Cornwall is often favoured for its vast sandy beaches and perfect surf spots. Coastal Cornish favourites include Fistral Beach, Porthcurno, and Sennen, but what if you’re just not that into beaches?
Cardinham Woods offers fantastic natural scenery, adventure and relaxing strolls, and it’s all in the heart of the Cornish countryside.
Located near Bodmin and in a picturesque valley, the enchanting woodland also has a charming stream.
Cardinham Water is part of the River Fowey which begins in the marshes of Bodmin Moor, and the name ‘Cardinham Water’ or ‘Cardinham River’ has only been in use since the 18th century. Its true name is ‘Devioch, a Cornish name recorded in around 1260.
There are many great walking and running trails in the woods, a perfect opportunity to escape the gym and embrace the fresh air. All the trails start and finish near the family-run Woods Cafe, where you’ll find locally farmed and freshly prepared food.
If you’d prefer to bring your own food don’t worry, you can use the picnic area by the river or one of the BBQs which are free to use.
There’s something for everyone on the trails, and dogs are welcome. There’s even a scooter hiring option for anyone with reduced mobility, so nobody gets left behind.
The valley is surrounded by farmland and with 250 hectares of mixed woodland, and there’s a good chance of spotting some local wildlife. You could bump into deer, buzzards, otters and even kingfishers.
The area is a vital place for nature conservation and is even used for scientific research.
As the woodland is thriving with all sorts of wildlife it’s important to make sure it’s protected, so make sure you stick to main paths when walking and keep dogs on leads.
So why not deviate away from the classic Cornish beach holiday and see what the countryside offers? It’s a stone’s throw away from beaches anyway and a 40-minute car ride from the famous fish and chip destination Padstow, so you’ll never be short of different sites to see.