Walking and Cycling in North Cornwall
Walking | Cycling | Tourist Information Centres
CYCLING
IN NORTH CORNWALL.
The variety of coastal, moorland and valley trails in North Cornwall is ideal for two-wheeled touring. The most famous route is the Camel Trail, running 17 car-free miles from Bodmin through Wadebridge to Padstow along the beautiful Camel Valley.
A handy pack of Six Cycle Routes in the Bude and Holsworthy Area , makes the perfect saddle companion. Averaging 20 miles in length, the routes take you through North Cornwall and North Devon way-marked by Celtic crosses, quiet hamlets, medieval churches and country pubs.
Hiring bikes couldn't be easier: the cycling centres listed below will fix you up with anything from trailer bikes to tandems.
For those who like it rough, Cardinham Woods offers miles of off-road tracks and trails, while if you're a cyclist who wants to go one cog further, the West Country Way will give you something to get your teeth into.
Developed by Sustrans, the route takes you from Bristol or Bath, through North Devon, across the cliffs at Millook, through Blisland and down the Camel Trail to Padstow.
6 Cycle Routes in the Bude and Holsworthy Area £1.50
The pack
contains six cycle routes, each averaging 20 miles in length on quiet country
lanes. On each card there is a route map with illustrations, and on the other
side descriptive text detailing the route and its features.
Available
from Tourist Information Centres.
For mail order please ring 01840 250101.
Cycling
Bridge Bike Hire, Wadebridge (Camel Trail) (01208)813050
Brinhams Cycle and Tool Hire, Padstow (Camel Trail) (01841)532594
Giffords Cycles, Holoworthy (01409)254020
North Coast Cycles, Bude (01288)352974
Padstow Cycle Hire (Camel Trail) (01841)533533
Rent-a-Bike, Tintagel (01840)770060
Sustrans (0117) 929 0888
WALKING
IN NORTH CORNWALL.
From hazy summer days meandering the by-ways of close-knit harbour towns, to an exhilarating winter ramble along the highest cliff tops in the county, walking in North Cornwall is unforgettable.
There's plenty of help at hand too, in the shape of a series of leaflets and walk packs which show you the best routes and the points of interest along the way (see below).
On the paths from Port Isaac: to Tintagel in the Coastal Walks Pack, for example, as well as being guided along one of the most dramatic cliff scapes in Europe, you'll be taken back in time to the boom days of the pilchard fishing industry.
Follow one of the Circular Walks around Bude and you're on a way-marked journey which began 300 million years ago in the folds of the sandstone cliffs, and takes in peaceful Bude Canal and majestic Widemouth Bay.
But there's much more than cliffs and countryside in North Cornwall. On a Town Trail around Bodmin you'll find yourself in the middle of the town's turbulent history of rebellion and intrigue. On Village Trails you'll be walking cheek-by-jowl with the ghosts of smugglers, Revenue men and fishermen through lanes where every building has a story to tell.
And if you fancy taking on something more challenging, stride out on the Saints' Way, the ancient track which runs from Padstow, on the Camel Trail, to Fowey, forged by the early Christians travelling from Ireland to Brittany. You probably won't get all of its 26 miles under your feet in one day, but it can easily be tackled in comfortable sections. Below are some leaflets to help you on your way.
Saints' Way Guide - £3.99
Six circular walks along the ancient route forged by the Celtic Saints. Originally a Bronze Age trading route from the Camel estuary in the North to Fowey in the South, avoiding the dark and trecherous seas of Land's End.
Coastal Path Leaflets - £0.50
Each leaflet features an easy-to-follow map and a point by point illustrated guide highlighting items of interest. One way routes are designed to tie in with bus routes for the return leg.
Bedruthan to Padstow
Rock to Port Isaac
Port Isaac to Tintagel
Tintagel to Crackington
Crackington to Bude
Bude to Marsland Mouth
Circular Walk Leaflets - £0.50
These handy leaflets, featuring a map with illustrations, points of interest and local information, are the perfect way to discover North Cornwall. With waymarks along the way the routes are very easy to follow in the following areas.
Boscastle, Bossiney, Bude, Crackington Haven, Duckpool, Millook, Morwenstow, Polzeath, Port Isaac, Stepper Point,Trebarwith.
Circular Walk Packs - £1.50
Each containing six short circular walks, these informative packs of full-colour laminated cards, with an illustrated map and detailed information about the area, its features and the route, will help you explore North Cornwall.
Morwenstow to Millook,
Crackington Haven to Treligga,
Port Isaac to Porthcothan.
Village and Town Trails - £0.50
Each features an easy-to-follow map and a point by point illustrated guide.
Padstow Town Trail, Port Isaac Village Trail, Boscastle Village Trail, Bude Town Trail Camelford Town Trail, Launceston Town Trail,Bodmin Town Trail. Boscastle Three Church Walk, Boscastle Pentragon Walk, Boscastle to Tintagel Walk, St. Breward Village Trail and Wadebridge Town Trail.
Spotter Packs
6 Wildlife Spotter Cards - Full-colour illustrated charts of North Cornwall's natural history. £2.50
Geology Guide - Full-colour field guides to the geology of North Cornwall. £2.99
Seashore Guide - 6 full-colour identification cards of North Cornwall's marine wildlife. £2.99
North Cornwall 2002 - Atlantic Heritage Coast