Mountain Biking and Bike Parks in Cornwall
- 12 months ago
- Activities
Having just experienced my first night-time mountain bike ride around the moon-lit Cardinham Woods (more on that shortly), it reminded me how every winter my focus shifts from Cornwall’s expansive coastline to its more sheltered woodlands. When Atlantic storms lash the beaches and whip the waves into a frenzy, there’s no better time to oil the bike chains and find your flow on the bumps and berms of our mountain biking routes.
This autumn in Cornwall has seen one of the best runs of well-groomed surf than we’ve seen in years, so the bikes had been piled in the back of the shed since spring. Then the wind swung onshore and someone suggested a night ride around Cardinham Woods’ 12km Bodmin Beast trail. Bike lights were essential to tackle its thigh-burning climbs and flowing downhills; the moon poised in a starry sky above towering pine trees. Owls hooting, rivers running, brakes squeaking… it was an epic experience.
However, it’s always best to test your gears and abilities on the trails by daylight first. So, here’s our top mountain biking trails and bike parks in Cornwall for some two-wheeled adventures this winter:
Cardinham Woods, Bodmin
Level: Moderate to difficult
Let’s start with Cardinham Woods, the stalwart of Cornwall’s mountain biking trails that beckons intermediate riders along 12km of varied terrain, mixing river crossings and hair-pin ascents, with moments of thrilling free flow, winding descents, and some cruisy enjoy-the-the-scenery sections, too.
The Bodmin Beast trail zigzags through a wooded valley, taking you from tree-studded peaks from where you can snare stunning views, to stream-edge trails wending beneath sun-dappled foliage. For the ultimate challenge veer off onto the fast-flowing reds, and take the vertical ascent up to Hell’s Teeth for a thrilling, narrow downhill.
Basic mountain biking skills are essential, but novice riders can enjoy it at a steady pace. It’s not without a few thigh-burning climbs, but a little pain is a small price to pay for the exciting downhills, snaking single track and a few technical table-tops, drop downs and rollers. And at the end of it, don’t forget to reward yourself hunks of homemade cake and freshly-brewed coffee in the cosy Woods Café.
Lanhydrock, Bodmin
Level: Easy to difficult
Not far from Cardinham Woods, the National Trust’s Lanydrock estate caters for all levels of cyclists, with a variety of bike trails, from family-friendly routes to more demanding woodland tracks. Test your ability in the skills area, wend along the super-easy green trail, cruise through the canopies on moderate blue trails, or tackle the tight berms of the zippy red sections.
What we love about Lanhydrock is that it’s fun for the whole family – from toddlers on tag-a-longs to proficient mountain bikers. Or you can just hangout in the café with an outdoor play area, while the biking enthusiasts in the family get their fix.
The skills loop is a great warm up, where you can hone your technique and assess which trails to tackle. There’s a super-easy green trail through the woodland, as well some moderate blue trails that combine simple technical features with woodland scenery. If you want to push your skills and speed on red trails, race around the berms and bumps of the ‘Saw Pit’ and other short technical sections – just make sure you have enough puff for the final uphill back to the carpark and National Trust café.
Old Hill Bike Park, Bodmin
Level: Easy to expert
One of our favourite spots for a quick-fix biking session, Old Hill Bike Park offers one-hour slots on its short, sharp and – at times – challenging, downhill trails. Making the most of a big hill just off the St Kew Highway, this family-orientated bike park in Cornwall beckons beginners on balance bikes, and experts that want to do some white-knuckle drops and jumps.
Old Hill is the ideal spot for keen mountain bikers to hone their skills, and to push your limits with some Red Bull level jumps and steep ramps. If you haven’t been to a bike park before, you can take the easier loops and less challenging options, and work up to your first air. Short trails allow you to rest as many times as you want, and make it easy for groups of different abilities to gather between runs.
The Track, Portreath
Level: Beginner to Expert
Family days out on two wheels can divide the ‘gung-ho want-to-whizz down big hills’ gang and the more nervous ‘getting-to-grips with mountain biking’ crew. Which makes The Track – a family-friendly bike park with miles of trails for all abilities – the perfect destination in Cornwall for bike enthusiasts.
Beginners can build their skills and confidence under the tutelage of biking experts, while those looking for hit of adrenalin can hit the jumps, ramps and downhill chutes to their hearts’ content. If you want something in between there are plenty of trails for you too. All the loops are short and spectator friendly, and bike hire is available onsite.
Woody’s Bike Park, Nr Fowey
Level: Intermediate and expert
If you’re serious about mountain biking, brace yourself for adrenalin-pumping downhills and the ease of an uplift at Cornwall’s first purpose-built bike park. Bringing British Colombia to Cornwall, Woody’s Bike Park offers all-day-long lifts, so you can ride its fast, flowing downhills as many times as your legs, and your nerve, can take it.
There’s a mix of trails, from easygoing blue routes that welcome kids and less experienced mountain bikers, to steep, technical – frankly quite scary – descents with rock gardens, steps and jumps where you can double your air time. You don’t have to use the uplift, there’s the option to push up the farm track for a whole day’s shredding, too.
Tamar Trails, Tavistock
Level: Easy to intermediate
Officially in Devon, these 25 km of off-road mountain biking trails wend alongside the River Tamar on the border of Cornwall and its neighbour. The Tamar Trails are pretty, gentle and a wonderful spot to shelter from the wild winter weather on a two-wheeled adventure.
If you’ve got beginners or nervous riders in tow, trundle through the woodland on the Mineral Railway Trail, that once linked Devon Great Consols Mine with Morwellham Quay. Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, follow the Wheal Maria Trail, which undulates beneath the trees, with lots of places to get your breath back while taking in views across the Tamar Valley.
Once you’ve worked up a sweat (and an appetite), fuel up at the Beech Café at the Tamar Trails.
If you don’t fancy the downhill thrill of Cornwall’s mountain biking trails, here’s a couple of easy-rider cycling routes:
mineral tramways Coast-to-Coast Trail
Porthreath to Devoran
Out of the web of mineral tramways criss-crossing Cornwall’s World Heritage mining landscapes, the Coast-to-Coast Trail is our firm favourite. Follow 12 miles of easy-going off-road trail from Portreath on the Atlantic coast, ticking off sea views, historic engine houses and magical woodland on route to a creek-side watering hole at Devoran on the south coast.
The Camel Trail
Padstow to Bodmin
Tracing 18 miles of disused railway between Padstow and Bodmin Moor, the Camel Trail is arguably Cornwall’s most popular cycle path. Traffic-free, level and stunning from beginning to end, it’s little wonder that it gets busy, especially in the warmer months. If you favour lush woodland and tea gardens try the six miles from Wadebridge to Bodmin; however, it’s the 5 miles between Wadebridge and Padstow that steals the limelight with its estuary views and waterside picnic spots.
Time to oil your chain and get bike-ready for a winter of freewheeling adventures in Cornwall? Tag us @cool.cornwall on your favourite rides, and let us know what you think of Cornwall’s mountain bike trails and bike parks.
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