Tamar Trails Cycling, Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park

Tamar Trails Cycling, Tavistock, Dartmoor National Park

This is our favourite place to take kids cycling in the Westcountry. Off-road and free, there are a series of cycling trails set in an old mining landscape that's part of a rare UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trails are great. The old mining landscape is fascinating. The Tamar Valley is stunning.

The Tamar Trails Centre is a family visitor attraction situated in the Tamar Valley and Tavistock section of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's just up the river from Morwellham Quay to the west of Dartmoor National Park. The Tamar Trails Centre offers a range of leisure activities from tree surfing to canoeing, walking to cycling.

If you can't bring bikes, hire them at the Tamar Trails Centre. We've hired bikes on numerous occasions and both the bikes and staff have been great.

There's a choice of trails. For families, try the Wheal Maria Trail that loops around Blanchdown Wood and the Mineral Railway Trail that runs down to Morwellham Quay.

To complete the Wheal Maria Trail, we'd recommend starting at the main car park by the Tamar Trails Centre. You cycle past Tamar Trails Tree Surfers course and then follow a short stretch of the Mineral Railway Track as it arcs to an information point that also offers magnificent views of the Tamar Valley. From there, the trail runs around Blanchdown Wood back to the information point. You then follow the Mineral Railway Track back to the Tamar Trails Centre.

To complete the Mineral Railway Track to Morwellham Quay, once again start at the main car park by the Tamar Trails Centre. Cycle past Tamar Trails Tree Surfers course and then follow the Mineral Railway Track south. You cross a road and then enter a long stretch of woodland high above the River Tamar. There are a couple of remarkable viewpoints. At the southern end of the Mineral Railway Track by Morwell Rock, either take the Canal Tunnel Link down to Morwellham Quay or wheel your bike down a public footpath to the visitor attraction. Route maps are available at the Tamar Trails Centre so refer to those for detail.

Experienced riders can take on the Sheepridge Trail above Morwellham Quay.