Coasteering Stag Do

A coasteering stag do is what happens when you zip a group of grown men into wetsuits and helmets and let them scramble, swim and jump their way along a rocky coastline. There’s no path. The sea is the path. If you’ve been looking at coasteering in Newquay, you’re in the right place, because Cornwall is one of the best spots in the country for it.

It started in Pembrokeshire, and the idea hasn’t changed much since. A guide leads you along the bottom of the cliffs, through gullies and caves, over rocks and into the water, with plenty of chances to jump off ledges into the sea. The jumps start small and get higher. Every one is optional, which is my favourite thing to remind the stag right before the lads talk him off the big one.

Coasteering is brilliant at shuffling the pecking order. The lad who never shuts up about his marathon times might freeze on a modest ledge, while the quiet cousin flings himself off everything in sight. You learn a lot about people when they’re stood on a wet rock in a wetsuit, wondering what life choices brought them here.

It’s also proper teamwork. You’ll be hauling each other out of the swell, pointing out footholds and waiting for the slowest swimmer. You don’t need any experience, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to get very, very wet.

And it photographs brilliantly. A line of lads mid-air off a Cornish cliff is the kind of picture that ends up framed at the wedding.

Newquay is the obvious pick for a stag. Coasteering in the morning, a recovery pasty, then a night out in a town that’s practically built for groups. Our Newquay stag do guide covers the evening side. The rest of Cornwall, Devon and the Welsh coast are good too, especially Pembrokeshire if you want to do it where it all began.

Wherever you go, the route depends on the tide and the swell, so your guide picks the safest stretch on the day. Don’t be surprised if the plan changes at the last minute. The sea has never once cared about a stag itinerary.

• Swimming is non-negotiable. You’ll wear a buoyancy aid, but everyone needs to be happy in open water. Tell the provider about anyone who isn’t.
• Kit. Wetsuit, helmet and buoyancy aid are usually provided. Bring swimwear, old trainers with decent grip (no flip flops), a towel and warm clothes for afterwards.
• The booze rule. Nobody drinks before. Cliffs, waves and hangovers are a terrible mix, and guides will turn away anyone who’s clearly had a few.
• Timing. Sessions usually last a few hours and get booked around the tide, so keep the day flexible. Day one is ideal, before anyone’s too broken.
• Season. Summer means warmer water and longer days, though wetsuits make spring and autumn bearable. Check when your provider runs trips.

If the lads love being in the sea, add a surfing lesson the next morning. Inland, gorge walking is the same idea in a river, and white water rafting gets you wet with a lot less climbing. For the evening, a pub crawl round Newquay more or less organises itself.