Child-friendly cycling in Cornwall
Entertaining children on holiday is sometimes quite a task. Cycling will not only get some leisurely exercise into your break, but is also a way to keep young members of the family occupied whilst seeing some wonderful Cornish scenery.
You will find bike hire establishments dotted all over the county, equipped with tagalong bikes and trailers to hire for those youngsters that are not at the stage to ride by themselves. Make sure to ask the helpful staff for advice on the best bike options for you and your children.
Below we highlight our favourite Cornish cycle routes that are suitable for children and all the family will love to explore.
The Camel Trail
The Camel Trail is not only one of the most well-known cycling trails in Cornwall, but it is also one of the most family-friendly routes as well due to its flat surface and a number of bike hire establishments to rent bikes for the day.
Wherever you start and finish your cycle ride, whether it be Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge or Padstow, there are many cafés and restaurants waiting to welcome you in for those all important refreshments (a slice of cake or a Cornish cream tea should give your child the motivation to keep peddling). Over recent years, pop-ups have appeared on the trail offering drinks and snacks along the way, so if you’ve forgotten a bottle of water at one end, you don’t have to wait until your final destination to quench your thirst.
For properties near The Camel Trail, take a look at our collection of holiday cottages in Wadebridge and Padstow.
Cardinham Woods
Although mainly known for its walking trails and mountain biking, Cardinham Woods is the perfect place for really young children just starting out on bikes. The Lady Vale route is an all-ability trail which follows the stream running through the woods. At one and a half miles long, it’s not too far for toddlers on balance bikes or stabilisers to have a go and get some practice in.
The Woods Café near the car park is one of our favourite tea rooms in Cornwall. We highly recommend stopping here after your cycling excursion and reward yourself with a snack – the savoury cream team is a must-try!
For holiday properties near Cardinham Woods, click here.
The Clay Trails
Interconnecting many towns, villages and landmarks in the St Austell area, The Clay Trails offer scenic cycle routes that take in the coast, country and lots of interesting history. Some of the trails are a little more challenging than others, but most of them are flat and will be suitable for family adventures.
One of the best child-friendly routes is the three-mile ride through the Pentewan Valley, which is very flat and connects the main nearby town of St Austell to the beautiful coastal village of Pentewan, following the old Pentewan railway through secluded woodland. Another of our family favourite trails is Wheal Martyn to St Austell, a two miles flat route which is great for all ages, and really showcases the industrial Cornish heritage in the area.
We have a great collection of self-catering holiday cottages in St Austell with easy access to The Clay Trails. Click here to browse properties in the area.
Tehidy Country Park
Such a beautiful setting for a bike ride, Tehidy Country Park is all off-road, with mostly flat woodland trails and footpaths suitable for all ages and level of experience to enjoy. There’s many routes to cycle around whilst taking in the amazing woodland environment and feed the ducks, as well as plenty of places to sit and enjoy a picnic to refuel.
Tehidy County Park is located between the A30 and the north Cornish coastline near Portreath. It can be easily accessed from most of mid and west Cornwall, but click here for properties nearby.