Best Ways to Explore Bodmin Moor

Bodmin Moor is a vast expanse of moorland and a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty that is a favourite on many a Cornwall holiday itinerary. This remote wilderness of heather and grassland is a peaceful oasis away from the crowds of the popular coastal towns, offering the opportunity to relax and explore. And you will find plenty to discover on Bodmin. Piercing the moor are two high tors, Rough Tor and Brown Willy, from which you can enjoy wonderful views across the moor and to the nearby coastline. There are stone circles and ancient stone monuments, such as Arthur’s Hall, as well as rare wildlife including otters and Marsh Fritillary butterflies. Make the most of your time at Bodmin with our tips below on the best ways to explore this spectacular part of Cornwall.

Give Horse Riding a Go

Riders have traversed this ancient moor for centuries and it remains the best way to experience the beauty of this wonderful region. The moor is a wild, unspoilt landscape and you will notice that it has a special atmosphere as you explore its open grassland, striking stone monuments, wooded valleys and gentle meandering streams. You could even take a ride up one of the tors for breath-taking views across the moor!

To make the most of your trip, make sure to ride with an experienced guide. We recommend Hallagenna Riding, a friendly family run business that will ensure you see all the best spots on Bodmin! They offer several different tours of different lengths and for different abilities, but the most popular is their Poldark Trail that takes riders to several of the sites where the BBC TV programme was filmed. Atop your horse in this empty landscape, it is easy to imagine yourself transported back in time! Hallagenna cater for all abilities, so don’t worry if you have never ridden before, you will be in safe hands on their tailored treks and holidays. They also offer self-catered accommodation if you want longer to explore Bodmin!

Set Off on a Hike

Bodmin Moor is rich in history and one of the best ways to encounter it is to follow the Copper Trail on foot. This trail passes through all the important sights on the moor and some of the most picturesque scenery. Completing all of its 60 miles will take you days, so it is best to choose a few locations you would like to see!

Bodmin has been home to people since the Bronze Age and you can still see remnants of their life today with burial cairns, tombs and massive stone monuments. The route around the village of Minions is a great choice as the area is abundant in these sorts of monuments. You can also see the infamous ‘Cheesewring’ natural stone formation nearby. This impressive structure is formed of huge granite blocks piled precariously one on top of the other and has been formed by natural erosion. If you are more interested in more modern history, you can check out some of the Mineral Trails around Stowe’s Hill. These double granite lines were laid to transport copper, tin and china clay from the local mines remnants of which you can still spot in the landscape.

The hike to the magical Golitha Falls along the River Fowey is also well worth the effort for the sight of the gentle waterfall in a lush green microclimate home to ferns and rare moss and algae. There are other large bodies of water on the moor including Colliford Lake and Siblyback Lake where you can take part in a number of water sports. A trip to the Dozmary Pool is also not to be missed as this is the sight where King Arthur’s sword Excalibur is still said to lie.

Hop on a Bike

Another way to explore the landscapes of Bodmin Moor is by bike. There are several official cycle routes you can follow, as well as cycling along the country roads (though these can be narrow and difficult with traffic at times). One of the best is the Camel Trail. This is a former rail line that has been converted into the ideal cycle path with few inclines and a flat even surface. It passes through some gorgeous countryside and comes to Bodmin Moor via Newquay and Padstow. The Camel Trail then meets the Cornish Way at Bodmin before passing through Camelford and onto the coast at Bude. If you follow the Cornish Way in the other direction, you can go all the way to Land’s End! Cycling is a fantastic way to explore the region and there are plenty of places to stop along the way to explore the moor or grab a bite to eat. If you do not have you own bike with you, there are plenty of places to hire one for a reasonable price.