Camel Bike Trail, Cornwall

Highlights of the Camel Bike Trail

The Camel Trail is incredibly popular and often considered some of the best cycling in Cornwall. Here’s a few reasons we think this family friendly, flat route appeals to so many…

• Padstow Harbour: Padstow’s bustling harbour, lined with brightly coloured shops, integrating boutiques and restaurants is beautiful. It’s the perfect place to grab a bite to eat and enjoy the buzzy atmosphere .
• Camel Estuary: Cycling from Padstow to Wadebridge (and vice versa), you’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Camel Estuary and Cornish countryside. The flat, easy path runs right alongside the estuary, offering panoramic vistas of the water and surrounding countryside. This section is particularly beautiful at high tide, when the estuary is full and sparkling. We also enjoyed the sand flats, birdlife and people enjoying the estuary waters.
• Wadebridge: This picturesque market town is a highlight, with a variety of shops, cafés, and pubs where you can take a well-deserved break. Wadebridge is also a great spot to hire bikes if you’re starting your journey here.
• Wadebridge to Bodmin: The stretch to and from Bodmin takes you through peaceful woodlands with native species such as oak, ash and beech. The platform signs for the long-gone railway are a nice piece of history and an interesting diversion.
• Camel Valley Vineyard: Just off the trail near Bodmin, you’ll find the award-winning Camel Valley Vineyard. It’s a nice detour for those interested in sampling some of Cornwall’s finest wines.
• Wenfordbridge: The trail ends at Wenfordbridge, a peaceful and less-travelled area. We’ve heard that the Snail Pace Café is worth a visit!
• Well located and plentiful bike hire and café stops along the trail make riding the Camel Trail a pleasant experience that doesn’t need too much advance planning.

Route notes: Camel Bike Trail

Bodmin to Wadebridge: 9 kilometres

The Bodmin to Wadebridge section of the Camel Trail cycle trail is through woodland.

In spring we’ve read the bluebells are wonderful, but in summer, when we rode it, it’s more about the varying shades of green.

The old train stations are also fun. From Bodmin, you pass Dumere Halt, Boscarne Junction, Nastallon Halt, Grogley Halt and Shooting Range.

At Boscarne Junction you can board a steam train and step back in time to the age of steam. From there, you can head to Bodmin General and Bodmin Parkway.

Points of interest

• Camel Valley tea garden
• Camel Valley Vineyard – note the vineyards aren’t visible from the trail, you need to take a short diversion to get there.
• Clip Clop Coffee, run from a converted horsebox on a nice grassy patch next to the trail.

Wadebridge

The Camel Bike Trail ends, rather abruptly, in Wadebridge and you’re unceremoniously on the road; fortunately, it’s a quiet residential road and there is a bike symbol in the middle of it, if not a bike path…

You have two options here; take the park diversion via the river or stick to the roads through Wadebridge. Although the GPS route above follows the official route, we did the former; I assume cycling is permitted through the park, as we saw lots of others doing the same, but take extra care and of course give way to pedestrians.

At the end of the park, you navigate the mini roundabout and then it’s road (with narrow cycle path) for a few hundred metres to the point you rejoin the Camel Trail. If you’re feeling nervy in this part, you could always hop on to the pavement and push your bike.

You know you’re nearing the start of the Wadebridge to Padstow section of the Camel Trail because there are tons of cyclists around and (at least) three massive bike hire outlets too.

If you’re looking for cafés, restaurants and shops, there are lots of options in the pretty market town of Wadebridge!

Wadebridge to Padstow – 8 kilometres

The Camel Bike Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow starts off generously wide, as you head towards the modern bridge over the River Camel. It narrows down again soon after.

This section of the Camel Trail is the most beautiful and most busy. It’s beautiful thanks to the River Camel to your right (although I thought we got a better sense of it as we cycled back from Padstow to Wadebridge and it was alongside us instead of the other side of the path – more on that here).

The Camel Trail hugs the river bank. There’s a thick hedge between the trail and the river, but there are large windows in it and in many places, you can either see through the hedge or it’s been cut low, so you can see over to the stunning river estuary.

About 4.5 kilometres from Wadebridge, you come to a quarry area with a café. Just after is the first creek, Pinkson Creek, and another creek a kilometre later. Both offer pretty views over sandbanks and salt flats at low tide, with these on one side of the path and the estuary on the other.

