Fishing, smuggling, and pirates - these are just three things that tie Cornwall to the sea in our imaginations. And it’s not surprising that people of this region have always taken advantage of the waters that surround the county, because the inland terrain is rough and uneven, and getting around was difficult before the building of the roads. Nowadays, this landscape is no match for the best of the All-Terrain Vehicles - quad bikes. Fast, stable, and easy to get to grips with, offer a guaranteed thrill ride for all petrol heads and adrenaline junkies out there.

Off-roading is an unrivalled way to blow off steam, and in Cornwall there are options for all the family to get involved, at prices that will have you coming back again and again. The county also boasts a mild climate year round which makes quad biking a pleasure in all four seasons. You’ll kick up clouds of dust during dry spells, and handfuls of mud if it’s been raining, and either way it’s an all-out adventure of speed, thrills and off-road skills. What are you waiting for?

Where are the best places to ride a quad bike in Cornwall?

• Newquay: The surf capital of the UK, Newquay has made a name for itself as a mecca for adventurers. But you don’t have to get your feet wet to have a good time here. You can climb onto a powerful quad bike and let rip the Cornish landscape. Beautiful views of the North coast are an added bonus as you whizz around the training track before going off-piste and tackling the terrain. Hills, rocks and puddles are waiting to shake things up a bit and give you the ride of your life.

• Blackwater: Not far from the county town Truro, you’ll find one of the largest quad biking facilities in the country. Set over 10 acres, there’s over a kilometre of dirt tracks that wind between trees and ponds, including 17 corners and 7 jumps. There’s a separate loop for training, and 2 circuits for putting the vehicles through their paces once you’ve got comfortable in the saddle. After a couple of laps, you’ll be confident enough to get some air off the jumps on the biggest circuit, to turn your off road adventure into an airborne one!

Requirements to do this activity

You don’t need a licence or any experience to have this exhilarating experience. You don’t even need to be 17 years old - off-road quad biking is as accessible as it is enjoyable. In Newquay the guideline for participation is that you have to be over 12 years old, however this is only due to the size of the equipment, so if your 10-year old son has just had a growth spurt, they might be able to get a head start on this world.

The centre in Blackwater has a range of different sized vehicles that can get the whole family riding. To ride the biggest beasts you need to be over 16 years old, but you can have your initiation into quad biking from as young as 6 years old on a 50cc model. These are nippy little bikes, but don’t worry, you won’t be stuck with them for 10 years - from the age of 12 you can drive an intermediate size quad.

Wherever you choose to go this county, this is a great activity to enjoy as a group. Riding one is a quick-to-learn activity, so it’s perfect for absolute beginners as well as groups with more experienced riders, or a mixture of abilities.Kids or teenagers will love racing each other around the course if you organise a birthday party for them. And it’s unbeatable fun for adults too - is an increasingly popular activity for a stag or hen party to remember nowadays. It’s even suitable for corporate groups for a team building away day, or for a celebration of a job well done.

How long does an experience last?

Your booking will be for a 30 minute quad bike ride, and that’s exactly what it says on the tin: the clock starts when you start riding around the track. That means that you enjoy a full 30 minutes of riding, racing and putting your nerves to the test in the Cornish countryside. The 30 minutes doesn’t include the time it takes for you to get kitted out for the ride, or the training time on the practice circuit, so you should put aside at least 1 hour of your day to enjoy this activity.

What do you need to bring with you for the day of the activity?

A need for speed, a love of adventure, and the acceptance that you’re going to get muddy! Apart from that you don’t need anything special. Make sure that you’re wearing a pair of closed toed shoes for your feet, long trousers for your legs, a top with long sleeves for your arms, and a complete change of clothes to put on afterwards if it’s muddy! You’ll be given safety equipment at no extra cost to ensure that you can enjoy this activity to the max: a helmet with eye protection, body armour for your torso, elbows and knees, gloves and an overall. With all of that on you’ll be ready for anything!

Check the weather forecast for Cornwall before heading to your quad bike experience, because there are some other things to bear in mind. On a sunny day you’ll want some sun cream as you’ll be exposed to the sun for the majority of the session. In cold and wet weather, we recommend that you take some extra layers and a change of clothes if you don’t want to cover the car seats in mud on the way home.

That’s all you need to know in order to live the adventure, but we have one piece of advice: be prepared to get hooked!