Cornish Contrasts – Cornwall Cycling Short Break (3 days, 4 nights)
Price (from)
Difficulty
Tour information
Based in the small characterful town of Helston, this two to four night self-guided cycling break covers a wide range of Cornish coastline from long sandy beaches and rocky coves to dramatic cliffs and creeks as well as the harbour towns of Portreath, Penryn and Falmouth.
Included/Excluded
- Bed and Breakfast Accommodation
- Luggage Transfers
- Fully comprehensive tour pack with colour coded routes on local maps
- Smartphone App with GPS
- Emergency Telephone Assistance
- Meals other than breakfast
- Transport to and from Cornwall
- Bike Hire
Itinerary
Ride down the west coast 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.
The next section takes you across the Goonhilly Downs where the solid rock makes a good stable platform for the satellite tracking station.
Cycle through the Penrose Estate, an area of woodland around the Loe Pool now owned by the National Trust. Continue to Porthleven, a working fishing port and then follow the coast west to Praa Sands, a mile long sweep of sand renowned as one of Cornwall's finest family beaches that’s popular with surfers.
A little further on is one of Cornwall's most famous landmarks, St. Michael's Mount, a little island community that can be reached by causeway during low tide.
Ride out to Wendron and on to the site of a reconstructed mining village. A huge beam engine dominates the site above ground while below you can explore the old tunnels and workings. The cycle ride continues through mining country with several old engine houses dotting the landscape. Continue cycling to Penryn, which was once the main port in this area before moving down the coast to Falmouth.
There is still an active fishing fleet here and the docks still repair and refit some large ships although leisure is now a more important business with several exotic gardens, a maritime museum and pleasant beaches to enjoy.
The impressive fortifications of Henry VIII’s Pendennis Castle still dominate the headland. Continue past more subtropical gardens to Gweek on the Helford Creek where the sheltered waters are a popular haven for leisure boats.
It is also the home of the National Seal Sanctuary where they rescue injured seal pups from local beaches and also care for other abandoned sea mammals.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my own bike on the tour?
Of course you can, providing it’s roadworthy and safe. Unfortunately our free breakdown cover may not apply in these circumstances.
If you would like more information about the type of bike our tours are suitable for please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com.
If you bring your own bike we are unable to provide any assistance in the case of issues.
How do I get to the start of my tour?
Most UK travel destinations are accessible by public transport.
However, some of the locations are quite rural and may require a car or taxi to reach the starting point.
Our tours do not include travel to the starting point as standard but if you would like specific travel to be include in your trip please let our team know.
Not quite sure where to start? Contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your travel plans.
Do I have to walk/cycle every day of my trip?
Absolutely not! You can enjoy additional stop overs at various points along the tour if you would like more time to explore the local area.
We can also add additional days to the start and end of your trip to allow you to explore and relax.
If you would like to add rest days or additional nights to your trip please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss your specific requirements. We’re happy to tailor your trip to suit you!
How far can I walk or cycle each day?
How far you choose to travel each day depends on your individual fitness levels and how long you want to spend walking or cycling.
We have a wide range of tours to suit all fitness levels.
All our itineraries specify the daily mileage and the difficulty level of the tour.
If you would like to make adjustments to a tour to suit your specific needs, please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com to discuss a bespoke tour. We are good at this!
How does the luggage transfer service work?
We offer a luggage transfer service across most of our tours so you don’t have to worry about your luggage during your vacation. We pick up your luggage on the morning you are moving accommodation and take it direct to your next stop.
What kind of bikes can I hire for my trip?
Our cycle tours come with hybrid bike hire as standard. eBike hire is available at an additional cost. Please contact us at info@compass-holidays.com for more information.
If you are travelling with children, we have a range of children’s mountain bikes and tag-a-long trailers for hire.
Tandem bikes are also available for those wanting a truly unique adventure!
All our hires come with helmets, locks and puncture repair kits as standard.
Panniers are also available for a small additional charge.
How fit do I have to be?
Our tours all vary in degrees of hardness.
We specify the difficulty level of all of our tours on our website. The itineraries also give an indication of the gradients travelled on any given day.
If you would like to discuss this in more detail with our travel experts please contact us prior to booking.
What happens if I need assistance when cycling?
For punctures and minor repairs we do provide you with a toolkit with all of the essentials.
For major repairs, please contact us immediately on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 so we can organise a serviceman to come out to repair or exchange the bike for you as soon as possible.
What about places to eat?
All our tours come with bed and breakfast as standard.
In some more remote locations, accommodation providing breakfast may not be possible but we will find you somewhere to get breakfast nearby. This will be covered in the price of your trip.
Our tours do not include lunch and dinner as standard, though some accommodations do offer packed lunches and dinner options at an additional charge. Please let us know if you would like this option when booking.
What ages do you cater for?
Both our walking and cycling tours can cater for travellers of all ages. Distance is listed on each of the tours. If you are unsure about the distance covered, please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642.
All of our routes have been tried and tested by our expert team with lots of stop-offs and attractions so younger members of the team can rest and enjoy all that’s on offer. Please call us on +44(0) 1242 250 642 at the time of booking to discuss your exact requirements.
Cycling equipment
We have a large range of bikes and accessories suited to adults and budding cyclists. We also offer a tag along (tandem) (please note it is not fully enclosed and waterproof but a single wheeled bike that attaches to the adult bike). We can also provide fully enclosed and waterproof trailers for younger children.
What day can I start my tour?
Most of our tours can be taken at any time but there are some which start on specific days which are usually Saturday to Saturday.
To find out more information, please call our expert travel team on +44 (0) 1242 250 642 or email info@compass-holidays.com.
What type of accommodation is included?
Our holidays are priced with 3* hotel, B&B as standard. These accommodations are hand picked for our tours.
Where a bespoke or luxury option is required please contact us on +44 (0) 1242 250642.
