Planning a family adventure in Cornwall? You’re in luck! Cornwall isn’t just beaches and pasties (though we love both dearly). It’s also home to some of the most beautiful and family-friendly cycle paths in the UK. Whether your kids are just getting started on two wheels or ready for a mini-adventure, these cycle routes in Cornwall are perfect for making memories together.
Seaside Cycle Routes in Cornwall
These trails come with sea views, salty air, and plenty of beachy snack stops along the way!
The Camel Trail - Padstow to Wadebridge
Distance: 5.5 miles one way
Terrain: Flat, wide path (former railway)
Bike Hire: Yes: multiple options in Padstow and Camel Trail Cycle Hire Wadebridge too!
Best for: All ages, from toddlers in trailers to confident teens
A superstar on the Cornwall bike trails scene, The Camel Trail Wadebridge stretch to Padstow is peaceful, scenic and packed with family-friendly cafes along the way. It’s almost entirely traffic-free and super flat. Perfect for little legs!
Portreath to Devoran (Coast-to-Coast Trail)
Distance: 11 miles
Terrain: Mostly flat, with a few hills
Bike Hire: Yes: St Piran Cafe near Devoran
Best for: Kids 8+ or younger ones in tagalongs
This coast-to-coast Bissoe trail is a gentle adventure across Cornwall from the Atlantic to the south coast. Expect rivers, woodlands, mining heritage and beach views. Mostly off-road with well-marked paths, it’s ideal for families with slightly older kids or younger ones using child seats or trailers.
Par Beach Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Terrain: Easy, traffic-free
Bike Hire: No hire directly at trailhead
Best for: Small kids or short outings
Short and sweet, this traffic-free route leads from the Clay Trails to Sandy Par Beach. Perfect for smaller kids on scooters or first pedal bikes, it’s a gentle ride with space to play when you arrive. Pack buckets and spades for a post-ride paddle and sandcastle building competition.
St Austell to Pentewan Beach via the Pentewan Valley Trail
Distance: 3 miles
Terrain: Gentle incline
Bike Hire: Yes: Pentewan Valley Cycle Hire
Best for: Kids aged 6+ and up
This peaceful route via the Pentewan Valley Trail gently descends through lush woodland to the sea. It’s a shady, mostly flat ride that ends at Pentewan Sands - a perfect reward. Great for primary school kids gaining confidence. You can also detour to Heligan Gardens for a double-whammy day out.
Padstow to Harlyn Bay (quiet roads)
Distance: 4.5 miles
Terrain: Undulating country roads
Bike Hire: Yes, Several in Padstow
Best for: Confident older children or families used to quiet-lane riding
Prefer a circular route with sea views? Ride from Padstow to Harlyn Bay along quiet roads and country lanes. There’s a bit more uphill than the Camel Trail, but older children will love the mix of scenery and the promise of beach fun at the end.
Woodland & Nature Trails
Peaceful, shaded and full of birdsong, these forest routes are perfect for slower-paced family rides and little explorers.
Lanhydrock Cycle Trails
Distance: 1 to 5 miles
Terrain: Mix of easy and moderate trails
Bike Hire: Yes: National Trust hire on site
Best for: Ages 4+ with balance, trailer or pedal bikes
Lanhydrock offers some of the best child-friendly cycle routes in Cornwall. Set in stunning National Trust parkland, you’ll find green and blue-rated trails designed for younger riders. There are wide paths for balance bikes, gentle descents for growing confidence, and a café and adventure playground for post-ride refuelling.
Cardinham Woods (Bodmin)
Distance: 1 to 8 miles
Terrain: Forest roads & single-track (options for all levels)
Bike Hire: Yes: Trail Munki at Cardinham
Best for: Mixed-ability families - tots to teens
Cardinham Woods is a large piece of woodland that is a wonderland for families who like variety. Choose from an easy riverside loop or head out on the more adventurous “Bodmin Beast” with older kids. It’s peaceful, well signposted, and there’s a brilliant café waiting for you back at the car park. Run by Forestry England, there are also several non-cycling activities for families including the Gruffalo trail, play areas, picnic spaces and activity sheets.
