Walking and cycling trails

Cardinham Woods near Bodmin is a great place to take the little ones, with its character activity walking trails, and the older ones can go cycling or mountain biking. There’s a picnic area with barbecues and a play area, plus a café if you’d prefer someone else to cook.

There are a number of dedicated walking and cycling trails in the area, including the popular and largely traffic-free Camel Trail, which runs from Padstow to Wenford Bridge via Bodmin and Wadebride. You can hire bikes from Wadebridge or Padstow, and join it at various points along the trail.

Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor

Or for true wilderness, we are not far from Bodmin Moor in Cornwall and Dartmoor in Devon. Both are unique, wild, open moorlands with distinctive granite features, offering a range of remote walks and rugged hills climbs for all ages and abilities. Why not pack a picnic and enjoy it with panoramic views at the top of one of the tors?

Sandy beaches

And then, of course, there’s the coastline. Over 300 miles of it in Cornwall alone. Visit the stunning sandy coves of North Cornwall – surf, swim, play and relax – cool off with a paddle in the sea, discover what’s hiding in the rock pools, build sandcastle cities, catch some waves, enjoy lunch alfresco or run free across the sand. Check out our pick of nearby beaches here.

The South West Coast Path

For a different perspective of the coastline, explore a section of the South West Coast Path along the clifftops, spot wildlife and enjoy spectacular views across the Atlantic Ocean. Look out for seals and dolphins, and count how many varieties of seabirds or flowers you can spot.