The best traffic-free bike rides around St. Breward

There are 9 dedicated traffic-free touring cycling routes around St. Breward featured in this guide. These routes offer a mix of challenges, with 3 moderate and 6 difficult options, ensuring there's something for various fitness levels.

The Camel Trail is a significant draw for touring cyclists seeking traffic-free paths. The section from Wenfordbridge is particularly popular, offering largely flat terrain through picturesque wooded countryside along the Camel Valley.

Yes, several routes offer circular options that incorporate traffic-free sections. For instance, the Camel Trail and St Mabyn Loop provides a moderate 28 km ride, blending the flat trail with more demanding sections to form a complete loop.

The routes around St. Breward traverse the diverse landscapes of Bodmin Moor, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You'll encounter rugged moorland, ancient woodlands along the Camel River, and impressive rock formations. Some routes also offer views of notable peaks like Roughtor and Brown Willy.

While cycling, you can explore several natural and historical highlights. Consider visiting Brown Willy Summit or Rough Tor for impressive views. For historical interest, the area features prehistoric settlements and ancient field systems. Further afield, you might find Tintagel Castle and Merlin's Cave.

The largely flat and traffic-free sections of the Camel Trail are ideal for families. The Camel Trail and Blisland Loop, for example, is a moderate 12 km route that incorporates parts of the Camel Trail, making it a good option for a family outing.

The best time to cycle these routes is generally during the spring and summer months (April to September) when the weather is milder and daylight hours are longer. This allows for more comfortable riding and better enjoyment of the scenic landscapes.

Parking is available at various access points, particularly for the Camel Trail. Wenfordbridge is a common starting point for routes like The Camel Trail – The Camel Trail loop from Wenfordbridge, and often has designated parking areas for trail users. Specific parking details can be found on individual route pages.

While St. Breward itself hosts the historic 11th-century Old Inn, routes often pass through or near villages and towns that offer refreshment stops. The Camel Trail, in particular, has cafes and pubs in towns like Bodmin and Wadebridge, which are accessible from various sections of the trail.

The area is highly rated by the komoot community, with an average score of 4.3 stars. Reviewers often praise the quiet, traffic-free sections, the stunning moorland scenery, and the blend of challenging climbs with more relaxed, flat paths, especially along the Camel Trail.

The longest route featured in this guide is the Fencer Stone Circle – Davidstow RAF Memorial Museum loop from St. Breward, which covers approximately 53.7 km. This difficult route offers a significant challenge with over 500 meters of elevation gain.