Exploring the Camel Trail

The Camel Trail follows a disused railway along the estuary of the River Camel, running from inland Bodmin to Padstow on the coast via the major hub of Wadebridge. The route is largely flat and level, with a well-maintained surface ideal for cycling as well as buggies and wheelchairs – and of course, dogs are welcome.

Many people start exploring the Camel Trail from Bodmin or Wadebridge, and have lunch in Padstow before returning. There is better parking along the route than in Padstow itself, which can get very busy during the summer months. The trail is almost entirely off-road, with just a small amount on a public road in the centre of Wadebridge.

The total length from Wenfordbridge (outside Bodmin) to Padstow is 18 miles, but from Wadebridge to Padstow is just 5 1/2 miles. Bike hire is available at many points along the route, as are refreshments in cafés and coffee shops, with public toilets in Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow.

The route wends its way through the beautiful Camel Valley, and there is striking contrast in the scenery. There is a bird hide near the trail at the Wadebridge end of the estuary, and even without it, you can’t help but see huge numbers of birds here, from wading birds looking for their next meal at low tide to many different species of woodland bird.

If you’re really lucky, you might spot some of the rarer wildlife along the trail: otters, bats, kingfishers, little egrets, marsh orchids, marsh marigolds… Try not to disturb them, and please don’t pick the flowers!

If you wish to leave the trail, there are plenty of places to explore. Padstow is a working harbour, with a vast array of places to eat from Rick Stein’s restaurant to any number of ice cream parlours. Check out the wheelchairfriendly National Lobster Hatchery, or the stately home of Prideaux Place, or take the wheelchair-accessible ferry across the Camel to Rock - hang-out of royals and celebrities! In Bodmin, the notorious Victorian jail - now a museum, hotel and restaurant - is very close to the Bodmin end of the cycle trail.

Need to hire bikes?

Bridge Cycle Hire in Wadebridge has an array of bicycles that far exceeds most cycle hire businesses, with everything from adult tricycles, tandems and bicycles with a platform on the front to accommodate a wheelchair user in their chair, as well as tag-alongs suitable for small children, dogs, older children and adults. Give them a call on 01208 813050 to discuss what you need to make your family cycling adventure happen.

In contrast to the more rugged north, south-east Cornwall (from Saltash to St Austell) is known for a more sheltered coastline, but the area here is diverse and fascinating. Discover treasures such as the Eden Project and the ‘Cornish Alps’ - spoil heaps created by the china clay mining industry - as well as the majestic Fowey Estuary and picturesque fishing villages such as Fowey and Looe.

Many of the coastal towns are hilly, sometimes with narrow or cobbled streets, which can make access difficult for those in wheelchairs or who are unsteady on their feet. However, there is beautiful countryside on the Rame Peninsula, Bodmin Moor and along the coast, and historic locations such as St Catherine’s Castle in Fowey, the stately homes of Boconnoc and Mount Edgcumbe, National Trust properties at Cotehele, Antony House, and Lanhydrock, and the Norman ruins of Restormel Castle (English Heritage).

The major towns in this area are Bodmin, St Austell, Liskeard and Saltash, with Fowey, Looe, Polperro, Lostwithiel, Mevagissey and more within easy reach. The A30 main arterial route into Cornwall passes along the northern edge of this area, while the A38 from Plymouth enters through Saltash, following the mainline railway. Take the branchline along the Tamar Valley to Gunnislake, passing over the majestic viaduct at Calstock.