Walks & Cycle Trails Near Bodmin and Bodmin Moor — Your Complete Outdoor Guide

The ultimate guide to the best walking and cycling routes near Bodmin, Cornwall — from family-friendly flat trails to challenging mountain bike adventures

If you love the great outdoors, there are very few better places in England to base yourself than Bodmin. Sitting at the heart of Cornwall, with Bodmin Moor to the east, the Camel River valley to the north, and magnificent woodland and countryside in every direction, the town is blessed with an extraordinary range of walking and cycling opportunities that suit all ages, abilities, and ambitions.

Guests staying at Meadow Oak Accommodation on Lostwithiel Road are ideally positioned to access this wealth of outdoor adventure. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely family cycle along a flat riverside trail, a challenging mountain bike route through dramatic woodland, a gentle moorland walk past ancient Bronze Age monuments, or a long-distance multi-day trek along one of Cornwall’s famous named trails, you’ll find everything you need within easy reach of our front door.

In this comprehensive guide, we cover all the major walking and cycling trails near Bodmin and Bodmin Moor — with practical information, distance, difficulty ratings, and tips for getting the most out of each route.

Cycling Trails Near Bodmin

1. The Camel Trail — Cornwall’s Iconic Traffic-Free Cycle Route

Without question, the Camel Trail is the most celebrated cycling route in Cornwall, and with very good reason. Stretching for 18 miles (29km) along the course of a disused Victorian railway line, this magnificent traffic-free trail winds from Wenfordbridge on the edge of Bodmin Moor, through the town of Bodmin, along the banks of the River Camel through Wadebridge, and all the way to the magnificent harbour town of Padstow on the north Cornwall coast.

The trail follows the route once used by the London and South Western Railway, which means it benefits from the railway engineer’s art of avoiding steep gradients — making it largely flat throughout its entire length and ideal for families, less experienced cyclists, and those who simply want to enjoy the landscape without working too hard. The surface is well-maintained tarmac and packed gravel, and the route is suitable for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders, and wheelchair users.

The scenery along the Camel Trail is simply stunning. The section from Dunmere (just north of Bodmin) through the Camel Valley to Wadebridge winds through a beautiful wooded river valley where the quiet is broken only by birdsong and the sound of the river. Keep a close eye out for kingfishers, otters, little egrets, dormice, bats, and marsh orchids — the trail passes through both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.

Beyond Wadebridge, the trail opens out as it follows the Camel Estuary towards Padstow, with breathtaking views across the tidal waters, sandbanks, and the surrounding countryside. Arriving in Padstow — with its superb restaurants, harbour, and Rick Stein empire — after a cycle along the trail feels like a genuine achievement and a wonderful reward.

Practical information:

• Total distance: 18 miles (Wenfordbridge to Padstow); the most popular section is 11 miles between Wadebridge and Padstow
• Difficulty: Easy — virtually flat throughout
• Bike hire: Available at Padstow, Wadebridge, and Bodmin
• Start point from Meadow Oak: The Borough Arms pub at Dunmere, Bodmin (just 10 minutes from Meadow Oak)
• Highlights: Camel Valley, Wadebridge, Rock, Padstow; wildlife spotting throughout

Top tip: Consider cycling from Bodmin to Padstow (approximately 11 miles), then catching the bus back — or combine the trail with a journey on the Bodmin & Wenford Steam Railway for a wonderfully memorable day.

2. Cardinham Woods — The Bodmin Beast and Forest Trails

For mountain bikers and more adventurous cyclists, Cardinham Woods on the western edge of Bodmin Moor is the premier destination in mid-Cornwall. This Forestry England site encompasses a dramatic wooded valley of dark conifers and mixed woodland, and it is home to one of the most celebrated mountain bike trails in the south-west: the legendary Bodmin Beast.

The Bodmin Beast is a 12km (7.5 mile) single-track trail that explores the slopes and wooded valleys of the Cardinham Valley in style. Rated blue (medium difficulty), the trail features technical ascents, exhilarating descents, tight banked corners, rollers, tabletops, and a series of winding tracks through the trees that will challenge experienced cyclists and reward them with a genuinely thrilling ride. The setting — dense woodland, dappled light, the sound of the stream below — adds enormously to the atmosphere.

For those who want even more challenge, two red-grade sections loop off the main Beast trail: Hell’s Teeth (1 mile) and Dialled in Dave (0.5 miles). These sections include steep sections and particularly technical terrain and are strictly for proficient mountain bikers.

The woods also offer a number of family-friendly footpaths and gentler forest trails for those who prefer walking or a more leisurely ride. The network of paths through the trees includes routes alongside the picturesque Cardinham Water stream, and there are several viewpoints offering lovely views across the valley.

The Woods Café at Cardinham is a much-loved institution among local cyclists and walkers — a charming barn café serving superb homemade food and excellent coffee using locally sourced ingredients. It is absolutely worth building into any visit to the woods, and on a sunny day the outside seating area is perfect.

