Family Walks in North Cornwall
It's great to get outside and get some fresh air, and we are lucky to have many beautiful places suitable for a family walk in North Cornwall.
Walking is an activity that the whole family can enjoy together and it's an easy way to let the kids burn off some steam and explore the world around them.
Family Friendly Walks in North Cornwall
We have rounded up some particularly family friendly walks in North Cornwall. All of these walking locations have parking nearby, most have toilets on site or very close, and the walking routes are level and accessible for young children pushchairs, bikes or scooters.
All of the family walks that we have listed below are free to access, but some may have pay and display car parks.
Tamar Lakes - Bude
These two lakes have way-marked walks to follow around the shorelines. The circular route around Upper Tamar Lake is approximately 4.5km and is a lovely level path - brilliant for bikes, scooters and pushchairs. There is a great play area suitable for children of a wide range of ages and bird hide for a spot of wildlife watching.
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - there is a cafe at the car park
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
Bude Canal - Bude
Enjoy a level walk along the tow path of the Bude Canal and look out for wildlife along the way. The further along the canal you get, the quieter it becomes as you leave the hustle and bustle of town behind. Look out for ducks and geese, swans, herons, cormorants and even the occaisional kingfisher!
If you follow the canal down towards the sea there is a lock to look at where the canal meets the river and goes out onto the beach.
Duck food is available from tourist information and the canal is usually teaming with ducks, swans and geese so is a lovely spot to feed the birds.
Parking: - pay and display car park at Bude Tourist Information
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - shops and cafes close by
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
Cookworthy Forest and Holsworthy Woods - Holsworthy
https://holsworthyinformationcentreblog.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/ruby-cookworthy-forest-trail-leaflet.pdf
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - there is a cafe
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
Cardinham Woods - Bodmin
This secluded location has everything you could want from an outdoor woodland adventure. The woodland is full of secret glades, stream-side paths, fresh air and stunning viewpoints. The woods feature:
- four walking trails
- three cycling trails
- a Play area
- a Picnic area
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - cafe
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
Seaton Valley Countryside Park – Looe
This is the newest of Cornwall's parks and covers just over 53 hectares in the bottom of a steep-sided wooded valley. It is accessible from the main Seaton car park, set back from the beach. This nature reserve is popular with visitors and is home to wildlife such as otters, kingfishers, dormice and fritillary butterflies.
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - there is a cafe near the car park and picnic benches in the park
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
Siblyback Lake – Liskeard
This lake at the edge of Bodmin Moor has a 5km circuit around the lake, which is perfect for pushchairs, wheelchairs and bicycles. The path runs all the way round the lake, and passes through woodland and by the impressive Siblyback Dam. This is an beautiful location to get outdoors and breathe in the fresh air on a walk, run or cycle. Play area and bird hide for wildlife watching.
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - there is a cafe
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
Camel Trail – Padstow 
This trail is along an old railway line which follows the River Camel along the estuary to Padstow. This traffic free route stretches for twelve miles between Bodmin and Padstow, but you can also join the trail at Wadebridge.
This flat trail is brilliant for walking, pushchairs, bikes or scooters and is nice and safe due to being free of traffic.
There is a variety of wildlife to spot along the way, with a couple of bird hides if you want to look out for herons, cormorants and wading birds in the estuary.
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - at either end of the trail in Wadebridge and Padstow
Food: - shops and cafes at either end
Dogs: - dogs are welcome but should be kept under control
Kit Hill Country Park – Callington
This 400 acre park is in the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is an ideal place for a wide range of activities including walking, bird watching, kite flying and picnics. The hill is known for being home to a wide range of fauna and flora, with cuckoos, stonechats, skylarks and tree pipits nesting in the heathland, and birds of prey such as buzzards and kestrels to be seen overhead
There is a there is an easy to follow way-marked trail which takes around two hours to complete. There is a map of the hill available here.
Parking: - several car parks at different heights
Toilets: - available at the cafe
Food: - there is a cafe at the South East base of the hill
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
10 Acre Wood – Wadebridge
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - there is a cafe
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
The Hurlers - Liskeard
These three neolithic stone circles set at the edge of Bodmin Moor are one of the best examples in the south west. According to local legend they are the remains of men who were petrified for playing hurling on a Sunday. There is lots of space to stretch your legs and soak in the beautiful surrounds, while also looking out for some local wildlife.
Bodmin Moor is known for its changeable weather conditions so come prepared with suitable clothing as the site is remote and very exposed.
There are often sheep and ponies grazing the area, so if you take your dog please keep them on leads.
Although there are no facilities on site, there is a tea room and shop can be found in the nearby village of Minions.
Parking: - free car park
Toilets: - in nearby Minions
Food: - shop and cafe in nearby Minions
Dogs: - dogs are welcome on leads
Roadford Lake - Lifton
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - there is a cafe
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
Colliford Lake
Colliford is Cornwall’s largest inland water,and has three way-marked walks offering beautiful views of the lake and the neighbouring moorland.
There are car parks located at several points around the lake, but no food outlets, so you will need to bring lunch with you. The route is a little uneven in places, so not all of them are suitable for pushchairs.
The shortest walk is the Dam Walk, which is a little under 1 mile long and has spectacular views across the water.
Parking: - pay and display car park
Toilets: - in the car park
Food: - there is a cafe
Dogs: - dogs are welcome
