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Wadebridge Walks - Camel Trail Wadebridge to Padstow Walk

5.41 miles (8.7 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This market town is situated in a lovely spot on the River Camel in North Cornwall.
This walk from the town follows the popular Camel Trail along the estuary to nearby Padstow. The walk runs for just over 5 miles, following a fairly flat waymarked trail for the whole way.
The route starts in Wadebridge and follows the trail north west, passing Tregunna, Pinkson Creek, Lower Halwyn, Ball Hill, Dennis Hill and Tregonce before coming into Padstow. There's lovely views to the Camel Estuary where you can look out for a variety of birdlife including herons and little egrets.
If you head south along the trail it will take you towards Bodmin, passing Grogley Woods on the way. The woods are a good local spot for walks and mountain biking with several challenging black trails to try.

Wadebridge OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Wadebridge Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Pubs/Cafes

The Old Tea House is a quaint little place for refreshments in Wadebridge. They do a delicious cream tea and have some fine home made cakes as well. You can find them at 6 Polmorla Rd with a postcode of PL27 7ND for your sat navs. For a pub lunch head to the noteworthy Maltsters Arms. The 16th century pub is located in a lovely spot on the village green.

Dog Walking

The trail is a nice one to do with your dog though there are plenty of cyclists around. The Old Tea House and The Maltsters Arms mentioned above are also dog friendly.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

Wadebridge also lies on the Saints Way. This long distance trail takes you across the county from Padstow in the north to Fowey on the south coast. It follows the probable route of early Christian travellers making their way from Ireland to the Continent.
In Padstow you can pick up the Padstow to Trevone Bay Walk, the Padstow to Harlyn Bay Walk and head up to the popular headland at Stepper Point. There's also the option of catching the ferry over to Rock and heading north on the Rock to Polzeath Walk.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Cornwall Walks page.

Photos

The Wool Bridge Wadebridge - geograph.org.uk - 382677

View from Anneka's Bridge over the River Camel at Wadebridge, Cornwall, showing the 15th-century Old Bridge and 20th-century A39 road bridge

Wadebridge quay - geograph.org.uk - 24560

Wadebridge quay. Until the 19th century the town was an important port locally. Gradual silting up of the estuary and the coming of the mainline railway at the end of the 1800s saw the demise of the port. Some boat repairs still take place.

The Camel Trail crossing Pinkson Creek - geograph.org.uk - 1541577

The Camel Trail crossing Pinkson Creek. The cycle trail, which was originally a railway line, crosses the mouth of the creek by means of an embankment with just one bridged section to let the water run in and out of the creek to the right of the photograph.

Boats on the Camel at Wadebridge - geograph.org.uk - 221903

 Boats on the Camel at Wadebridge. View from the Camel Trail, just below the bridge, with a boatyard on the opposite bank.

Camel estuary and mudflats with view to Dinham - geograph.org.uk - 50991

Camel estuary and mudflats with view to Dinham. Further down the Camel there are extensive sand banks, on this stretch there is mud - much favoured by birds. As well as five swans making a stately procession down the river I could see a heron, an egret, seagulls and waders.

Bridge carrying the Camel Cycle over Oldtown Cove - geograph.org.uk - 1013232

Bridge carrying the Camel Cycle over Oldtown Cove. Looking across the River Camel to Gentle Jane just west of Cant Hill

Railway bridge across Little Petherick Creek - geograph.org.uk - 484820

 Railway bridge across Little Petherick Creek. The bridge once carried the old Southern Railway line between Wadebridge and Padstow. It now forms part of the Camel Trail cycle and walking route.

Little egret at Padstow - geograph.org.uk - 1532125

Little egret at Padstow

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Wadebridge.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Wadebridge.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)