There are plenty of ways to enjoy the water, depending on whether your idea of fun is to row across it, stand up on it using a board, have the wind help you carve through it or, in the case of water-skiing, have a petrol engine do some of the work for you.

The Camel Estuary is a great place for water-skiing, either on your own boat, through the Rock Sailing and Water Ski Club (RS&WSC), or through the Camel Ski School. Most skiers start from Rock, and you'll need to buy a permit from RS&WSC, or from the Rock Beachmaster.

Padstow, Rock and Port Isaac all have Gig Rowing Clubs, and you can join in for a trial session. Sea Kayaks can be rented from Padstow, Wadebridge or Port Gaverne.

Polzeath's where to head for surfing and body-boarding. Depending on the tide, you can park on the beach and, if you have no wetsuits or boards, they're simple to rent from shops around the beach. Although Polzeath becomes busy in high season, there's always the chance of good surfing first thing or later in the day.

If you're an enthusiast, you might not need us to tell you that September and October are as good as any months: the sea's still warm after summer and storms far out in the Atlantic can mean great waves. Daily surf reports and webcams show exactly what's happening, and where.

Daymer Bay beach is the place for wind surfing and kite surfing, its perfect combination of clean wind and Atlantic rollers are just what participants need, as well as a thrilling spectacle for onlookers. Park in Daymer Bay car park and rig the kit on the top of the beach. For beginners, the more sheltered areas near Ferry Point and Porthilly beach are a better starting point.

Coasteering might appeal to adrenaline junkies it's a high-energy way to make your way round the shoreline, where rocks meet waves, like a hybrid of swimming, scrambling, climbing and diving. The company Vertical Descents come highly recommended by several Latitude 50 owners they'll come and take you out from North Cornwall’s cliffs, such as Port Quin, for example.