5 Wellbeing Activities in Cornwall for the New Year

Ditch the unrealistic New Year resolutions and pledge to kick off 2023 in a balanced, healthy style on a feel-good break to Cornwall. After all the Christmas feasting and fattening up by the fire, it’s time to stretch yourself and take the plunge into activities that will make you feel fit and focused for the year ahead. And where better to do this than beside the beach?

Here are some ideas for winter wellbeing activities in Cornwall – all teamed with great places to stay near Padstow. 

Cold Water Dips

Have you caught wind of the wellbeing benefits of cold water dips but not brought yourself to brave the winter sea temperatures? Then the new year may be the time to start. Although not for the faint-hearted, cold water dips can help to improve health and wellbeing. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned pro, a dip in the winter ocean can help to reduce stress, lower blood pressure and give you a rush of endorphins to leave you feeling great. But remember to stay safe and don’t just jump into the stormy sea. Close to Padstow there are stunning natural sea pools at Trevone and Treyarnon, where you can take the plunge however wild the sea conditions are. 

Where to Stay: Greenwaves, Trevone, Sleeps 4

Brave the sea pool at Trevone then warm up in your cosy apartment and gaze out to the dramatic coastline where you’ve just immersed yourself. 

Yoga

Stretch into 2023 and find your flow on a yoga break. Book private sessions in the comfort of your holiday home, or head to a beachside studio in Mawgan Porth for a series of daily sessions at Mawgan Pause. Under the calming tutelage of your expert instructor, build strength and flexibility, while accessing mindfulness and relaxation. The results of your yoga practice will reach into all areas of your life, promoting a strong, focused and calm mindset to start your year. 

Where to Stay: Moonrakers, Mawgan Porth, Sleeps 4

It’s just footsteps to the Mawgan Pause yoga studio from this contemporary apartment beside the surf-lashed Mawgan Porth beach. 

Surfing

Getting fit doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym in the new year. Surfing works every muscle of your body whilst also being great fun! And with winter wetsuits and expert equipment made for all levels and every weather, winter is the best time to hit the water for less crowded line-ups, more personalised coaching and an invigorating ocean experience that will take your breath away. Waves Surf School will take you to the best locations on the North Cornish coast for the conditions, and offers lessons for every standard throughout winter. 

Where to Stay: The Croft, Harlyn, Sleeps 5

Watch the waves from your window and scamper down to the beach with your board when the swell and tides dictate. Then come home and hunker by the fire in your beachside bolthole between surfs.

Well Being Spa Days

You don’t have to be active to kick off the new year in a feel-good style. Why not book a spa day, get pampered from head-to-toe and pummel away the stress of the year gone by with a massage or treatment? Close to Padstow and Rock, you can sneak off and indulge in a full-day spa package at Hustyns, including a treatment of your choice, afternoon tea or lunch, and access to an array of leisure facilities including the infinity spa pool, swimming pool, sauna and steam room. 

Where to Stay: Beachside Apartment, Rock, Sleeps 4

Feel the winter sun on your face as you watch the glistening estuary through floor-to-ceiling windows, castaway to Padstow or slink into Hustyns for a spa day. 

Forest Bathing

Did you know that ditching technology and taking a stroll through the forest is good for your health? Using all of your senses on a slow walk beneath the trees has been clinically proven to promote physical and mental health, reduce blood pressure, lower stress levels and improve your concentration and memory. So switch off your devices and find tranquillity amongst the trees at Cardinham Woods or Lanhydrock, just 20 minutes’ from Padstow. As you watch for wildlife, tune into birdsong, feel the embrace of nature and see sunlight reflect off the canopies, feelings of stress and anxiety are replaced with rest and relaxation – promoting a much healthier frame of mind to start your year.

Where to Stay: Chyverton, St Issey, Sleeps 4

After a day amongst the trees, kick off your muddy boots and sink into a plump sofa beside the roaring fire, before waking up to the rolling estuary views. Experience Cornwall’s coast and woods in cosy style from this stylish countryside retreat. 

Find the Perfect Place to Stay in Cornwall for a New Year Wellbeing Break

Cornwall is the perfect destination for a wellbeing break in the new year – offering an array of activities to boost the body and mind, alongside wild coastal walks, dramatic beaches, rolling countryside and a pretty harbour town lined with boutiques and restaurants. 

Browse our collection of holiday cottages in and around Padstow and find the perfect pad for your winter break to Cornwall.