Note: As the postcode is used to identify the general area of the property, it may not always reflect its precise location, therefore please only use this map as a guide.
Bodmin is an area rich in history and heritage, surrounded by the incredible moorland and fresh, clean air of rural Cornwall. The town itself lies right at the heart of the county, to the southwest of Bodmin Moor. The name is thought to originate from the old Cornish words ‘bod’ meaning ‘dwelling’ and ‘menegh’ meaning ‘monks’.
With so much of the great outdoors waiting for you to explore, you’ll need a comfortable base to relax and rest your weary feet. We have a beautiful selection of cottages for you to choose from, whether you’re looking for a secluded retreat surrounded by acres of countryside, or a characterful cottage in a charming rural village.
Bodmin is a great place for children, too, providing a wonderful opportunity for them to get closer to nature and befriend a few farmyard animals! If you’d like to experience the real rural Cornish life, why not stay in one of our cottages on working farms? Besides the chance to watch the milking and join in with collecting the eggs, these properties are all set in lovely, peaceful locations, allowing you all to enjoy your holiday together.
The beautiful moorland is a haven for walkers and we’re sure the family dog would love the new exploring opportunities on offer. We have a number of properties where your four legged friend is welcome to stay too, so he doesn’t need to feel left out!
Great outdoors
Bodmin is all about getting out and enjoying the fresh air and wonderful countryside. The 18 mile Camel Trail is the perfect place to start, its virtually level path wending its way along a disused railway line from Padstow to Wenfordbridge. The trail is suitable for bikes and horses too and it’s perfect for wheelchairs and pushchairs, meaning that everyone can enjoy the stunning views across the Camel Estuary.
As if one fantastic trail on your doorstep was not enough, there’s also the coast to coast Saint’s Way which runs from Padstow on Cornwall’s north coast, to Fowey in the south. It is believed to follow the route that pilgrims would have taken through the south west on their way to Brittany from Ireland and Wales.
The well signposted trail passes through a range of beautiful scenery, taking in the countryside around the rural towns of St Breock, Lanivet and Luxulyan before ending with a pretty waterside walk into Fowey. Of course, if you don’t feel up to (or inclined to!) walk the whole 27 mile stretch, you can pick up the route at various points, or complete it all leisurely over a week or so.
400 million year old Bodmin Moor
Bodmin Moor is a granite upland spanning a total of 45,000 acres. It combines a variety of geological features, from gently sloping hills and shallow valleys, to boggy natural hollows and dramatic granite tors. People are not the only beings to enjoy the moors, it is also home to wild horses, cattle and sheep which graze the open land.
The moors of Bodmin offer fantastic rambling opportunities, from steep climbs to the top of windswept tors with breathtaking views, to cross-country hikes across ancient moorland. The landscape here varies greatly, one day you could be strolling through picturesque woodland surrounded by bluebells at Blisland, the next you could be setting out to climb the curiously named Brown Willy, taking in prehistoric settlements as you go.
The 60 mile Copper Trail which circumnavigates the moor is so called because of the disused copper mines dotted along the way. It takes in a stunning array of scenery, with ancient monuments, isolated farms and extraordinary stone formations just a few of the sights you will come across en route.
Of course, not everyone is up for such a long trek. If you’d like to see the mines without walking miles, head for Minions on the southeast side of Bodmin Moor, the starting point for the Copper Trail. Many of the mine pump houses and spoil tips can still be seen today. The little village is the highest in Cornwall at 300 metres above sea level is home to a range of fascinating historical sites. One of the most intriguing is The Hurlers, a standing stone circle, shrouded in legend, dating back to the bronze age. Rillaton Barrow, a little further northeast, is the site of a granite cist, or grave, in which several interesting artefacts have been discovered.
Bodmin offers a fantastic range of walks for families too; you can enjoy beautiful scenery without tiring out those little legs too much! The riverside walk at Cardinham Woods is a level trail through pretty woodland, with some perfect spots for a paddle. A wooden play area next to the Wood’s Café means that they can have fun while you enjoy a cuppa. The woodland routes vary from 1.5 to 3.5 miles and are suitable for walking, cycling and horseriding. A network of mountain biking trails of varying levels of difficulty will provide something for thrill-seekers to get their teeth into!
Lovely lakes
Despite its inland location, Bodmin has some great lakes where you can spend a day by (or on) the water. Siblyback Lake is one of the best for water sports, with everything from windsurfing, sailing and kayaking on offer. It’s also a great location for the fishermen among you as the lake is regularly stocked with rainbow trout – day permits to fish them between March and October are available. If you’d prefer, you can just enjoy the scenery from the circular path.
The legendary Dozmary Pool, high on Bodmin Moor, is where Sir Bedivere is thought to finally have thrown Excalibur. Although rumoured to be bottomless, a drought in 1976 dried the lake completely and no sword was discovered! Now it’s a lovely place for a stroll.
Crowdy Reservoir is set in a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is home to a wonderful variety of birds. Enthusiasts can watch them go about their daily business from the bird hide which is located in a peaceful setting 20 minutes from the car park. It’s a nice tranquil location for a picnic or a spot of fishing.
So much to see and do
Although the countryside is Bodmin’s primary attraction, there are also a number of other, family friendly things to do in the area. Taking the children to visit a prison is perhaps not the first thing which would spring to mind, but the disused Bodmin Jail makes for a fantastic day out. It has a grisly past of murders and hangings which have lead to it being featured on TV’s ‘Most Haunted’ and tales of ghosts and the supernatural. They offer extremely popular ghost walks for brave-hearted visitors!
Sticking with the crime and punishment theme, a visit to the award winning Courtroom Experience in Bodmin town is not to be missed. After listening to evidence in a replica Victorian Court, it is up to you to decide the fate of Matthew Weeks, accused of murdering local girl, Charlotte Dymond, on the moors in 1844.
For a different way to explore the countryside, take a ride aboard a steam train on the Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway. A great experience, whatever the weather, the leisurely 13 mile trip allows you to enjoy the sights and sounds of the age of steam from the comfort of a restored carriage. What’s more, dogs are welcome aboard too, so you can all join in the adventure together.
If you enjoy a wander through beautiful gardens, Pinsla Gardens and Nursery is home to a colourful two acre garden set in tranquil woodland. Inspired by the plants you see, you can purchase one of your own from the nursery and sit down for tea and a delicious slice of cake in the café.
Another extraordinary attraction is the infamous Jamaica Inn, immortalised in Daphne du Maurier’s novel and a major player in Cornwall’s dark and dangerous history of smuggling. A museum houses an impressive collection of smuggling artefacts, and you may even spot a supernatural being on one of the Inn’s regular ghost tours.
If you’re more interested in the Victorian highlife than bothered about ghosts, then the magnificent Lanhydrock House is the place to visit. Now cared for by the National Trust, it is a beautiful, late Victorian country house surrounded by extensive well kept gardens. A visit offers a glimpse into the 19th century lives of the wealthy family who lived there and their servants.
So if you’re intrigued to discover the dark past, incredible countryside and welcoming atmosphere of Bodmin and its surrounds, browse our range of comfortable holiday cottages in the area - perfectly located for you to make the most of your time here.