paddle efficiently as a pair so that you can spend your time focused on enjoying the kayak tour experience. A limited number of single kayaks are available. Minimum age of 12 years old. U18’s must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tours are 1.5hrs and please allow 15 mins before and after your session time to check in and get kitted out
Sessions are available by request only, they are not live on our booking system. Please email us to arrange a tour and include numbers in your group, ages and we will confirm the next availability with you.
£50 per person Book a group of 4 £180, each additional person £41.25
Kayak Hire Cornwall
We have a great selection of double and single sit on top sea kayaks available to hire from Harlyn Bay, Cornwall throughout the season. Hire will only be offered subject to us deeming the weather and sea conditions safe and suitable. Under-18s will require the presence of a parent or guardian when hiring equipment. Minimum age for kayak hire is 12yrs and a valid form of identification held for the duration of the hire. We supply you with buoyancy aids, you may need to hire wetsuits from us. Kayaks are only available to be used at Harlyn Bay, and are not to be taken to a different beach due to safety concerns.
Hire Rates
Group Kayaking
If you are looking for a fantastic group activity then kayaking is a great choice! For large family groups, stag/hens, corporate or school groups please get in contact with us as we offer private group kayak tours at a discounted rate. For large groups we can tailer the session to suit you – why not make a day of it and combine your kayaking with another of our amazing activities?
Find out more about group sessions
Kayaking FAQ’s
What's included?
Helmets, buoyancy aids and wetsuits. You need to bring a pair of trainers that you don’t mind getting wet.
Can I wear my own suit?
Yes you can – shorty wetsuits are perfect for June to end of September. We advise wearing a full length wetsuit for all other months
Where do we meet?
You will receive confirmation of meeting points at the time of booking. Please be prepared that if you have requested a coastal tour and conditions are not appropriate we will aim to run the session on the stunning Camel estuary in Padstow. We will endeavour to contact you prior to your experience should we have concerns about the weather/surf. If you have booked an estuary tour it is very rare that these get cancelled due to adverse conditions.
How do I book lessons? Do I need to book in advance?
We are often teaching during the day and we would love you to book everything using our online booking system if posssible – you will find most, if not all the answers to any questions you have throughout the website FAQ’s and activity pages. Please email us if you have any further question. We do take bookings from our beach base but we highly recommend you book in advance to guarantee availability.
How long is the session?
All sessions are 1.5hrs including your safety briefing and your tour. We ask that you check in 30 mins before your session start time so we can kit you out.
What time do the sessions start?
These differ daily, please click on the book now menu to see available time slots.
How fit do I need to be?
A basic level of fitness is required especially as an adult if paddling with younger children on a double kayak, however many families and groups complete these routes with ease when its calm. No previous kayaking experience is required – if you are happy on and in the water, generally this is enough to have a great time. You should be reasonably confident in the water and we recommend a 25m swimming ability. All participants are required to wear a PFD.
What is the min age?
We recommend a minimum age of 10 (younger by arrangement if conditions are suitable) for our kayak tours – provided the child is on a double kayak with an adult who can, if needed, paddle for them if they get tired. We do not have an upper age limit but just use common sense please. Call or email if you have a specific concern.
Do you cancel if it is raining?
No we don’t. Whilst kayaking in lovely sunshine is preferred you can still have loads of fun in the rain. Often rainy days have provided some of our most memorable sessions!
What happens if I want to cancel my session?
Our cancellation policy is outlined in our terms and conditions.
What happens if it is too rough or windy?
We have an excellent health and safety record. However, if we deem the conditions to be unsuitable on the day then we will try our best to reschedule you or offer a different activity. Please see out terms and conditions.
Is it Safe?
All of our guides hold lifesaving qualifications and have completed in house training to ensure best practice. They are qualified first aiders and have extensive knowledge of the ocean and swell. Our kayaking routes have been risk assessed. We are licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service and we have years of operational experience with an excellent health and safety record.
Can I wear glasses during the activity?
We do not allow glasses to be worn whilst paddling out or in through surf or close to any obstructions. It is preferable to wear contact lenses or prescription goggles because of safety issues.
Can I watch if I am not taking part?
Yes the coastal footpath follows alongside our routes and is a great vantage point. The Camel cycle trail runs alongside part of our estuary routes. Please note that our tours whilst they do follow a well planned route they do on occasion vary so we may not be visible for a large part of the tour – this is mainly in the estuary where the river meanders away from the vantage points.
What to bring?
We provide wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets. You will need to bring swimwear, a pair of trainers you do not mind getting wet or wetsuit boots, we do not accept wetsuit shoes or any open toed shoes. We recommend bringing a bottle of water, please make sure you wear sunscreen, if you wish you can wear a sun hat and sunglasses.
What is the weight limit?
The recommended max weight limit for a double is 193kg, single 100kg. If you think you are bordering the weight limit of a single kayak and you have little experience paddling, then please let one of our members of staff know. We can change our double kayaks to single so you can enjoy the tour with ease.
Should I wear suncream?
Yes! You can burn even when it’s cloudy! We ALWAYS advise that you use a factor 30-50 water-resistant sun cream before taking part in one of our activities.
Is there anywhere for refreshments nearby?
Yes there is a catering van “Food for Thought” located in the car park during the main season and there is also a variety of pubs, restaurants and bakeries in the immediate area.
Is the beach dog friendly?
Yes Harlyn is one of the few beaches in the areas that allows dogs.
