Riding the Camel Trail from Padstow: hire, distance and what to expect

The Camel Trail is the old railway line, and the tourist office calls it arguably the most successful recreational trail in the country. It follows the trackbed of the line that carried the Atlantic Coast Express to Padstow, and it takes about 350,000 users a year on the tourist office's figure. From Padstow it runs along the shore of the Camel estuary to Wadebridge, then up the wooded valley to Bodmin and on to Wenfordbridge, about 18 miles in all. Most people ride or walk the first stretch and turn round in Wadebridge.

How far, and how long

Padstow Cycle Hire's FAQ says Padstow to Wadebridge is 5 miles and normally takes 45 minutes to an hour by bike, Wadebridge to Bodmin is 6.1 miles at an hour to an hour and a quarter, and Bodmin to Wenfordbridge is 7.1 miles. Other sources give 5.5 miles to Wadebridge; measured along the mapped route from the Railway Car Park to Eddystone Road in Wadebridge it is about 8.5km, so call it 5 to 5.5 miles and do not lose sleep over the half mile. The surface is compressed gravel with some tarmac, and the whole thing is close to level.

Where to hire

Two hire shops sit at the start of the trail, at the bottom of the main car park: Padstow Cycle Hire and Trail Bike Hire. Padstow Cycle Hire says it was established in 1996, has more than 160 bikes, and is open 9am to 5pm daily all year, with evening rides available in summer; from 15 July to 31 August it says it opens 9am to 8pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 6pm Friday to Sunday. Both shops take online bookings, and both hire child trailers, child seats, tag-alongs and dog trailers. Trail Bike Hire lists comfort bikes, mountain bikes, electric bikes and a tandem. In Wadebridge there are two more hire businesses, Camel Trail Cycle Hire on Eddystone Road and Bridge Bike Hire, so if you are only riding one way, Padstow Cycle Hire says it has an arrangement with a shop in Wadebridge where you can leave bikes. That does not include tandems, trailers, electric bikes or tag-alongs, and it has to be arranged when you hire, with an extra charge.

Toilets, tea and food

The only public toilets on the trail are in Padstow, Wadebridge and Bodmin. Roughly halfway between Padstow and Wadebridge there is a mobile refreshment trailer, which the tourist office calls the Atlantic Coast Express and says operates from Easter to October half term, 10am to 5pm daily, weather permitting; treat that as a plan, not a promise. Wadebridge has plenty of places to eat. Beyond it toward Bodmin there are tea rooms, Camel Valley Vineyard and the Borough Arms at Bodmin.

Dogs, children and parking

Dogs are allowed on the trail and should be on a lead. The hire shops rent enclosed dog trailers to go behind a comfort bike, and a child trailer carries one or two children up to a weight limit that each shop sets. Parking at the Railway Car Park is by RingGo, location 2849; the hire shop says the machine takes coins only. In busy weeks a park and ride runs from a field next to Tesco. Helmets are not compulsory, but Padstow Cycle Hire recommends them.

Wadebridge to Bodmin

The Wadebridge to Bodmin section begins after about five minutes on the road through the town, in the cycle lane. The hire shop recommends walking that bit. From there the trail is a wooded valley, and it passes the Camel Valley Vineyard, where the tourist office says you can take a wine tour.

What you will actually see

The estuary changes with the tide, and that is most of the point. The tourist office says the salt marsh draws winter waders, that little egrets can be seen on the mudflats at low tide, that ospreys stop for a few days in spring and autumn, and that mute swans nest at several places along the way. It also says there are hides on the estuary open to the public.

If you would rather run it

On Saturday 14 November 2026 the trail hosts the Lobster Lollop, a no-pressure trail run out and back from Padstow, organised by Purple Gecko Events with the National Lobster Hatchery: 10 mile and 10km from 8am, 2.5km and 5km from 3pm. A finisher's medal gets you into the hatchery free for the weekend.