National Cycle Route 3
The West Country in all its moody, green and undulating glory
Ride overview
If you have ever you dreamt of a week’s cycle tour through a scenically varied, myth-filled, historically rich route, through some of the finest countryside in England, then the National Cycle Route 3 awaits your wheels. Quickly leaving the overly-commercial Land’s End, the route explores a different Cornwall to the over-touristed one which popularises brochures and Instagram. For on this ride there are empty coves, lanes which barely see a vehicle even in the height of the summer along with Cornwall’s UNESCO World Heritage Mining Landscape. For over 150 years Cornwall was an industrial powerhouse, whose minerals shaped the world. After the tin, copper and arsenic, there are the China clay pits , otherwise known as The Cornish Alps. And there’ll be tall tales of Merry Maidens and smugglers when you stop in the many good pubs and cafés along the way.
By the time you cycle into Devon, you’ll maybe agree with the cows that the grass is softer and sweeter than those salt-blasted, wind-rocked stems of Cornwall, but the hills are no less steep, nor fewer. The countryside seems locked into a long-gone time and you’ll be surprised that there are no cart horses and milkmaids on the high-hedged lanes. Eschewing the major tourist spots you’ll ride through villages which have community shops, village pubs and where the bells ring out from their towers on Sundays. Try not to miss out on at least one Devonshire cream tea, which apart from being delicious will give you the energy to tackle the next set of hills.
In Somerset, things are gentler and much flatter. Youi’ll join those seeking an alternative way of living in Glastonbury, you’ll ride up to the Tor (perhaps for sunrise) and stop in Wells with its cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that is one of the best in Europe. There are caves and a limestone plateau to enter and ride over before heading towards Bristol’s fabulous network of traffic-free cycle lanes. The route finishes in the city’s old rubbish dump, before becoming one of the prettiest squares in England.
Think of the route in canine terms; it begins tough, and rather like a dog barks loudly before wagging its tale hoping for a stroke behind the ears. By the end of the trip, the dog is on its back having its tummy scratched. Translated into cycle-speak, the first three days are tough - many hills, often steep where gravel and high banks mean a slow ride up and a slow ride down. By mid-way things level out a bit before becoming utterly flat as you cross the Somerset Levels. The route makes for a brilliant short break that’s neither too long, nor too hard.
Ride Practicalities
START/FINISH: Penzance/Bristol DISTANCE: 507km TOTAL ASCENT: 5809m TERRAIN AND SURFACES: The route is very hilly characterised by narrow and very quiet lanes, cycle tracks on former railways, canal towpaths. A touring bike, one with many hill-climbing gears is a good choice RECOMMENDED CAFÈS/PUBS/ACCOMMODATION*: Listed on each stage description NEARBY MAINLINE TRAIN SERVICES: Penzance, St.Austell, Hayle, Cambourne, Redruth, Bodmin, Tiverton, Taunton, Bristol LINKS TO OTHER RIDES: The Cornish Way, The South West Way, London to Land’s End, NCN 2
*WMWG only list places for food, drink and beds which have met our strict quality standards. They will promote local growers, are independent who set high standards, but who are not necessarily the cheapest place in town.
All the details given on this route are given in good faith. However, situations on the ground can change, so if you know of any access issues, closures, or have any thoughts and feedback on the route, please include them in the comments section below.
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Every route on this website has been carefully researched as well as ridden. However situations on the ground can change quickly. If you know of changes to this route, or cafes, pubs and the like which you think other cyclists need to know about, feel free to share your thoughts below.
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wheremywheelsgo.uk is a Feedspot UK Cycling top website
Stage 1 48km