As you approach Padstow, you get views over to its rival, Rock, around the bay. Rock is home to a famously sandy beach, which you’ll also glimpse. If you’re keen to experience Rock, and have the time, there is a ferry between the two.

The other thing you’re bound to see as you approach Padstow and Rock, are lots of people enjoying themselves on the estuary. We spotted tons of boats and jet skiers. We had read there were meant to be otters, but I’m guessing they feel a little timid in high season and hide somewhere quieter!

Just before Padstow is a wonderful old bridge over the Little Petherick Creek. Makes for some great photos!

Padstow

It’s eye-opening to see how many bikes are parked up along the railings as you enter Padstow. Cycling is booming here!

The trail ends in Padstow and it looks like many people leave their bikes here and go for a wander around the town. It’s a good spot for lunch!

Points of interest

• Ben’s Crib Box Cafe – we enjoyed great toasted sandwiches and burritos.
• Foodie Padstow is a holiday destination in itself – the village is quaint and beautifully chic. You could easily loose a few hours browsing the boutiques…
• Rick Stein – You also can’t fail to notice the Stein influence. If it’s not the Stein Cookery School, it’s the Stein café and that’s before we’ve even got to the restaurant!
• Padstow Museum – I’m a sucker for local history and the small museum on the estuary front is gorgeous, with well-presented boards on everything from the history of the town to its soda machine (I loved the board which said they don’t know how it worked!) and the Hoss outfits.
• National Lobster Hatchery – we didn’t go in, but if you’re into lobsters, this is one for you!

Padstow to Bodmin

The reverse of what you’ve just read! If you’re wondering which way we’d ride it next time, read this.

Bodmin to Wenfordbridge – 22 kilometres

Full disclosure: the GPS route above goes the whole way to Wenfordbridge, but we only rode to Hellandbridge as, due to a puncture, we ran out of time. Martin from Explore by Bike had mentioned that this section is much quieter and that proved to be our experience; we didn’t pass any other cyclists between Bodmin and Hellandbridge, just a few walkers.

Don’t miss the left hand turn just after the bridge after the sign for the Borough Arms. After turning, you’re on the steepest downhill you’ll have done all day (not particularly steep), before turning right at the bottom.

This section makes quite a contrast to Padstow to Wadebridge. There’s far fewer people riding it, but also the scenery was perhaps, for the more critical cyclist, a little more bland as it’s through (spectacular, ancient) woodland with the river quite far below. However, if tranquil, peaceful cycling is your thing it’s perfect.

After Hellandbridge, we’re told the scenery opens out a little, with just Heligan Wood surrounding the river, but open land on the other side for some way. The last 2.5 kilometres from Tresarrett to Wenford Bridge look pretty open so I imagine there are some pretty landscapes to enjoy here. Martin from Explore by Bike tells us that Snail Pace Café is worth a visit. Next time!

Points of interest

• Helland Bridge – a 14th century, medieval bridge, with four points arches and a rounded arch.
• Wenford Dries – the Wenford Clay Dries were built in the early 20th Century as part of the china clay factory. They are believed to have been in use until 2002.
• Snail’s Pace Café – an off-grid eco café with a great reputation for food.

Cafés on the Camel Bike Trail

There are loads of refuelling options on the Camel Bike Trail. We’ve listed some of them above!

Where to stay

The beauty of cycling the Camel Trail is that you can start your ride at any point.

Check out accommodation options in Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin. 

The pretty town of Padstow

Tips

This article shares answers to some of the questions we had before we rode the Camel Trail. It includes useful information on a range of topics, including cycling etiquette on this popular multi use trail, bike hire services and level of fitness needed. We also unpack the history of the route.

We hope it’s useful and you have a fantastic experience when/ if you choose to cycle the Camel Bike Trail.

If you have further questions, drop a comment below!

Looking for more cycling routes in the UK?

Don’t miss these:

• Tarka Cycle Trail and FAQs
• Cycling the Hebridean Way, Scotland
• The Isle of Wight
• The Celtic Trail, Wales
• Best family cycling routes in the UK

Clare Dewey is a cyclist with a passion for travel. She set up epicroadrides.com in 2018 to help make it easy for cyclists to explore the world by bike. Today her mission is still inspiring cyclists to discover new places on two wheels - and doing what she can to make sure they have the best possible time while they're there. Clare has visited 50+ destinations around the world, many of them by bike.