Cycling in Cornwall

• Camel Valley, Padstow, Wadebridge

  Wadebridge provides an easy start point for a trip arond the Camel estuary. Plenty of parking, cycle hire and the usual range of hostelries and restaurants to be found in a small Cornish town. The Camel cycle trail passes through the centre of Wadebridge on the way to Bodmin – The Camel Valley cycle trail on the bed of the old railway provides an easy ride to Padstow.

• Lanhydrock House to The Eden Project

  The car park at Respryn bridge on the Fowey river just below Lanydrock house makes a good starting point. Leaving the car park you turn right and cycle up the hill towards Bodmin. You quickly see the cycle route signs on your right pointing to Bodmin Parkway Railway Station and up the hill to Bodmin.

• Looe Valley

  A route following the quiet lanes up the East Looe River to Liskeard.

• Zennor Nancledra

  A good starting point is Zennor. The Tinners Arms and The Old Chapel Backpackers provide watering holes at the end of your circuit.

• Cardinham Woods

  Cardinham Woods is a popular destination for cyclists of all kinds. Cycling is permitted on all the many miles of gravel tracks, so whether you want to ride gently beside the river, or try a more adventurous route on the steep valley sides, you will find the right conditions at Cardinham.

• Tehidy Country Park

  Offers the bike rider over 3 miles of traffic free wide tracks through it’s woodland for cycling use. The tracks are well waymarked and all have good visibility for the rider.

• The Camel Trail

  The Camel Trail is available free 365 days of the year, winds through some of Cornwall’s most beautiful and little-known countryside. Cornwall County Council converted 11 miles of disused railway beside the River Camel from track bed to trail, linking the towns of Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. An extension follows the river towards Camelford.

• 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.

• The Cornish Way

  The Cornish Way runs for 180 miles from Land’s End to Holsworthy, passing through historic towns, fishing villages and beautiful countryside on the way.

• Fowey Valley

  The River Fowey one of Cornwall’s most unspoilt rivers, rises high on Bodmin Moor near Jamaica Inn and flows via the Glynn Valley and Fowey Estuary into the sea at Fowey.

• Zennor Sancreed

  I recommend doing the route anti clockwise.The climb out of Zennor is steep so walking is a good option if you are not fit. This is probably the most strenous part of the ride. You are soon on the top of the moors of Penwith with views over the Atlantic and the English Channel.

• Drift Dam – St Just – Lamorna

  One kicking off spot can be the car park at Drift Dam. Choosing the anti-clockwise route takes you through the rougher open country followed by the lusher south coast on the last stretch.

• Bude and Holsworthy

  These routes are not necessarily suitable for all riders, particularly children or the less experienced. They have been chosen to make maximum use of quiet country roads through beautiful countryside. No part of this area is completely flat so the cyclist should be prepared for short steep hills and the occasional very steep climb.