Goss Moor Nature Reserve Trail
Distance: 7 miles
Terrain: Flat gravel track
Bike Hire: No official hire on site
Best for: Beginner riders, balance bikes, nature lovers
The Goss Moor Nature Reserve Trail is a flat gravel loop, ideal for younger children just finding their feet on two wheels. The quiet, car-free path winds through wetland meadows and moorland. It’s also a nature-lover’s paradise. Keep eyes peeled for dragonflies, birds and wildflowers. Bring binoculars and a picnic!
Tehidy Country Park
Distance: 4 miles
Terrain: Smooth, wooded paths
Bike Hire: No hire on site
Best for: Mini adventurers 3 - 8yrs
A gentle ride beneath ancient trees with 4 miles of dedicated cycle paths and a whole lot more to keep the little ones occupied, Tehidy Country Park is a peaceful escape full of wildlife, streams, and duck-filled ponds. It’s great for a short morning ride, especially with younger children on balance bikes. Stop and feed the ducks, then loop back for snacks and a rest at the on-site cafe.
Heritage & Mining Trails
Explore Cornwall’s mining past on these scenic, mostly off-road routes where history and nature collide.
Great Flat Lode Trail (Redruth)
Distance: 7.5 miles
Terrain: Some moderate climbs
Bike Hire: Yes: Elm Farm Cycle Hire nearby
Best for: Families with older children or e-bike fans
A looped trail around the Carn Brea, the Great Flat Lode Trail near Redruth offers epic views, wide gravel paths, and loads of history. Expect atmospheric ruins, winding tracks and old mining buildings to explore. Best suited to families with older kids or electric bikes. There are a few hills, but we promise the adventure will make them worthwhile.
Engine House Trail (Camborne area)
Distance: 24 miles (can be broken up)
Terrain: Varied; some hills
Bike Hire: Yes: Elm Farm Cycle Hire
Best for: Teens or families wanting a longer challenge
Part of the wider Mineral Tramway network, the Engine House Trail winds past dramatic engine houses and across open countryside. It’s long, but great for choosing a smaller section. You’ll find wide paths, gentle gradients, and lots of points to stop and learn along the way.
Mineral Tramway - Redruth to Bissoe
Distance: 7 miles
Terrain: Easy to moderate
Bike Hire: Yes: Saint Piran Cafe & Bike Hire
Best for: Confident younger riders and above
A favourite with locals and visitors alike, the Bissoe off-road trail takes you through the heart of Cornwall’s mining heritage. Kids can look out for old chimneys, sheep-filled fields and wildflowers along the trail. The café at Bissoe is a perfect place to pause for cake and lemonade.
Tresavean Trail (Lanner)
Distance: 2 miles
Terrain: Gently sloping
Bike Hire: No hire on site
Best for: Short & scenic rides with little effort
This short, scenic route near Redruth is a peaceful trail with lovely views and links into the wider Mineral Tramways if you want to go further. Ideal for an easy afternoon ride or an introduction to Cornwall’s tin mining history with little ones in tow.
Clay Trails (St Austell Area)
Colourful hills and quirky landscapes on traffic-free paths, The Clay Trails are set around the beautiful town of St Austell and its neighbouring Cornish villages.
Bugle Trail (to Eden Project)
Distance: 3.7 miles
Terrain: Firm gravel, gradual incline
Bike Hire: No hire directly at the trail
Best for: Kids 7+, or families headed to Eden
Ride from the quiet village of Bugle right down to the iconic Eden Project. The route follows old clay tramways and is well-surfaced and peaceful. It’s a gentle descent, ideal for young riders of primary school age. As an extra bonus, you can lock up the bikes at the Eden Project and explore the incredible rainforest domes on foot!
St Blazey to Par Trail
Distance: 2 miles
Terrain: Flat
Bike Hire: Yes: nearby in St Austell
Best for: Toddlers or easy-going afternoon riders
This short cycle is part of The Clay Trails and a hidden gem for families. Ride from the back of Eden through countryside and quiet tracks straight to Par Beach. It’s flat, family-safe and another great option for younger riders. A brilliant way to mix cycling with a day at the seaside.
Ready to Ride?
Whether you're coasting along estuaries, zig-zagging through the forest, or rolling past ancient engine houses, Cornwall has a cycle route for every family. These trails make it easy to explore together, stay active, and uncover a different side of Cornwall away from the beach. All while having plenty of fun.
Prefer a bike of your child’s own rather than hiring? Then don’t forget to check out our Latest YOMO Bike Collection today.