Bodmin

Bodmin is a market town in east Cornwall, sitting on the western edge of Bodmin Moor with a population of around 15,000. The Camel Trail runs 11.5 miles from Bodmin to the coast at Padstow, following a disused railway line on tarmac and fine gravel - virtually flat the entire way. Bike hire is available at several points along the route, including Explore by Bike at Dunmere.

Bodmin Moor rises to Brown Willy at 420 metres - Cornwall’s highest point - with Rough Tor (pronounced “Rowtor”) at 400 metres roughly a mile away. The two summits and the moorland between them are open access.

The Bodmin and Wenford Railway is Cornwall’s only standard-gauge heritage steam railway, running a 13-mile round trip between Bodmin General, Bodmin Parkway (mainline interchange), and Boscarne Junction. A circular journey takes about 2 hours. Bodmin Jail, the original 18th-century prison, now operates as an immersive dark-heritage attraction open daily from 9:30am.

Lanhydrock House (National Trust) sits 2.5 miles south-east of the town centre on an 890-acre estate above the River Fowey. St Petroc’s Church, the largest parish church in Cornwall, anchors the town centre, where a monthly market runs on the last Saturday of each month at Mount Folly square.

Bodmin Parkway station connects to the GWR mainline for services to Plymouth, Exeter, and London. The town sits roughly halfway between Padstow on the north coast and Fowey on the south, making it a practical base for both coastlines. Jamaica Inn, the Grade II-listed 1750s coaching inn on Bodmin Moor, serves modern British food and real ales. Camel Valley Vineyard, between Bodmin and Wadebridge on the trail, is Cornwall’s leading wine producer.