Our drawing of the route, over road and path data from OpenStreetMap. It shows where the walk goes and what it goes through. It is not a survey and not a navigation aid — carry OS Explorer on the hill.
Four and a half miles through Forestry England conifer and broadleaf along two streams, two and a half hours with 180 metres of climbing on well-surfaced forest tracks that stay walkable in winter. The car park is signed off the A38 east of Bodmin and has toilets, the Woods Cafe and, unusually, a dog wash; parking is charged by the hour with an early-bird rate before half past ten. Forestry England ask for dogs to be kept close and in sight because the woods are ringed by farmland and livestock, and four wooden stiles interrupt the route: one is wired over and needs dogs lifted, the other three have gaps alongside.
Georgian county gaol on the edge of Bodmin, now an immersive walk-through museum with the execution shed intact. Dogs are more than welcome in the courtyard, the Moor Café and the gift shop, but not in the main attraction itself because of the way the museum experience works. One of your party dog-sits and gets a free drinks token for the café.
Hotel converted from the jail's Naval wing, with rooms built into the old cell arches. The attraction's own dog guidance states that dogs are more than welcome in the Bodmin Jail Hotel as well as the courtyard, café and shop. Cardinham Woods and the Camel Trail are both a short drive for the morning walk.
Five and a third miles along the wooded upper Camel valley on the old railway and back by quiet lanes, two and a quarter hours and almost dead level throughout. Start at the Camel Trail car park at Dunmere, just off the A389 west of Bodmin, which is free and rarely full outside cycle-hire season. There are no stiles at all, which makes it a good route for an elderly or arthritic dog, and the river is easy to reach for a drink or a swim; a good deal of the route shares the trail with cyclists or uses lanes, so this is largely lead walking.
One short email when we add places or a council changes its beach rules. No noise, easy out.
NO SPAM · UNSUBSCRIBE ANY TIME · WE NEVER SELL THE LIST
Wagfinder Members · Coming soon
NO PAYMENT NOW · FIRST IN WHEN DOORS OPEN · EASY OUT