Discover Mid Cornwall
Mid Cornwall may be one of Cornwall’s best-kept secrets, and this fascinating area has much to recommend it. For a start, there is Bodmin Moor, with its rich history, inspiring scenery and diverse wildlife. There is evidence to suggest that the moor may have been settled on for at least four thousand years, and today it is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The moor is a paradise for walkers, with miles of pathways to be discovered, and views that stretch as far as the eye can see. You could walk for miles and not encounter another soul, just moorland ponies and sheep, and birds darting across the infinite sky above you. According to an RSPB survey, the rough grasslands are home to numerous birds including skylarks, curlews, stonechats and several species of warbler.
Jamaica Inn, close to the moor, and Bodmin Gaol, an imposing-looking building which first opened in 1779, are great places to visit if your interests are more historical or literary. In this area you will also find Lanhydrock House, a grand country house dating back to Victorian times, and its beautiful gardens.
The market towns of Wadebridge and Camelford are becoming popular tourist destinations. Wadebridge lies on the Camel estuary and serves as an approximate midway point on the Camel Trail. There is a cinema, several excellent pubs, and a high street with a diverse selection of independent local shops. It has an annual Folk Festival in August, and the Royal Cornwall Show (at the Showground just outside the town) is a very popular event, drawing visitors from far and wide. Camelford, another market town, is also close to Bodmin Moor, and is famous for its associations with King Arthur. Here you can visit the North Cornwall Museum and Gallery, which gives you a glimpse into how things might have been in times gone by. Cornish Heritage Safaris offer four-wheel-drive tours of the local landscape, and will enthrall you with some of the many tales, and folklore handed down through the generations by local inhabitants. Horse-riding is another wonderful way to really get a feel for the area, and there are cycle trails at Cardinham Woods (many also suitable for buggies, so even the little ones can come along in comfort).
Meander through the winding Cornish lanes to find an abundance of charming villages in this vicinity, including St Teath, St Mabyn and St Tudy. St Teath has a great little pub, the White Hart Inn, a village shop and Post Office, and the Bowood Park Hotel and Golf Course. In St Mabyn you will find the St Mabyn Inn, which serves lunchtime and evening meals, and has a beer garden at the rear.
