On this scenic Cornwall cycling tour you will discover the ever-changing landscape around the tip of Cornwall (and the British mainland). Starting in Truro or Penzance, you cycle through several famous towns, villages and landmarks including Falmouth, Penzance, Porthleven and Lands End.
Highlights:
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Falmouth and Pendennis Castle
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St Michael`s Mount
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National Seal Sanctuary
- Surfing Beaches
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The Far SouthWest: Cornwall - 7 nights | 6 stages
Travel Dates 2024
Daily from of January 01st to December 31st, 2024
Arrive Truro or Penzance (subject to availability)
Day 1 - Circuit from Truro (47 km / 29 miles or 31 km / 19 miles)
Today’s route takes you from Truro via the Roseland Peninsula, taking in the best of the local landscape. It uses mostly country lanes and cycle paths once you have left Truro and is a peaceful day’s riding. This is the most challenging route of the trip with a lot of hills, but a shortcut will be provided if you need it. The full route is hillier than the shortcut, but worth it to see the truly spectacular scenery in the local area. Please note, the trip includes a transfer via King Harry’s Ferry, which costs £1.50 per person and is payable locally.
Overnight in Truro.
Day 2 - Linear route from Truro to Helston (49 km / 30.5 miles or 37 km / 23 miles)
Traversing between Truro and Helston for your next overnight stay, this route takes you past the old tin mine at Wheal Jane to Penryn, once the main port in this area, where you’ll find its heritage displayed in some fine architecture from Tudor to Georgian and in a small museum. Continue down the coast to Falmouth, a busy pleasant town where the atmosphere is flavoured by the salt sea air. Here you can visit several exotic gardens, a Maritime Museum and some pleasant beaches. Impressive fortifications of Henry VIII’s Pendennis Castle still dominate the headland. Continue past more subtropical gardens to Gweek on the Helford Creek, the home of the National Seal Sanctuary where they rescue injured seal pups from local beaches and also care for other abandoned sea mammals. The terrain is not as tough as the circuit from Truro, but there are still some steep climbs out of Truro and around Falmouth, Constantine and Gweek.
Overnight in Helston.
Day 3 - Circuit from Helston (56 km / 35 miles or 38 km / 24 miles)
Explore the west coast of Cornwall through the delightful Church Cove to Mullion from where you can continue all the way down to Lizard, the most southerly point of the British mainland. This also takes you to Kynance Cove where the combination of the rare serpentine rock and the powerful sea has produced amazing beaches with cliffs, caves and islands. Next, cross Goonhilly Downs where the underlying serpentine rock gives the area most of its special characteristics. The soil it produces is the ideal habitat for the Cornish Heath that is almost unique to this area. It supports rare wildlife including the hen harrier and short-eared owl and is also the home of a satellite tracking station.
Overnight in Helston.
Day 4 - Linear route from Helston to Penzance (29 km / 18 miles)
Leaving Helston, continue to Porthleven which for many years was the local centre for boat building and is still a working fishing port. Then follow the coast west to Praa Sands, this mile-long sweep of sand is renowned as one of Cornwall’s finest family beaches and is very popular with surfers. Further on is one of Cornwall's most famous landmarks, St. Michael’s Mount, a little island community that can be reached by causeway at low tide - It is also the perfect photo opportunity!
Overnight in Penzance.
Day 5 - Circuit from Penzance (45 Km / 28 miles or 29 km / 18 miles)
The circuit from Penzance takes you out to Newlyn - England’s busiest fishing port. The local scenery inspired the Newlyn School of artists and their legacy can be seen in museums and galleries around the town. Continue through narrow streets past little Mousehole harbour and over to the pretty, sheltered Lamorna Cove, which is a lovely spot for a swim. Pass the Merry Maidens, a Bronze Age stone circle that stands amidst a remarkable concentration of ancient Celtic standing stones to Lands’ End, where the road stops and you can enjoy a variety of entertainments and attractions.
Overnight in Penzance.
Day 6 - Linear Route from Penzance to Truro (52 km / 32 miles)
Leave Penzance and ride to the north coast where the mudflats of the River Hayle are a rich habitat for wading birds. Follow the coast road past miles of sand dunes then above rugged cliffs with spectacular views of the Atlantic. Explore a woodland cycle trail at the tranquil Tehidy Country Park, on the way to the popular surfing cove at Portreath. This was one of the main mining areas in Cornwall until the early 20th century and you can still visit Cornish Goldsmith workshops and exhibitions as well as the Tolgus Tin Streaming works nearby. The ride ends along beautiful wooded valleys back into Truro.
