The Camel Trail is a 17 mile traffic free route based on an historic railway track, running through the delightful Camel Valley from Poley's Bridge near Blisland to Padstow

DISTANCESMiles
Poley's Bridge - Bodmin6.5
Bodmin - Wadebridge5.8
Wadebridge - Padstow5


The River Camel rises on the moors north of Camelford and flows generally in a southerly direction through Camelford, past St. Breward to Poley's Bridge. Shortly afterwards it is joined by the De Lank River before passing Blisland, Shell Woods and Hellandbridge on its way to Bodmin.

It then turns and flows North West and is joined first by the River Allen upstream of Egloshayle and then by the River Amble downstream of Wadebridge

For more information visit www.cornwallriversproject.org.uk


The original Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway, one of the oldest railway lines in the world, opened in 1834 and ran from Wadebridge to Wenfordbridge, with a spur to Bodmin. The line to Wenfordbridge was originally built to carry sand from the estuary for use as a fertilser inland and rock and minerals out for shipment by sea

Fifty years on, in 1885, the London & South Western Railway, which started from London Waterloo, finally reached Wadebridge via Okehampton, Launceston and Camelford. This provided access to Bodmin, then the county town. At that time Bodmin had three stations: Bodmin North (demolished 1967), Bodmin General (now Mount Folly) and Bodmin Road (now Parkway). In 1889 the line was extended from Wadebridge to Padstow

The North Cornwall line was closed to passenger traffic in the 1960s but the original section to Wenfordbridge remained in use for freight until 1984. This was fortunate as by that time the recreational value of old railway lines was recognised and the Camel Trail became a possibility

For more information visit www.bodminandwenfordrailway.co.uk
www.northcornwallrailway.co.uk


SensesShape, Colour, Sound and Aroma on the Camel Trail
Floraalong The Verges of The Camel Trail