9-day Cornwall Cycling Holiday

Protected from Atlantic storms, St. Ives was once the most important fishing port in Cornwall, but like elsewhere on the surrounding coast, by the beginning of the 20th century, the fish stocks became depleted and the fishing fleet largely disappeared. However as early as 1811 Turner visited to paint the seascapes and by the late 1880s there were several artists installed and the town became famous for its vibrant artists’ colony. 

Challenge: 41 km / 25.4 mi, 617 m ascent

Then you’ll head east, passing some ancient remains, and cycling through the semi tropical valley at Lamorna. The route runs down the coast of Cornwall to Mousehole (pron’Mowzl’), another picture postcard village. It has a history of pilchard fishing and now has a small artists community. You then pedal through Newlyn and into Penzance. 

Before Treen you can take a little detour to Porthcurno which is home to the Minack Theatre. It is dramatically situated and built by Rowena Cade - a unique place where the auditorium and stage are carved into the cliff above the sea, and above a wonderful bay.

Challenge: 58 km / 36 mi, 740 m ascent

Pedal out inland towards Helston before riding alongside RNAS Culdrose, which is one of the largest helicopter bases in Europe. Heading south you make your way towards Mullion Cove along some wonderful country lanes. The route continues due south to Lizard Point the southern most point of the UK! It is worth spending some time here exploring the beautiful coastal cliffs and you may even see a seal or two.  
 
From here you pass inland across the heath of Goonhilly Down to St Keverne to view its pleasant village square and remarkable churchyard where over 400 shipwreck victims of the nearby Manacle Reef are buried. Continue to Helford and round the pretty villages that surround the Helford River. Here you need to take the short ferry across the Helford River. On the other side you could drop into the famous Trebah Gardens, before continuing through to the pretty cove at Swanpool for a coffee or an icecream. Finally you roll into Falmouth, home to the world’s third largest natural harbour and the National Maritime Museum.

Challenge: 68 km / 42 mi, 860 m ascent

You start today's cycling with a ferry ride from Falmouth to St. Mawes. It is a remote pleasant little yachting harbour at the end of the Roseland Peninsula, which boasts a clover leaf castle. Today is hilly as you visit various attractive coves on the route, you are cycling across the pretty Roseland Peninsula passing through Veryan (with its round houses) Portloe and Portholland. Then cycle along country lanes with some steep hills to the old fishing and smuggling village of Mevagissey.

The hilly route continues to your overnight stop in Charlestown. This attractive old port was used as a location for filming Poldark and Jane Austin’s Persuasion. Today or tomorrow you could visit the Eden Project, famous in Cornwall it is a biosphere reserve with tropical gardens.

Challenge: 46 km / 28.6 mi, 790 m ascent

Today you ride coast to coast. Heading towards the Eden Project, in the old China Clay pits, you avoid the busiest roads, to ascend the quiet lane through Tregrehan Mills to join a rough track that goes to the project. At a junction, if you want you can do an excursion off along the Clay Trails - a landscape well known for its clay tips and pits created by the 250-year-old clay mining industry. Then onto Bodmin, which has an 18th century gaol where you could break for lunch. Leaving Bodmin, your Cornish Cycle tour ends with a gentle cycle along the Camel Trail. Follow the river towards Padstow and you have now completed this exciting loop of Cornwall.

Challenge: 46 km / 28.6 mi, 500 m ascent

Depart Padstow after breakfast.