Coasteering in Devon: Private rock jumping and cave exploration

Rock jumping, cave swimming, cliff traversing: all in one morning on the Devon coast

Coasteering in Devon is a private activity where you leap from rocks, swim through coastal gullies, explore sea caves and traverse cliff bases with a professional guide. Sessions are bespoke: you choose whether you want gentle exploration or big jumps off the highest rocks. Children from age 10 are welcome, and all gear (wetsuit, helmet, buoyancy aid, footwear and gloves) is provided.

The Experience

You start with a guide who builds the session around what you actually want to do. Nervous about heights or water? They'll keep you on the easier lines and give you an extra hand through the trickier bits. After a few jumps off lower rocks, you'll get a feel for the rhythm: the leap, the splash, the scramble back up the cliff face. If you're chasing adrenaline, they'll take you to the biggest jumps the coast has to offer. Either way, the guide reads the group and adjusts on the fly.

The 2.5-hour session takes you through the real work of coasteering: swimming through narrow gullies where the water funnels between rock walls, ducking into sea caves that only open at certain tides, and picking your way across cliff bases where the rock is slick and the footing demands attention. You're moving constantly, problem-solving your route, using your hands and legs to climb and traverse. It's not a walk with a view. It's a physical puzzle the coast sets for you.

Everything you need is included: a fitted wetsuit, helmet, buoyancy aid, water shoes and gloves if you ask for them. The guide is there the whole time, in the water with you, spotting you on the harder moves and pointing out the safest lines through the gullies. Sessions are just your group and the guide, so the pace and the challenge stay exactly where you want them.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• buoyancy aid, wetsuit, helmet, water shoes and gloves (if requested).
• private session with just your group.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Coastal Adventures Ltd

Is this one for you?Your guide builds the route around your nerve and pace: no strangers, no preset difficulty, just your group shaping the whole morning.

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Top questions

What's the difference between a private session and a group one?

Private sessions at Coastal Adventures are just your group and the guides: no strangers, no waiting for others to finish a jump. The guide builds the whole route around what your group wants to do that day, whether that's gentle exploration or pushing the bigger jumps.

Can I do this if I've never coasteered before?

Yes. The guide starts you on easier sections and builds your confidence with smaller jumps and simpler gullies before moving to harder terrain. You set the pace and the difficulty level. The guide adjusts the route to match.

What happens if I'm scared of heights or deep water?

Tell the guide before you start. They'll keep you on lower jumps, shorter swims and easier cliff traverses. You're not forced into anything: the whole point of a private session is that it's tailored to your comfort level.

Is there a minimum age?

Children are welcome from age 10. They need to be comfortable in water and have at least a moderate level of physical fitness, since you're climbing, jumping and swimming for the full 2.5 hours.

What should I bring?

Just yourself and a towel. Wetsuits, helmets, buoyancy aids, water shoes and gloves are all provided. Wear something you don't mind getting soaked underneath, since you'll be in and out of the water constantly.

Can I do this if I have a back injury or am pregnant?

Coasteering isn't recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers. The activity involves jumping, climbing and traversing uneven rock, which puts stress on the spine and core.