Last summer, Tad Jiunn Kho and Wen Yee Kok went on a five-day bikepacking trip around Cornwall, England. Tad’s latest video offers a dreamy look at the coastal paths, snack stops, and quintessential summer camp spots they enjoyed along the way. Find a short written recap and watch his video here…

Words and photos by Tad Jiunn Kho

Every summer, Wen and I try to make a short trip down to different regions of Cornwall to explore its rugged coastline and quirky coastal towns, and enjoy its sub-Mediterranean weather. We particularly enjoy travelling between the coastal towns via their riverboat ferry crossing and their Cornish pasties!

We typically take a one-way train to where we will begin our trip and tour locally from there. Our itinerary tends to be very loose and spontaneous as we consider where to stay for the night on the day itself, depending on how our legs feel after tackling many steep Cornish hills. The trip typically involves a night at a campsite, a night of wild camping, and a night at a cabin as a treat.

summer bikepacking cornwall
  • summer bikepacking cornwall
  • summer bikepacking cornwall
  • summer bikepacking cornwall

Tips and Lessons Learned

  • Cornish hills can be brutal, especially when exploring along the coast. Take it easy with the itinerary planning and leave some buffer for exploring the towns and breaks.
  • Bring a spare inner tube with you. The repair patch may let you down if not done properly.
  • The weather may not work in your favour sometimes. You may have to embrace it with enough preparation, including warm and dry layers. Whilst it is part of the adventure, it can still be a good memory to look back on.
  • summer bikepacking cornwall
  • summer bikepacking cornwall

On our first day, we explored the cobbled streets and the bustling coastal town of Saint Ives. We camped at Mount Pleasant Eco Park and went dipping in the tidal pool at Porthtowan Beach the next day. We then ventured north towards Newquay, where we maneuvered along the rugged coastline and camped by the cliff. It was a magical night camping by the cliff with the Solo Stove Lite keeping us cozy.

On our last day, we headed towards Wadebridge and cycled along the peaceful Camel Trail to our Airbnb cabin in the woods, where we dipped in the stream and cooked by the fireplace. A wet day to finish the trip with our hearts full!

summer bikepacking cornwall
  • summer bikepacking cornwall
  • summer bikepacking cornwall
  • summer bikepacking cornwall

West Cornwall Bikepacking Route

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...

FILED IN (CATEGORIES & TAGS)

Dispatch

Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.