Cornish Contrasts – Cornwall Cycling Short Break
Based in the small characterful town of Helston, this two to four night self guided cycling break covers a wide range of Cornish coastline from long sandy beaches and rocky coves to dramatic cliffs and creeks as well as the harbour towns on Portreath, Penryn and Falmouth.
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Grade:
- Comfort: B&B
- Start/Finish: Helston
- Distance: 64.5 to 93.5 miles
- Duration: 3 - 5 Days
- Availability: All year, any day start
- Altitude:
Enjoy a two night three day, three night four day or a four night five day tour.
Day 1 – Ride down the west coast through the delightful Church Cove to Mullion from where you can continue all the way down to Lizard, the most southerly point of the British mainland. This also takes you to Kynance Cove where the combination of the rare serpentine rock and the powerful sea has produced amazing beaches with cliffs, caves and islands. The next section takes you across the Goonhilly Downs where the solid rock makes a good stable platform for the satellite tracking station.
Day 2 - Cycle through the Penrose Estate, an area of woodland around the Loe Pool now owned by the National Trust. Continue to Porthleven, a working fishing port and then follow the coast west to Praa Sands, a mile long sweep of sand renowned as one of Cornwall's finest family beaches that’s popular with surfers. A little further on is one of Cornwall's most famous landmarks, St. Michael's Mount, a little island community that can be reached by causeway during low tide.
Approx distance: 19 or 27 miles
Day 3 - Ride out to Wendron and on to the site of a reconstructed mining village. A huge beam engine dominates the site above ground while below you can explore the old tunnels and workings. The cycle ride continues through mining country with several old engine houses dotting the landscape. Continue cycling to Penryn, which was once the main port in this area before moving down the coast to Falmouth. There is still an active fishing fleet here and the docks still repair and refit some large ships although leisure is now a more important business with several exotic gardens, a maritime museum and pleasant beaches to enjoy. The impressive fortifications of Henry VIII’s Pendennis Castle still dominate the headland. Continue past more subtropical gardens to Gweek on the Helford Creek where the sheltered waters are a popular haven for leisure boats. It is also the home of the National Seal Sanctuary where they rescue injured seal pups from local beaches and also care for other abandoned sea mammals.
- Enjoy a two night 3 day, three night four day or a four night five day tour.
- This tour will start in Church Cove and will finish in Gweek.
There are lots of attractions and places to explore during your Cornwall cycling break, including:
- St Michael’s Mount
- Pendennis Castle
- Lizard Village
- Lizard Lighthouse
- National Seal Sanctuary
- Goonhilly Earth Station
- Poldark Mine
- Trevarno Estate
- Plenty of stops for Cornish pasties and cream teas!
Getting to Cornwall
By Rail – The nearest railway station to Helston is Redruth. From Redruth station you can take a taxi or local bus route L1 to Helston. Use the websites below to help plan your journey.
Bus – National Express run services to Helston from manu towns and cities. Use the website below to help plan your journey.
By Car – Helston can be reached via the M5, the A30, the A393 and the B3297. Use the website below to help plan your journey.
By Air – There are a number of airports close to Cornwall including Cornwall Airport Newquay.
For more information on getting to Cornwall please the VisitCornwall website.
- Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
- Luggage Transfers
- Fully comprehensive tour pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS
- Emergency Telephone Assistance
- Meals other than breakfast
- Transport to and from Cornwall
- Bike Hire
Enjoy a two night three day, three night four day or a four night five day tour.
Day 1 – Ride down the west coast through the delightful Church Cove to Mullion from where you can continue all the way down to Lizard, the most southerly point of the British mainland. This also takes you to Kynance Cove where the combination of the rare serpentine rock and the powerful sea has produced amazing beaches with cliffs, caves and islands. The next section takes you across the Goonhilly Downs where the solid rock makes a good stable platform for the satellite tracking station.
Day 2 - Cycle through the Penrose Estate, an area of woodland around the Loe Pool now owned by the National Trust. Continue to Porthleven, a working fishing port and then follow the coast west to Praa Sands, a mile long sweep of sand renowned as one of Cornwall's finest family beaches that’s popular with surfers. A little further on is one of Cornwall's most famous landmarks, St. Michael's Mount, a little island community that can be reached by causeway during low tide.
Approx distance: 19 or 27 miles
Day 3 - Ride out to Wendron and on to the site of a reconstructed mining village. A huge beam engine dominates the site above ground while below you can explore the old tunnels and workings. The cycle ride continues through mining country with several old engine houses dotting the landscape. Continue cycling to Penryn, which was once the main port in this area before moving down the coast to Falmouth. There is still an active fishing fleet here and the docks still repair and refit some large ships although leisure is now a more important business with several exotic gardens, a maritime museum and pleasant beaches to enjoy. The impressive fortifications of Henry VIII’s Pendennis Castle still dominate the headland. Continue past more subtropical gardens to Gweek on the Helford Creek where the sheltered waters are a popular haven for leisure boats. It is also the home of the National Seal Sanctuary where they rescue injured seal pups from local beaches and also care for other abandoned sea mammals.
- Enjoy a two night 3 day, three night four day or a four night five day tour.
- This tour will start in Church Cove and will finish in Gweek.
There are lots of attractions and places to explore during your Cornwall cycling break, including:
- St Michael’s Mount
- Pendennis Castle
- Lizard Village
- Lizard Lighthouse
- National Seal Sanctuary
- Goonhilly Earth Station
- Poldark Mine
- Trevarno Estate
- Plenty of stops for Cornish pasties and cream teas!
Getting to Cornwall
By Rail – The nearest railway station to Helston is Redruth. From Redruth station you can take a taxi or local bus route L1 to Helston. Use the websites below to help plan your journey.
Bus – National Express run services to Helston from manu towns and cities. Use the website below to help plan your journey.
By Car – Helston can be reached via the M5, the A30, the A393 and the B3297. Use the website below to help plan your journey.
By Air – There are a number of airports close to Cornwall including Cornwall Airport Newquay.
For more information on getting to Cornwall please the VisitCornwall website.
- Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
- Luggage Transfers
- Fully comprehensive tour pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS
- Emergency Telephone Assistance
- Meals other than breakfast
- Transport to and from Cornwall
- Bike Hire