The Mineral Tramway

Now an official cycle route, the old Mineral Tramways from Devoran to Portreath is available as an interesting ride for the average cyclist - The route follows what were working rail tracks that carried minerals (tin,copper etc) to the ancient quays at Devoran or the harbour at Portreath.

Click on underlined blue text for photographs
Penpol Creek at Point - The southern end of the Tramway - Restronguet Creek looking towards Carrick Roads - Restronguet Creek looking towards Devoran - The tramway is on the right winding up the valley towards the far coast. Old Quay Inn - Nice pub with character. Carnon viaduct - The cycleway & the granite pillars which carried Brunell's wooden viaduct until the 30's.. Carnon viaduct information board - An example of the excellent information boards you'll find along your route.

The flatest and easiest section is from Devoran to Point Mills at Bissoe.

Bissoe Tramways Cycle Hire - Point Mills - The cycle hire centre now had a cafe attached. Tramway Granite sleepers - Just above Bissoe Tramway Cycle Hire. County Adit - As you cross the tramway viaduct below you the County Adit emerges into the stream. During the nineteenth century scores and scores of miles of underground adits drained into this main adit. Mount Wellington Mine - once part of Wheal Jane one of the last 3 working mines in Cornwall during the 1980's.

From Bissoe to Twelveheads the route is pretty clear and the entrance to the Poldice Valley is marked by a large sign. Through the once lunar mining scape of the Poldice Valley the route is straight on. ( The view of Poldice valley as you enter it going towards Twelveheads, looking back towards Carharrack, note the mineshaft. The trail just before Hale Mills, the hillside near Hale Mills late summer, Looking towards Twelveheads capped mineshaft in foreground. ) At Todpool you get back on a tarmac lane, cross the Chacewater to St Day road bearing right. A short stretch of tarmac, then bearing left, back on the tramway with Unity wood on your right. Thanks to a generous gesture by a local landowner the St Day to Scorrier road no longer has to be used, a new section of off road lane takes you a crossing point close to the Redruth Truro road. At the Redruth Truro road bear left towards Redruth and you can cross the Redruth Truro road by the Fox and Hounds. Pass the Fox and Hounds on the right side of the inn, at the rear turn left, then under the Paddington - Penzance railway line, on your left is the Crossroads Motel. Cross the A30 Redruth road, bear right and then left over the A30, down the hill 200 metres and then left to the rear of Rhoddas Creamery, behind the creamery on the right is the start of the tramway to Portreath.
It's off road till you meet the Redruth Mawla road. The little hamlet of Mawla is on the right with its little Methodist chapel. Strait across on to the tarmac lane. Cross the Redruth Porthtowan road and the lane swings right across the tramway embankment built 1810-12. Look out for the little plaque. You meet the Porthtowan Portreath road, bear left. On the right you will see Elm Farm which provides Bike Hire. Further along you cross the Porthtowan Portreath road and rejoin the tramway. The route continues off road all the way to Portreath parallel with the road.
An accurate Ordnance Survey Map might be helpful - OS Explorer 104 Redruth & St. Agnes covers the whole route.

Bissoe Tramways Cycle Hire.
Over 100 Bikes Open all year. Old Conns Works, Bissoe Truro, TR4 8QZ
Tel:- 01872 870341
Click here for more information

Elm Farm Cycle Hire.
We have a choice of over 60 different bikes consisting of mountain bikes, trekking bikes, children's bikes, tag bikes for children and tow along vans for toddlers. Nancekuke, Near Redruth, Cornwall, TR16 5UF
Tel:- 01209 891498