Cornwall: Routes and Areas

I am planning to take my girlfriend cycling in cornwall in early september.
I have never been, so any advice on good routes/places to stay would be wicked. we are camping - and driving down from London.
The other half is not a very confident cyclist so any quieter routes the better.

Cheers

Search for "Cornwall"

Tarka Trail?

Think that's Devon actually, but looks pretty interesting. I'm a sucker for old railway shit.

We've just booked a couple of nights camping this weekend here; http://www.treagofarm.co.uk/index.html

Stayed there at the end of last summer and was fantastic, really really close to crantock and polly joke beach with a few good pubs within walking/cycling distance. Miles of quiet country lanes to ride around too so could be ideal - the coastline around that area is stunning!

Falmouth to Lands End via Constantine, Goon Hilly and the raf base is a lovely little ride

Anyone know any good mtb/offroad routes near St. Agnes/Perranporth?
Went out few a few hours today along the coast, some fun descents.
I had a big circle planned out on the OS map but found that loads of the footpaths were overgrown.

Mineral Trail from Portreath to Devoran - flat and scenic.
On the way stopping off at Poldice Valley for some fun.

have a look on CTC, lands end to john o'groats fourm - mickf has uploaded some nice offroad routes to toaster

Considering riding down to Cornwall for some R&R. Anyone got any recommended routes to get down there?

I am consider cycling down at some point in August as well to see my parents. I found this: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2417024

could maybe do with a bit of editing and straightening out. As long as it doesn't make it hillier.

I'd be keen to know a route that someone has tried and tested.

@neilp - how long do you think that would take?

Not sure, I was thinking of ironing out some of the kinks and going for it over the course of 24hrs, my parents live pretty close to who ever created this route. The nasty bit of doing this in one go is that the end section through Devon and start of Cornwall would be hard on tired legs.

If you wanted something a bit more pleasant though, could make a full day cycling to Sidmouth then do the remaining +100k the following day.

I've just got back from Newlyn - the whole area is full of really nice roads/routes for cycling, some good hills varying from long slogs to short sharp ones. It was really great but worth mentioning some of the yolkals aren't too keen on cycists!

Am off to Cornwall this week, staying near Bude. Anyone on here in that area, am thinking of taking either MTB or road bike, which would be more fun?

I live near Bude, James. Weather has taken a turn the last few days and been a bit damp and blow-ey out on the roads. I don't really ride much MTB but there are plenty of trails in nearby woods and the moors are easy accessible. I'd pop into southfork in town (bude) for a bit of local knowledge on the MTB scene. They go out weekly if you fancied a group venture.

If you bring the road bike, i'd recommend heading out to widemouth bay and pick up the coast road to milook> crackington> boscastle, then up to camelford and onto bodmin moor. from there you can head back to warbstow, week st mary and back to bude. mood depending it's easily extended by heading further down coast towards port isaac, or by heading more south once your up on the moors and exploring a bit... milook is a bit of a burner (25-30%er) but great views, so worth tasting breakfast again for. If you wanted a pleasant coastal descent and climb, boscastle is the nicest.

bude>stratton>bradworthy>east/west putford> langtree> torrington (can go traffic free on the tarka trail if you fancy)>hatherleigh>holsworthy is a nice (90-100k'ish) road route for a bit of a pacier affair. or head to sheepwash after torrington for more quiet country lanes.

exmoor is great, as is dartmoor if you can get a car to up to them to do a loop, plenty of stuff online.

widemouth> marhamchurch> week st mary> canworthy> maxworthy> north tamerton> holsworthy> bradworthy> shop> duckpool> stibb is a good loop from bude.
duckpool is a great spot in coombe valley, lovely walking round there, hawkers hut, et al.

essentially, just avoid (as much as possible) the a39 either side and you'll have some nice riding.

Awesome, depending on how bad my back is this gives me some great pointers.

I'm going to a wedding in Treyarnon Bay (near Padstow) in July, and will have 2 / 2.5 days free before it to do a mini cycle trip in Cornwall. I'd like something coastal and not on busy roads, with spots to wild camp along the way for the two nights. It'll have to start at a train station that's accessible from London, so probably a stop along the line to Penzance.

Any recommendations? Thanks!

July in Cornwallace - expect all roads to be busy.

Preferred mileage? As sorethroat says, the Devon and Cornwall coasts will be busy in July. However, the more isolated sections of coast potentially less so.

Consider jumping off at Tiverton Parkway and taking in Exmoor via Dulverton, some Tarka Trail, Clovelly and Hartland. Some likely camping spots around there, Welcombe Mouth Bay is also another potential spot. ( The Old Smithy Inn nearby was pretty nice IIRC last time I was in that area.) Then you've got Bude, Widemouth Bay, Crackington Haven,Boscastle, Tintagel(YHA here, but also potential around the church) and then Rock for a ferry to Padstow.

Yup, expecting it to be busy. I think between 80-100km will do me per day. Though given how undulating the roads will be, maybe closer to 80km.

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been to Bude before but not to the coast north of it, so could make a nice route from Bideford down the coast or something. Definitely tempted by doing some of the Tarka Trail too - forgotten it existed - will think of how to link it all together. Will probably bivvy rather than tent, so should be easier to find some discreet spots.

I’m down here. What sort of riding are you looking for? We have disused train trails, mtb trails, hilly costal roads, hilly Moorland, around the middle seems to be the flattest. Are you looking at the nicest riding or the best villages to visit?

I think a bit of both - coast with lots of small towns and pasty shops would be nice, but also open to moors if I can tie the two together. Hilly roads and some easy trails with nothing too gnarly / not too much hike-a-bike. Will be on my gravel bike with (hopefully) not too much weight.

I’ll drop PM you some of my favourite roads and routes tomorrow and you can use them to link up and make a mini tour.

Sweet, thank you!