New Year’s Eve in St Ives: A Proper Cornish Experience
Spending New Year’s Eve in St Ives is a unique experience! This spectacular street celebration is St Ives’ most...
by Alice Parry / Blog
Every year on Christmas day, boxing day and new years day, people voluntarily run into the Cornish sea in the heart of winter.
These festive swimming events are organised across the region and have been a tradition in some villages and towns for over 50 years. Brave souls freeze their baubles off to raise money for amazing charities.
Prepare yourself for the adrenaline rush and bring all your family and friends because your festive icy dip in the Cornish waters will be an entertaining story worth telling, and a guaranteed holiday highlight!
Read on to find Christmas Day swims, Boxing Day swims, and New Year’s Day swims across Cornwall…
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Time: 10:45 am to 12.00 pm
Imagine hundreds of people from across Cornwall and beyond going for a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean with strictly no wetsuits allowed, on Christmas Day.
The event raises money for the Bude Surf Life Saving Club and takes place on Crooklets Beach.
Time: 11 am
It all started with a dare over 20 years ago when a pub landlady offered a free pint to 5 lads if they ran into the sea in just their boxer shorts. Yes, no wetsuits allowed.
Seeing as the Cornish would do anything for a pint, a north coast Christmas tradition was born.
Every year, a few hundred take the plunge at 11 am on Christmas Day.
Driftwood Spars Inn welcomes swimmers afterwards with plenty of hot mulled cider to warm up.
Time: 11 am
It all started with a dare over 20 years ago when a pub landlady offered a free pint to 5 lads if they ran into the sea in just their boxer shorts.
Seeing as the Cornish would do anything for a pint, a north coast Christmas tradition was born.
Every year a few hundred take the plunge at 11am on Christmas day.
Driftwood Spars Inn welcome swimmers afterwards with plenty of hot mulled cider to warm up.
Hayle Bay is another popular spot for a Christmas Day swim in Cornwall. Attracting over 400 people in previous years, are you ready to strip off your winter layers and charge into the icy waters?
With absolutely no wetsuits allowed, head up to Polzeath and have an adrenaline-filled swim with your friends and family in the Cornish sea.
Gather at the front of the Extreme Academy Surf School for this Christmas Day swim in Newquay.
After braving the Atlantic waters for an invigorating swim, warm up at the Beach Hut.
They’ll be serving their famous Xtreme hot chocolates for all the brave souls.
This Christmas Day swim in Cornwall is a smaller gathering in one of the most beautiful coves in Cornwall.
Get ready to dip your toes in at midday on the Lizard Peninsula.
You can also watch the swim at the Cadgwith Inn, which is serving snacks and drinks from 11:30 – 14:00.
Time: 12.30 pm
Here we have another Cornwall Christmas Day swim that began as a dare!
It is said that a local doctor made a bet with a friend that he would swim across the harbour. Since then, locals and visitors dress in their swimming costumes and raise money for Cancer Research.
Strictly no wetsuits are allowed at this charity event, so make sure you get all the sponsorship you can to make it worthwhile! Get ready to run, dip your toes, and immerse yourself in the icy waters.
After the swim, everyone is invited back to the Fisherman’s Rest for a chat and some warmth.
Time: 11 am
Another seaside village on the north coast, this Christmas Day swim takes place in Porthtowan.
Everyone is welcome to join in or to speculate, and a free mulled rattler is usually served at the Victory Inn from 12 pm for those victorious swimmers.
Time: 11.30 am
Organised by the Charleston Rowing Club for a nominated local charity
Since 1991, this event has raised and donated a total of £24,000 to local charities, including the RNLI, Cornwall Hospice Care, Churchtown Outdoor Activity for the disabled and lots more.
So, brave those icy December waters and wake yourself up from the Christmas food coma in the name of charity at this Boxing Day swim in Cornwall.
Time: 10.30 am
The Perranporth Surf Life Saving Club stresses no wetsuits allowed for this Cornish Boxing Day dip.
Join others in the cold Atlantic waters and warm up with some organised refreshments for a small donation.
Time: 11 am
People are advised to park at Poldhu and meet near the beach entrance at 10:30 AM.
Every year, Ross and Natalie Hocking, who run the Poldhu Beach Cafe, organise a Boxing Day swim for charity.
The Cafe will be open on Boxing Day from 10-2 for hot drinks, mulled wine, mince pies and a reduced hot food menu.
So, if you want to watch people freeze their baubles off or are entertaining it yourself, all donations collected go towards the cafe’s chosen charity.
Time: 12 pm
Wetsuits allowed, £1 donation to charity
Brave Boxing Day swimmers flock to this well-loved beach, half-naked, in fancy dress and wearing wetsuits, in this popular tradition in St Ives.
For a £1 donation to charity, you, your friends, your family and your dog can go for a dip in the chilly waves.
For supporters and cheerers, Porthminster Cafe will be serving festive hot chocolates and bacon butties to keep everyone warm.
Time: 12 pm
Why not start your New Year in Cornwall with a refreshing dip at the famous Gylly Beach in Falmouth?
Join locals and visitors of all ages for this annual event and kick-start your metabolism in the chilly Cornish waters.
Be there at noon in your swimsuit or wetsuit.
Time: 12 pm
A New Year’s swim in Newquay will be sure to clear a few foggy heads in the winter waters.
Arriving early is advised by the organisers as the quayside is usually crowded with spectators eager to watch the brave swimmers run into the sea.
The event raises money for Young Lives vs Cancer, formerly CLIC Sargent, supporting young people with cancer.
Time: 11 am
This New Year’s dip is an annual date in Gorran’s village diary.
Say hello to 2026 with a refreshing sea swim and join the rest of the village in celebrating the year to come.
The swim is organised by St Goran Rowing Club to raise funds for the RNLI. Head to the village hall for coffee, cakes, and a raffle afterwards.
A few of these events are supervised by the RNLI, but for those that aren’t, it’s vital that everyone is safe and takes care of one another in the water.
Here are some tips so that you and your fellow festive swimmers are prepared.
A word of warning, these Christmas and New Year swim events are organised locally, often with next to no advertisement, so we have collected this list based on swims that have happened in the past.
We advise to get in touch with the town/village’s local community page/website to confirm the swims are going ahead this year to avoid disappointment.
Fancy taking part in some of these festive swims? The closest swim to our Carbis Bay accommodation and St Ives holiday cottages is the Porthminster Beach Boxing Day swim.
Treat yourself and your loved ones to a memorable Christmas break in Cornwall this year with Carbis Bay Holidays!
Image credit:Sasastro – CC BY 2.0
by Alice Parry / Blog
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