Description
Cardinham Woods is a Forestry England wood in a steep stream valley just outside Bodmin, Cornwall, with one blue trail, the 9.8km Bodmin Beast, and two optional red sections that loop off it, about 12km of singletrack in all. It is the step up from the family trails at nearby Lanhydrock: flowing and fun, with every feature rollable at moderate speed, but with technical climbs and descents. The Woods Cafe, toilets and the car park sit at the start of the trail.
The Trails
- Bodmin Beast (Blue), 9.8km. Snaking singletrack across the wooded slopes of the Cardinham Valley, with technical climbs and descents, tight bermed corners, small step-downs, rollers and tabletops. Every feature can be rolled over at a moderate speed, but the trail runs beside steep, unfenced slopes in places. Forestry England grades it for riders with basic off-road skills.
- Dialled-In Dave (Red), 0.7km. An optional loop off the Bodmin Beast: natural, flowing and fast, and a good introduction to red singletrack.
- Hell's Teeth (Red), 1.6km. The second optional red loop: a tough climb with some very steep sections, then narrow, flowing trail with plenty of technical features and a very steep bermed final descent.
The trail is open all year. Helmets must be worn, and dogs are not allowed on the cycle trails. Trails at Cardinham are subject to periodic closures and diversions for forestry work and maintenance, so check Forestry England's Cardinham cycling page for current alerts before travelling. You can download the trail map there too.
Bike Hire and Facilities
There is no bike hire in the woods, but Trail Munki, a bike shop on the Carminnow Industrial Estate in Bodmin, about a mile away, hires hardtails, full-suspension bikes and e-bikes with a helmet, and does repairs. Booking ahead is advised. The family-run Woods Cafe, in an old woodman's cottage by the car park, serves brunch, lunch, cakes and coffee. There are toilets behind the Ranger's Hut, cycle racks in front of them, picnic areas and a play area. Payment everywhere on site is by card or contactless only.
Beyond the Trails
Away from the bike trail, Cardinham has waymarked walks along the stream and up the valley sides, past the remains of the Wheal Glynn lead mine and an ancient clapper bridge, plus a family trail themed on Room on the Broom. The Lady Vale Walk is an easy-access route, and an all-terrain mobility scooter can be booked from the Ranger's Hut.
Local Organisations
- Cardinham Trail Riders, the local riders' Facebook group, where riders ask about trail conditions and closures and arrange rides at Cardinham.
Getting Here
From Bodmin, take the A38 towards Liskeard. 400 metres beyond the Carminnow Cross roundabout, follow the brown tourist signs left and then left again into Cardinham Woods (sat nav PL30 4AL). The access road is single track with passing places, so be ready to give way, give walkers and horse riders plenty of room, and don't park on it.
Parking charges apply in the car park, paid by card, contactless or the RingGo app, with no cash. Forestry England national members and Cardinham Woods members park free.
There is no direct public transport. Go Cornwall bus 11 stops at the Turfdown Roundabout by the Glyn Valley Crematorium, a mile away along a road with no footpath.
Nearby
Lanhydrock Cycle Hub, a few miles away, has a green trail, short blues, a skills area and cycle hire, so it's the better start for young or new riders. For downhill, Gawton Gravity Hub is across the Tamar near Tavistock in Devon.
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