Practical information:

• Distance: 12km (Bodmin Beast); family trails vary
• Difficulty: Blue (Beast) / Red (Hell’s Teeth, Dialled in Dave) / Easy (family footpaths)
• Bike hire: Available at Cardinham Woods
• Café: Woods Café on site — excellent!
• Distance from Meadow Oak: Approximately 10–15 minutes by car
• Open: Dawn to dusk daily, except Christmas Day

3. Lanhydrock Bike Trail — National Trust Estate Cycling

The Lanhydrock Estate near Bodmin offers a fantastic range of cycling trails within the grounds of one of the National Trust’s most loved Cornish properties. The trails are colour-coded to suit different abilities, making this an excellent destination for families and mixed-ability groups.

The green trail is wide, smooth, and suitable for beginners, families with trailers, tag-alongs, and child seats. It winds through the estate’s beautiful woodlands along the banks of the River Fowey, passing through areas of outstanding natural beauty at a comfortable pace. The blue and red trails offer progressively more technical and demanding riding, with more elevation, tighter bends, and longer climbs for those wanting a more serious workout.

Cycle hire is available on the estate, and the excellent café and restaurant at Lanhydrock is a wonderful destination for a post-ride meal or cream tea. The combination of outstanding cycling, beautiful house and gardens to visit, and excellent facilities makes Lanhydrock one of the most complete outdoor destinations in Cornwall for families and cycling enthusiasts alike.

Distance from Meadow Oak: Approximately 5–10 minutes by car. You can also cycle from Meadow Oak along quiet lanes to reach the estate.

4. The Clay Trails — Cornwall’s China Clay Country

East of Bodmin, the distinctive white-tipped landscape of Cornwall’s China Clay Country around St Austell has been transformed by a network of quiet cycling paths known collectively as the Clay Trails. These largely traffic-free routes wind through a unique and dramatic industrial landscape of towering conical clay tips (sometimes called the ‘Cornish Alps’), turquoise lakes and pools coloured by mica, and historical buildings from the 300-year history of china clay mining.

There are nine distinct routes within the Clay Trails network, ranging from easy flat paths to more challenging circular routes. Highlights include the Eden Project to Wheal Martyn Trail (5 miles), which crosses heathland and woodland past working mines before arriving at the spectacular Eden Project; the Pentewan Valley Trail (3.5 miles), a gentle route from St Austell to the coastal village of Pentewan with its sandy beach; and the Bodelva View Circular, which offers panoramic views across the clay country landscape.

The Clay Trails are an excellent choice for those who want to experience a completely different side of Cornwall from the beaches and moors — a landscape that is both industrially fascinating and surprisingly beautiful.

Distance from Meadow Oak: Approximately 20–30 minutes south-east towards St Austell.

5. The Goss Moor Trail

The Goss Moor Trail is a 7-mile (12km) circular cycle route around the Goss Moor National Nature Reserve near the villages of Roche and Indian Queens. Once infamous as a traffic bottleneck on the A30, Goss Moor has been beautifully transformed into a peaceful nature reserve and cycling/walking destination of genuine quality.

The trail is relatively flat, mostly off-road, and ideal for families and less experienced cyclists. The Goss Moor National Nature Reserve is home to a remarkable range of rare plants and animals, including Southern damselflies (only found in a handful of UK sites), marsh orchids, sundews, and a wide variety of wetland birds. The circular route passes through the heart of the reserve and offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout.

Distance from Meadow Oak: Approximately 25–30 minutes northwest via the A30.

6. The North Cornwall Trail (Bodmin to Bude)

For more experienced and ambitious cyclists, the North Cornwall Trail is a magnificent challenge. This 40.5-mile (64.6km) route runs from Bodmin northward to the Devon border near Bude, overlapping initially with the upper reaches of the Camel Trail before striking out across the quiet lanes and remote moorland of north Cornwall.

The trail passes through the beautiful village of Blisland — one of Cornwall’s most attractive moorland villages — before climbing to Camelford and heading north through some of the most remote and dramatically beautiful countryside in the county. As the trail approaches the coast near Bude, there are panoramic views across to the sea and the spectacular clifftop scenery of the north Cornish coast.

The trail is suitable for walkers, cyclists, and horse-riders, and can be completed in sections over multiple days using Meadow Oak as a base. There are plenty of excellent pubs, cafés, and accommodation options along the route.

Walking Routes Near Bodmin and Bodmin Moor

7. Bodmin Moor — Moorland Walks and Ancient Monuments

Bodmin Moor — the rugged granite heartland of Cornwall — offers some of the finest moorland walking in the south-west of England, and it is right on the doorstep of Meadow Oak Accommodation. Covering some 80 square miles of open moorland, ancient woodland river valleys, and dramatic granite tor country, Bodmin Moor is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is one of the most rewarding walking destinations in the country.

The moor contains two of the highest points in Cornwall: Brown Willy (1,378ft/420m) and Rough Tor (1,312ft/400m). Both offer magnificent panoramic views across the moor and the surrounding Cornish countryside, and both are accessible on straightforward but rewarding walks from car parks near the village of St Breward or the slopes of Rough Tor.

