 |
 |
|
|
NEW for 2010!
Start/finish: Wadebridge/St Just
Total distance: 106 miles (170 km).
Average daily distance: 18 miles (28 km).
Tour difficulty 2: Medium
Transfers available from: Bodmin Parkway station; Newquay Airport.
Cycle hire: add £60
Price: £525
Arrive in Wadebridge
Check in for your first night's accommodation at the Molesworth Arms, a 16th century coaching inn in the north Cornish town of Wadebridge.
In the afternoon you are free to explore the shops and cafes of Wadebridge, or you could stretch your legs by cycling the Camel Trail to Padstow. If you are hiring a cycle for the tour we will set you up and make all the necessary adjustments in the afternoon, to ensure you are ready to go in the morning.
Preferred accommodation: The Molesworth Arms, Wadebridge |
 |
Wadebridge to Lanlivery - 16 miles (25 km)
Leaving Wadebridge, your tour begins with a gentle cycle along the Camel Trail, from where a short detour takes you to the award-winning Camel Valley Vineyard.
Continuing along the river towards Bodmin, you pass an 18th century jail (Bodmin Jail) and the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, where steam locomotives still ride the rails.
Then it's on to the unspoilt village of Lanlivery for your overnight stop at The Crown Inn, a 12th century longhouse.
Preferred accommodation: The Crown Inn, Lanlivery |
 |
Lanlivery to Mevagissey - 14 miles (22 km)
In the morning you will pass The Eden Project and ride along parts of the Clay Trails. Then it's on to the historic port of Charlestown which was used as a location for filming Poldark and Jane Austin’s Persuasion. There is also a shipwreck museum here where you will see tall ships docked, and The Rashleigh Arms is a great lunch stop.
The day's destination is Mevagissey, a small working fishing village with narrow streets filled with gift shops, cafes, galleries and pubs.
Preferred accommodation: The Ship Inn, Mevagissey
|
 |
Mevagissey to Falmouth - 19 miles (31 km)
From Mevagissey the route takes you through country lanes, past beaches and the impressive Caerhays Castle, deeper into the beautiful Roseland Peninsula.
Here you pass St Mawes Castle, one of Henry VIII’s coastal fortresses, before coasting down the hill to the beautiful scenic village of St Mawes, where you catch the ferry to Falmouth.
Falmouth is home to the world's third largest natural harbour and the National Maritime Museum.
Preferred accommodation: The Gyllyngvase House Hotel, Falmouth.
Option to vary route: With the last St Mawes to Falmouth ferry leaving at around 4.30pm, cyclists have the option to stay overnight in St Mawes if they would prefer a more leisurely day. Alternative accommodation is in The Victory Inn, St Mawes, and has a surcharge of £25 per person.
|
 |
Falmouth to Porthleven - 23 miles (37 km)
Leaving Falmouth the route passes Trebah Gardens and the beaches of Swanpool and Maenporth, before turning inland to cross the Lizard peninsula. Cycling through some of the most unspoilt villages on the Helford River, the route takes you to the town of Helston, home of the Flora Dance festival.
From Helston there is a short ride down to the fishing village of Porthleven, which is home to an array of pubs, cafés and art galleries, as well as one of the best surfing breaks in the country.
Preferred accommodation: The Harbour Inn, Porthleven.
|
 |
Porthleven to Mousehole - 17 miles (27 km)
From Porthleven you cycle along coastal lanes to the seaside village of Marazion, which affords breathtaking views over St Michael's Mount and Mounts Bay.
From Marazion there is an easy, level ride around Mount's Bay to Penzance and neighbouring Newlyn. Both towns have large harbours and big fishing fleets, so there is always plenty going on here. It's also an ideal place for lunch.
The tour follows the coast road to Mousehole, a cosy fishing village with real charm and character.
Preferred accommodation: The Ship Inn, Mousehole
|
 |
Mousehole to St Just - 17 miles (27 km)
The final day of the tour takes you past the tiny coastal hamlet of Lamorna - a popular subject for the Newlyn School of artists in the late nineteenth century.
Further west is Porthcurno, home to the Minack Theatre ( a unique place where the auditorium and stage are carved into the cliff above the sea). Performances are held here throughout the summer.
From Land's End, England’s most westerly point, it is possible to see the Isles of Scilly on a clear day.
Then it's on to one of the most ancient mining districts in Cornwall, St Just. Cornwall's mining heritage is clearly visible here, with the spectacular clifftop scenery studded with mine engine houses and chimney stacks.
Photos Top: Minack Theatre at Porthcurno, Visit Cornwall/Paul Watts. |
 |
|
|
|
