Why Wales' coastline is a great destination for adventurers

Watersports lovers and thrillseekers can find plenty to do in the country's stunning seaside locations

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If hiking and paddling aren’t fast-paced enough for your taste, the Welsh coastline provides significant scope for activities that are slightly more adrenaline-pumping.

Watersports are increasingly visible in the bays and coves of the seashore, and whether surfing, scuba diving, sailing or coasteering is your thing, and whatever your ability level, there is a specialist operator who can provide a guiding hand.

Take sailing as a pertinent example. Cardiff Bay, the dockland area of the capital city, is a hugely popular venue for yachting and wind-powered boating — and has been since its freshwater lake was created by the forging of a barrier between the sea and the Rivers Ely and Taff in the late Nineties. Here, Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre (cbwac.com) offers lessons and topup tuition for those who want to learn this most timeless skill. However, they are not the only experts taking to the waters of the south coast. Ocean Quest (ocean-quest.co.uk) runs scuba diving courses for those keen to plumb the depths — and does so from a trio of bases on the Bristol Channel, in Porthcawl and Swansea, as well as Cardiff.

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But what is there for active enthusiasts who prefer to stay above the surface? Swept by gusts from the Irish Sea, the west coast of Wales is a prime location for the growing sport of kitesurfing. Porth Neigwl and Abersoch, both on the Llŷn Peninsula, are recommended sites to take on the winds with an accessorised surfboard. Coasteering — where participants take the most direct route along a dramatic portion of shoreline, climbing up crags and jumping off cliffs — is another natural fit with the Welsh seafront. Especially so at Abereiddi, in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, where the Blue Lagoon, a former slate quarry now flooded for recreational purposes, is a magnet for those who want to jump in feet first (nationaltrust.org.uk/abereiddi-to-abermawr).

Of course, as wonderful as the coastline is, it’s not the only part of Wales where water and adrenaline can mix. Witness Surf Snowdonia, a state-of-the-art wave pool with artificially produced breakers (surfsnowdonia.com), close to Dolgarrog in Conwy. And never overlook the opportunities for rafting on the torrents that descend from Wales’ high places. The National White Water Centre tackles the currents in Snowdonia National Park (nationalwhitewatercentre.co.uk), while Black Mountain Adventure (blackmountain.co.uk) serves up similar thrills in the Brecon Beacons.

Whatever your chosen activity, ensure you use approved operators and stay safe in the great outdoors. For more details, visit adventuresmartwales.com

*This content was commissioned and approved by Visit Wales