Coasteering
- Scrambling |
- Gorge Walking |
- Ghyll Scrambling |
Coasteering
Have you ever wanted to run along the rocks, crags, and other features of the rugged coastlines in the UK? That’s what coasteering is all about!
Traverse a rocky coastline on foot or by swimming, without the aid of a boat, surfboard or other craft. The terrain can be incredible and the diverse obstacles you’ll be conquering around the coast will give you the adventure of a lifetime. All this while facing a breathtaking ocean view!
Coasteering can be hard to define as it encompasses a variety of exciting activities. These include swimming, in either calm or rough waters with assistance from a lifejacket; climbing, canyonying and sea level traversing, usually above deep water for safety; and jumping or diving, one of the most thrilling parts of coasteering.
However, the defining factor of coasteering is the ‘impact zone’ where water, waves, rocks and gullies come together. The route will differ depending on conditions on the day and can involve swimming, jumping, climbing and scrambling.
Originally used as a method of accessing a cut-off cove beyond a headland, the activity became popular in the 1990s and soon spread to all regions of the UK with suitable rocky coasts, including Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Anglesey and the Highlands and Isles of Scotland.
Generally, coasteering involves half-day or one-day trips, and can cater for for beginners, intermediates and advanced individuals. There are plenty of trips that are specifically focussed towards study of coastal ecology.
Coasteering guides are experts at knowing exactly how to deal with whatever conditions they encounter along the way and are able to teach participants about the areas they are discovering. It is not advisable to take on this activity alone without professional guidance, due to its adventurous nature. Coasteering is a guided activity that’s usually done in groups for safety reasons. Don’t worry about slowing people down, the guides make sure to set a pace that everyone can follow without struggling too much.
Participants will need only the basics before embarking on a trip, including a wetsuit, shoes and gloves with grip, a buoyancy aid and a helmet. So get a group together, or go alone, and head to one of the destinations below to try your hand at coasteering.