Cycling in Cornwall

Cornwall's three flagship cycle routes all run on old railways or mining tramways - traffic-free, mostly flat, and rideable by anyone with a bike. The Camel Trail is the most popular and the most family-friendly. The Mineral Tramways crosses the World Heritage mining landscape coast to coast. The Clay Trails knit together the white-clay country around the Eden Project.

The three big trails

The Camel Trail in detail

The Camel Trail is the busiest cycle route in Cornwall - around 400,000 visits a year. It follows the disused Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway through three distinct sections.

Padstow to Wadebridge (5.5 miles each way)

The most popular section. Flat, hugging the Camel Estuary, with views across to Rock and the Daymer Bay sand dunes. Wide enough for two-abreast riding, surfaced for buggies and racing tyres alike. Cafes and pubs at both ends, plus the Cornish Arms midway. Allow 2-3 hours including a lunch stop in Wadebridge.

Wadebridge to Bodmin (5.5 miles)

A wooded valley section through the Camel Valley. Quieter than the estuary stretch, but with the Borough Arms pub at Dunmere and Camel Valley Vineyard above Bodmin. Most riders reach Bodmin and turn back; the through-train option used to be possible, but the trail does not currently link to the main rail station.

Bodmin to Wenfordbridge (7 miles)

The quietest, most rural section. Single-track railway through woodland and over old viaducts. Wenfordbridge sits in the upper Camel Valley below the western edge of Bodmin Moor. Limited services here - this is a remote ride; carry water and snacks.

Hire shops

• Padstow Cycle Hire (south Quay car park) - 01841 533 533. Adult bikes from £15 day. Trailers, tag-alongs, child seats, e-bikes.
• Trail Bike Hire (Padstow, Eddystone Road) - smaller fleet, faster turnaround.
• Camel Trail Cycle Hire (Wadebridge) - 01208 814104. Closest to the trail's Wadebridge end.
• Bridge Bike Hire (Wadebridge) - the largest fleet in Wadebridge; e-bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, trailers.
• The Old Station, Bodmin - hire from the original Bodmin railway station building.

Same-day hire is usually fine in shoulder season; book ahead in July and August.

The Mineral Tramways and Coast to Coast

The Mineral Tramways network covers around 60 miles of routes through the Camborne-Redruth-Gwennap mining heartland, on the bed of the 19th-century horse-and-steam tramways that fed the deep-water ports at Portreath and Devoran. The headline route is the 11-mile Coast to Coast from north to south.

Start at Portreath on the north coast, climb gently inland past Tehidy Country Park, descend into the old mining valley at Carn Brea, and finish at Devoran on the south coast estuary. The full route takes around 2 hours; most riders do half and turn back.

The Bissoe Bike Hire cafe sits roughly midway and is the obvious lunch stop. Hire from £18 adult day; e-bikes from £35.

Clay Trails around the Eden Project

Less well-known than the Camel and Mineral Tramways, the Clay Trails connect the Eden Project, Wheal Martyn (clay heritage museum), and Pentewan beach with around 7 miles of mixed-surface routes through the white-clay landscape east of St Austell.

Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire at Pentewan is the only shop on the trail itself. From here it is 2 miles north up the valley to the Lost Gardens of Heligan or 4 miles to Mevagissey via the back lanes.

Road cycling

Road cycling in Cornwall is rewarding and demanding in equal measure. Narrow hedgerow-lined lanes give long views and frequent climbs. Summer traffic on B-roads is a real problem from late July to August. The best months are May, June, and September.

Best loops

• The Roseland Loop - 30 miles from St Mawes via Veryan, Portloe, Carne, and back. Quiet lanes, sea views, several pub stops.
• Bodmin Moor Circuit - 35 miles from Bolventor via Cardinham, Blisland, and Jamaica Inn. Open moorland riding, granite tors, but no shelter from wind.
• Penwith Coast - 25 miles from Penzance via Mousehole, Lamorna, Porthcurno, Land's End, and back via St Just and Newlyn. Demanding climbs, dramatic coast.
• Tamar Valley - 40 miles from Calstock via Cotehele, Gunnislake, and back via the Tamar Bridge. Wooded river country, gentler than the coast.

Sustrans National Cycle Route 3

NCN3 (the West Country Way) runs the length of Cornwall on a mix of quiet lanes, paths, and segregated cycle tracks. From Bristol to Land's End is around 280 miles. The Cornish section uses the Camel Trail and the Mineral Tramways for some of its length.

Bikes on trains

Cornish trains are bike-friendly:

• GWR mainline (London Paddington to Penzance) - up to 6 bikes per train, free, advance reservation required. Book when you book your ticket.
• St Ives Bay Line (St Erth to St Ives) - 2 bikes per train, no reservation, walk-on basis.
• Maritime Line (Truro to Falmouth) - 2 bikes per train, no reservation.
• Looe Valley Line (Liskeard to Looe) - 2 bikes per train, no reservation.
• Atlantic Coast Line (Par to Newquay) - 2 bikes per train, no reservation.
• CrossCountry trains (Bristol-Plymouth-Penzance) - 2-3 bikes, advance reservation required.

Folding bikes count as luggage and travel free without reservation on any service.

Other Cornish cycling

Mountain biking

Cardinham Woods (near Bodmin) is the main mountain-bike centre - 4 graded trails from green family loops to red technical descents, all signposted from the central car park.

Beach and dune riding

Most Cornish beaches forbid cycling. Penhale Camp dunes near Holywell and Watergate Bay (low tide only) are exceptions. Always check signs at the entrance - the National Trust and most beaches do not allow cycles.

Cycle touring

Cornwall is too small for a multi-week tour, but pairs well with Devon, Somerset, and Wiltshire for a 7-10 day West Country tour. Sustrans NCN3 (West Country Way) and the Devon Coast to Coast (Ilfracombe to Plymouth) both link into Cornwall.

FAQs

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Last reviewed 2026-04-30. Hire shop fleets, prices, and trail conditions change. Always check the operator's site before booking.