The Camel Trail From Padstow to Wadebridge, North Cornwall

We were staying at Gunvenna Caravan park nearMaddy had a shiny purple Dawes Blowfish child's bike.
Port Isaac, which is a part of Cornwall I have not beenWe set off from Padstow heading towards
to for a long time.  We were looking for something toWadebridge, within five minutes we were cycling over
do which would involve the whole family, My wife Suea lovely old railway bridge which spans the Little
and myself, Maddy age 6 and Rosie who is just 1 yearPetherick Creek. The Camel Trail hugs the south side
old.  We had read about 'The Camel Trail' which is aof the River Camel giving lovely views over the
cycle friendly path made from an old disused railwayestuary towards Rock and the disused quarries on the
track. In actual fact The Camel Trail goes fromnorth bank of The Camel.
Padstow to Bodmin and also has an extra arm whichRoughly halfway along was a little stall setup based on
goes from Bodmin to Wenfordbridge.  The distancestricycles, Treats-on-Trikes they were called, where
involved are Padstow to Wadebridge, 5 miles,you could buy cups of tea, cold drinks, ice creams and
Wadebridge to Bodmin 6.1 miles and Bodmin toof course Cornish Pasties.
Wenfordbridge 7.1 miles.All the way along the Camel Trail people are on bikes,
Our original intention was that Sue would walk alongwalking and running, but above all everyone seemed to
with Rosie in the pushchair and Maddy and I would hirebe smiling. It didn't seem too long before we were
some bikes.  We didn't do this because when wegoing under the A39 bridge and Wadebridge was
arrived at Padstow Cycle Hire we realised they hadlooming.  At Wadebridge we could have carried on to
every conceivable combination of bike you could wishBodmin, but we thought that was probably enough for
for. Adult bikes came in the form of hybrids, mountainthe time being so we had fish and chips  at a
bikes, tricycles, tandems. Babies and small childrenrestaurant called 'The Glass House' and then headed
could be accommodated in trailers, child seats orback.
'tagalong' bikes. So there you have it, converting a disused railway into
We opted for two Claude Butler hybrid adult bikes fora cycle path is just a brilliant thing to do, it means that
Sue and me, mine was pulling a trailer for Rosie.there are no steep hills, excellent scenery and no cars.