Overnight in Truro
Optional Extension to Isles of Scilly from Penzance (2 nights / 3 days)
Day 1: Leave your hotel in the morning and ride by bike to the ferry port to take the morning ferry. This is a short 5-10minute ride through Penzance to the Quay. Board the ferry with the bikes and travel to the Isles of Scilly. Disembark on St Mary’s Island and then explore at your leisure. The luggage will be transferred by taxi to the ferry port to be loaded by the you in Penzance (this is a mandatory security measure). The bags will then be tagged and offloaded in Isles of Scilly, with a direct transfer to the hotel.
Day 2: Free exploration of the Island.
Day 3: Explore the island at your leisure before returning to the port for the Ferry (usually afternoon). The luggage will be transported from the hotel to the ferry port and loaded onto the ferry. Clients will disembark the ferry, collect their luggage, give it to the taxi company and then return to their hotel by bike.
Optional Extension to the Eden Project (2 nights / 3 days)
Day 1: Cycle from Truro to Charlestown (or St Austell) via Mevagissey. Stay in Charlestown or St Austell, depending on availability). Luggage will be transferred.
Day 2: Cycle from Charlestown (or St Austell) to the Eden Project. A short 4-mile cycle from Charlestown takes you to The Eden Project, where you can spend the day exploring the gardens and tropical domes at your leisure. Return to Charlestown (or St Austell) via bike on the same 4-mile route and stay in Charlestown (or St Austell – subject to availability). Eden Project ticket included.
Day 3: Cycle from Charlestown (or St Austell) to Truro via Pentowan and Heligan – another garden for your clients to explore (ticket not included). Stay overnight in Truro. The route is subject to accommodation availability and will be different depending on your arrival place and nights booked.
Note: The route is subject to accommodation availability and will be different depending on your arrival place and nights booked.
The Far SouthWest: Cornwall- 7 nights | 6 stages
Tour profile:
Level: Moderate
Daily Distance Range:
- Minimum: 29 km / 18 miles per day
- Maximum: 56km / 35 miles per day
Altitude: The altitude on this tour reaches a maximum of 147 meters.
Luggage Transfers:
The tour includes transfer of luggage as stated. The tour information pack provided to the clients contains luggage tags from Compass Holidays. The clients name and the hotels used throughout the holiday will be on these tags. They should be fixed to the luggage. In the morning the luggage should be left at the reception for collection. Luggage is collected after 9.30am and delivered to the next hotel before 4.30pm.
Hotel Category:
B&Bs, Hotels and Inns (3*).
Tour also available with Luxury Hotels (5*) - prices and availability under request.
Arrival and parking:
Arriving by train: Railway station in Truro and Penzance
Arrival by car / parking: Requires pre-booking for parking.
The Far SouthWest: Cornwall - 7 nights | 6 stages
Travel Dates 2024:
- Daily from of January 01st to December 31st
PRICES 2024 (per person) |
7 nights / 6 stages | 6 nights / 5 stages |
Double room | 1.370 € | 1.270 € |
Single Traveller | 2.230 € | 2.120 € |
Electrical Rental Bike | 130€ | 110 € |
Included Services:
- Accommodation at the stated category with breakfast
- Bicycle hire of Hybrid Bikes
- Luggage Transfers
- Full Tour Pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS routes
- 24-hr emergency helpline
Not Included:
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Lunch, Dinner & Drinks
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Entrance to attractions unless specified
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Buses and/or Ferries unless otherwise stated
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Tourist Taxes where applicable
Options and additional costs:
- Optional 3-day/2-night extension from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly
- Optional 3-day/2-night extension from Truro to the Eden Project
- This trip can be extended to up to 14 days, 13 nights with extensions to the Isles of Scilly and the Eden Project
Extra Nights: on request
Bicycle rental:
Hybrid bike hire is included within the price (but can be deducted if your clients want to bring their own) or can be upgraded to an E-Bike. The bikes will be delivered to the first hotel at 9.30am on the morning of your first day of activity, so the second day in Cornwall. The bicycles are branded tour bicycles, light weight, equipped with 21 speed derailleur and freewheel. The bikes do not come with stands, but are provided with puncture repair kits, pumps, locks and panniers.
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