For walkers interested in prehistoric history, Bodmin Moor is extraordinary. The Hurlers — three interlocking Bronze Age stone circles near the village of Minions — are among the most impressive prehistoric monuments in England, and the walk from Minions past the Hurlers to the geological marvel of the Cheesewring is a classic moorland circuit that takes in both the history and the dramatic landscape in a single outing. The village of Minions is itself a wonderful destination, with the welcoming Cheesewring Hotel offering excellent food and local ales.

Dozmary Pool, near Bolventor, is another of the moor’s iconic destinations — a lonely, often hauntingly atmospheric lake associated in Cornish legend with King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake. A walk around the pool, particularly in autumn or winter mist, is a genuinely atmospheric and memorable experience.

Golitha Falls on the southern edge of the moor, near the village of St Neot, is one of the hidden gems of the entire region. This spectacular series of cascading falls and rapids along the River Fowey, set within an ancient oak woodland of extraordinary atmosphere, is one of those places that simply has to be seen to be believed. The National Nature Reserve around the falls is managed to protect ancient woodland species, and the walk along the river is genuinely magical.

Practical tips for moorland walking:

• Always wear sturdy waterproof boots
• Carry an OS Explorer map (Sheet 109 covers Bodmin Moor)
• Check weather forecasts before heading out — the moor can be very exposed
• Much of the moor is open access land for walking, but cycling and horse-riding require landowner permission

8. The Camel Trail Walking Route

While the Camel Trail is perhaps best known as a cycling route, it is also a superb walking trail throughout its entire 18-mile length. Walking allows you to slow down and fully appreciate the extraordinary range of wildlife and scenery along the route, and many walkers choose to do sections of the trail and return by bus or by combining with the steam railway.

The most popular walking sections are between Dunmere and Wadebridge (approximately 5 miles of beautiful wooded riverside walking) and the shorter but spectacular section between Wadebridge and Padstow (approximately 5 miles of estuary views).

9. Lanhydrock Estate Walks

The Lanhydrock Estate near Bodmin offers excellent walking on well-maintained paths through ancient woodland and along the banks of the River Fowey. The estate’s network of trails is marked on maps available from the National Trust visitor centre, and various circular routes of different lengths can be combined to suit whatever time you have available.

Walking through the estate in spring — with the woodland floor carpeted in bluebells and the higher gardens spectacular with magnolias and camellia blooms — is one of the most beautiful experiences in Cornwall.

10. The West Cornwall Way

For long-distance walkers, the West Cornwall Way is a spectacular multi-day walking route that traverses the length of Cornwall from its most westerly point at Land’s End to the Devon border. The route passes through Bodmin on its way across the peninsula, making Meadow Oak a natural stopping point for walkers undertaking this impressive journey.

11. The Copper Trail

The Copper Trail is a remarkable 60-mile circular walking route that loops around the edge of Bodmin Moor, linking the villages and hamlets of the moorland fringe and passing through landscapes shaped by centuries of tin and copper mining. The trail takes in ancient engine houses, stone circles, moor crosses, and remote moorland commons, making it one of the most historically rich walking routes in Cornwall.

The trail can be walked in sections over several days, and many walkers choose to base themselves at Meadow Oak in Bodmin to tackle sections of the route before returning each evening.

Hire Electric Bikes at Meadow Oak

One of the most exciting ways to explore the trails around Bodmin is by electric bike, and Meadow Oak is happy to help guests access e-bike hire options in the local area. Our guests frequently tell us that hiring an e-bike transforms their experience of the Camel Trail and Cardinham Woods — allowing them to travel further, tackle the occasional incline with ease, and spend more time enjoying the scenery rather than worrying about the gradient. Ask us for recommendations when you book your stay.

Plan Your Walking and Cycling Holiday from Meadow Oak

Whatever your outdoor passion — whether you’re a dedicated mountain biker chasing the Bodmin Beast, a family enjoying a leisurely pedal along the Camel Trail, a serious walker determined to conquer Brown Willy, or a casual rambler exploring the gorgeous Lanhydrock woodland — Meadow Oak Accommodation is the perfect base for your Cornish outdoor adventure.

Our comfortable, affordable rooms — including the famous Cardinham Room named after the stunning woodland just minutes away — offer everything you need to rest and recover after a day on the trails. We’re happy to help with route planning, local knowledge, and recommendations for cafés and pubs along the way.

We offer a range of stay options to suit all types of guests. Our short breaks are ideal for a focused cycling or walking weekend, while our long stays give you the time to properly explore the extraordinary range of routes on offer. Our self-catering option is particularly popular with cyclists and walkers who want the flexibility to prepare packed lunches and early breakfasts before heading out on the trails.

Check out our facilities page to see how we cater specifically for the needs of active guests, and visit our places to visit page for further inspiration and ideas for your Cornwall adventure.

If you’re planning a relaxing break that includes plenty of gentle walking and outdoor time, or a romantic break with a partner who shares your love of the outdoors, Meadow Oak is the ideal choice.

Book your walking and cycling holiday in Bodmin today at Meadow Oak Accommodation.