Cornwall is just about the most beautiful county – rolling hills, beautiful seas, and all the wildlife and flowers you could possibly want. Plus, of course, the pasties and the ice cream!
If you are looking for family cycle routes in Cornwall, we’ve got you covered – let’s have a look at a few of the best routes there are:
4 Family Cycle Routes In Cornwall
Cardinham Woods
This wood is ideal for younger cyclists as they increase their ability, as you can choose different routes based on their ease.
You can start with a Green route, when your littles are getting used to cycling, and progress all the way up to Black, when they have been cycling for years and are proficient.
This woodland cycle ride will be a favourite with your family, especially if you start them early and encourage them to love cycling – they can conquer each different track as they improve in confidence and ability.
Enjoy a lovely meander through these beautiful mixed woodlands, passing pretty streams and seeing some amazing views.
If your little ones are very little, they might enjoy looking out for the various Julia Donaldson characters dotted along the way too!
All of the signposted trails will loop you back to your starting point in the car park, where there is a handy cafe where you can stock up on delicious tea, coffee, kids’ drinks and cakes.
The Camel Trail
This excellent cycle route can be tailored to your needs – you can do the whole thing, or just Wadebridge to Padstow, or Bodmin, or any other route that takes your fancy.
The route follows a disused railway of 18 miles, and is mostly traffic free and surfaced throughout. It is also pretty much flat, making it ideal for cyclists of all ages.
The whole trail has benches dotted along it, so you can stop for a rest and take in the gorgeous views, or have a little drink and a picnic
The distance between the towns is fairly short, so you can stop off for a bit of refreshment, or time it to arrive in one of them for lunchtime – all the Cornish towns will offer you yummy food!
You can learn all about the fascinating history of these little towns if you stop off and go for a wander about – Bodmin is particulary interesting, from the jail to the Moor – and you can scare yourself with tales of the legendary Beast!
If you make it all the way through this trail you will end up in Blisland – probably the prettiest village in the whole of the UK – which has a pretty church and a very nice pub.
The scenery will be beautiful, even on overcast days, and there is a lot of wildlife that you can spot along the way.
Many stops on this route will allow you to hire bikes, so if you fancy a spin and you haven’t brought yours, you can still get the family wheeling along.
Penzance To Marazion And St Michael’s Mount
This is the perfect cycle route for those with very little children, or those who are not particularly proficient yet.
It’s a four mile route, and all flat along the coast paths, so it’s ideal for little legs that get tired quickly.
As well as admiring all the beautiful scenery, you can stop off at the beach of Marazion, which has both pebbles and sand for playing in and a gentle sea for paddling.
Once you reach the end of the trail, you can pop across the causeway to St Michael’s Mount, as long as the tide is out.
This will add a whole new dimension to your cycle ride – you can turn it into a history lesson for your kids at the same time!
Cornwall puts on a fantastic flower display at the right time of year; see if you can spot the Pink Mallow, which can survive even on cliff edges right next to the sea!
This cycle route can also show you huge flocks of starlings, at the right time of year, so if you ride it at the right time you can see some impressive murmurations.
The town of Marazion has handy facilities such as toilets, pubs and cafes, so you can refuel yourself and your kids after you have finished your ride.
Mevagissey Pentewan Trail
This is a great trail for young ones who like cycling and are slightly older, so less likely to tire too quickly.
It is a 7.5 mile route, all along a flat former river valley. It is well surfaced, and the lack of hills will make everyone sigh with relief!
You’ll start in St Austell and travel to Mevagissey – but before you leave St Austell, why not visit the interesting Shipwreck Heritage Centre, or the Brewery Visitor Centre (just be sure not to sample the goods too much before you set off!)
This route is a traffic free section of the Cornish way, that will show you some beautiful scenery, woodlands and wild flowers.
The final stretch before you reach Mevagissey is a steep downhill, a chance for the kids to test out their speed!
Mevagissey is a busy village with a fantastically interesting history, including fishing and smuggling, so it’s ideal for your wannabe pirates.
You can rest your cycling legs with a trip around the museum, or enjoy a cuppa and cake at one of the many cafes.
This route also offers a 3 mile detour to the Lost Gardens Of Heligan; an absolute must-visit for anyone holidaying in Cornwall.
Final Words
Cornwall is truly one of our most beautiful places. Beaches, cliffs, cycle paths and wonderful wildlife – it really is the perfect cycling place.
With a lot of different routes to suit different abilities, family cycle routes Cornwall is a great way to get the kids out and about – and, if all else fails, you can bribe them with a pasty and an ice cream!
If you’re looking for more cycle routes, here is our guide to West Yorkshire.
