Far Southwest – Cornwall Cycling Holiday (11 days, 10 nights)
Price (from)
Duration
Tour Location
Difficulty
Tour Information
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.
If you would like to book one of these optional extensions, please call our friendly team on +44 (0)1242 250 642
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.
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
- Transport to and from Cornwall
- Bike Hire
Itinerary
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. No luggage transfer required
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. Luggage will be moved.
Overnight in Truro. No luggage transfer required.
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. Luggage will be moved.
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. No luggage transfer required.
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. Luggage will be moved.
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.
