Part of Cornwall’s rich history means it has gained some stunning cycle trails. Once the preserve of mining railways moving tin, clay or coal from the mines to various ports around the county these tracks  have been converted over to cycle trails.

As you can imagine they go through some of the most glorious, peaceful and undistrubed countryside Cornwall has to offer. Not only that because the train engines were often small and they hauled large cargos the trails are relatively flat and climbed gently through the countryside. This makes them ideal cycling trails for the whole family.

So what trails do we have?

The Camel Trail

the-ship-inn--cycling-trails03The Camel Trail is an 18 mile largely traffic free, surfaced and virtually level multi use trail which provides access to the beautiful Cornish countryside along a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow.

The trail is suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and wheel-chair users and falls into three main sections:

  • Padstow to Wadebridge- 5.5 Miles (8.8Km)
  • Wadebridge to Bodmin (Boscarne)- 5.75 Miles (9.25Km)
  • Bodmin to Wenfordbridge- 6.25 Miles (10.1 Km)

You can join the Bodmin part just two miles down the road from Mena Park.

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Lanhydrock Cycle Trails

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails08Part of The National Trust

Green (easy) grade trail

Lodge trail – 2.5km (1 ½ miles) 15-30mins – This gentle ride takes you deep into little explored woodland on the estate. Suitable for families and beginners the trail is wide, well surfaced and has no challenging technical features. This trail is also suitable for trailers, tagalongs and disability bikes.

Blue (moderate) grade trails

  • Bazley’s trail – 3km (2 miles) – with easy technical features.
  • Walter’s trail – 1km (2/3 mile) – short technical single track – moderate gradients.
  • Hart trail – 1.5km (1 mile) – exciting single track – moderate gradients.
  • Timber trail – 1.5km (1 mile) – some short optional red grade sections.
  • Red (difficult) grade trails

The Saw Pit – 500m (1/3 mile) 5mins – Packed full of technical features and favouring skill over speed, the two Saw Pit trails are a great place to develop your trail riding skills. The trails head downhill alongside each other, allowing you and a friend to ride side-by-side and push your limits.

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Cardinham Bike Trails

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails09Enjoy some off-road biking at the beautiful Cardinham Woods.  The 12km Bodmin Beast blue (moderate) grade cycle trail aims to set the benchmark for single track trails in Cornwall.

Suitable for cyclists with a moderate level of off-road experience and keen mountain bikers, this exciting trail explores the wooded slopes of the Cardinham Valley. You will encounter a number of technical climbs and descents, snaking single track trail and features such as tight bermed corners, small step downs, rollers and table tops. All features can be rolled over at a moderate speed. The trail is exposed to steep unfenced side slopes in places.

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The Goss Moor Trail

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails04Goss Moor is a 480 hectare National Nature Reserve (NNR) which is owned and managed by Natural England. There is a lot to see and do as you explore Goss Moor using the multi-use trail.

The 7 mile (c. 12 km) circular trail is mostly flat and relatively easy – much of it off road – allowing disabled and novice walkers and cyclists easy and safe access to the moors.  The trail is surfaced to be suitable for walking, cycling, horse-riding and for wheelchair or mobility scooter users and buggies. There are also additional and linking routes onto the nearby Tregoss Moor.

If you are using a wheelchair / mobility scooter you may need to have someone with you in some areas, as there are gates to open on parts of the trail.

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The Pentewan Trail and the Clay Trails

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails06The trail follows the old Pentewan railway between St Austell and Pentewan.

Start at Pentewan valley cycle hire just off the B3373, go through the cycle hire area, take a slight left and then bear right crossing a small bridge. Carry along the trail through a wooded area passing a caravan and camping site to your left.

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Mining Villages

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails05Exploring the mid Cornwall mining villages area using the old mineral tramway routes is a safe and fun way to experience both our industrial heritage and our open countryside.

Most of these trails, however, are linear and very often your return journey will pass by the villages themselves and other points which are intrinsically interesting and have the bonus of offering food and drink to sustain you on your adventure.

Have a look at the website: http://www.cornwalltrails.net/ from there you’ll see various trails to select from.

The Mineral Tramways and The Engine House Trail

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails07The rich mining area of Cornwall’s central mining district benefits from a 37.5 mile (60km) network of multi activity trails.

Many of the trails closely follow the tramway and railway routes once used to transport ore and vital supplies to and from the many tin and copper mines in the area to ports such as Devoran and Portreath.

Mineral Tramways PDF

Engine House PDF

Coast and Clay Trail

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails10One of the more challenging cycle rides but with an abundance of beautiful, ever-changing, Cornish scenery and some well known visitor attractions too.

The ride is mainly through quiet minor roads with an off road section at the Pentewan trail but due to some of the steep inclines it is suggested for experienced and fit riders!

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The St. Pirans Trail

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails12Heading north from Truro, the trail follows minor roads through the village of St Newlyn East before reaching Newquay, Cornwall’s most popular holiday destination.

From Newquay the route heads inland to the old market town of St. Columb Major and then travels north across Denzell Downs and on towards the thriving coastal village of Padstow.

The trail emerges on the banks of the Camel estuary, where it joins The Camel Trail which leads eastwards into the old county town of Bodmin, where it rejoins the main spine route.

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The North Cornwall Trail

the-ship-inn-cycling-trails11Overlapping with the West Country Way, the first part of the route follows the upper reaches of The Camel Trail out of Bodmin and onto the quiet lanes of Bodmin Moor.

From the beautiful village of Blisland, the route wends its way to Camelford. Sections of the trail offer panoramic views across to the coast before dipping back into more sheltered valley bottoms.

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