Helman Tor, the Luxulyan Valley, Fowey and Lostwithiel loop from Bodmin

You’re spoiled with stretches of sublime gravel, plentiful enchanting lanes, ancient sites and towns, and some fresh sea air with this jaunt down to Fowey from Bodmin Parkway train station.

You start off by climbing through Lanhydrock Estate to join National Cycle Network Route 3 heading west, where you’ll soon see your first stop of the day, and highest point of the route: Helman Tor.

The lanes narrow as you approach the rocky granite outcrop of the tor and ride beside the summit before reaching a small, gravelly car park. For the best views, it’s well worth leaving your bike here and hiking the short distance up to the summit.

Follow signs for the Saint’s Way along the ridgeline with a wide gravel track, before descending on quiet lanes towards Luxulyan. Here, you’re in for a real treat; a former tram line through the steep-sided broadleaf Luxulyan Valley.

Signs of industry line the rocky cycleway, from Treffrey’s high 10 arch viaduct to chimneys, leats and ruins of buildings formerly employed in clay mining. Look out for dippers as you ride alongside the River Par here.

You’ll join another waterside bridleway through Tywardreath Marsh Nature Reserve next, before returning to tarmac to ride south for Fowey. After a short unavoidable stretch on the main road, you’ll approach Fowey on lanes from the west, leading to the marvellous Love Lane bridleway. It starts off as a pretty mellow singletrack down through the trees, but gets more technical on rock towards the bottom. Mountain bikers will be fine, but if you’re on a gravel bike it might be worth hopping off near the bottom for a short hike!

From Readymoney Cove beach, it’s a short ride over the hill to the Town Quay in Fowey, with lovely views of the Fowey Estuary and Polruan opposite. Fish and chips on the bench watching oystercatchers over the water, treats from the bakery, or a proper pub lunch, there’s plenty to choose from here.

Your return to Bodmin involves, unsurprisingly, a lot of lanes and a lot of hills, with a few bridleway sections in between. From the ancient stannary town of Lostwithiel, it’s well worth stopping in at the Duchy Nursery, a former plant nursery for the Duchy of Cornwall’s many estates turned into a marvellous garden centre and upmarket cafe.

The final leg involves a breathtaking balcony lane with valley views before a speedy descent to the 15th century Respryn Bridge, a stone’s throw from Bodmin Parkway on the cycleway.

If you’re riding out to this route from central Bodmin, follow National Cycle Network 3 through the Lanhydrock Estate to avoid the main roads.