At Wadebridge, the River Camel is still a small freshwater river. North of Wadebridge, beyond the A39 flyover, it opens out into a wide, shallow estuary. The Camel Estuary National Landscape extends downstream from Padstow and Rock to Wadebridge. The contrast between the river at Wadebridge and the estuary north of the flyover reveals two distinct river landscapes.
The Camel Trail and its railway past
The Camel Trail is an 18-mile, surfaced, largely traffic-free and almost level multi-use trail. It follows a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. Its length, surface and gradient describe the character of the route; the sequence of places shows that it connects several locations.
The Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway opened on 30 September 1834. The former railway line was converted into the Camel Trail, which connects Wadebridge, Padstow and Bodmin. The railway past and the present-day trail are directly linked here: the route is both a local historical feature and a multi-use trail through several places.
Museum and local history
The Wadebridge and District Museum reopened at its current location in September 2013. Its permanent displays trace a chronology of Wadebridge and also cover the history of the bridge and the railway. This allows the town’s history to be explored through different themes, rather than reducing it solely to the railway connection.
Admission to the museum is free. It is fully wheelchair accessible and dog-friendly. The John Betjeman Centre offers another link to the railway: it is located in the main building of Wadebridge’s former railway station.
Circular walk, river landscape and leisure
A 40-minute circular walk passes through partly ancient woodland, by a community garden and on to Treraven Farm. This places two differently described routes side by side: the Camel Trail is described by its length and the places it connects, while the circular walk is described by its format and a specific duration. This helps you choose between a route connecting several places and a walk with a named destination.
Wadebridge Skate & BMX Park is on the Camel Trail, near the Piggy Lane car park. It is accessible to wheelchair users. Children and young people of all ages can use the park for skateboarding, BMX riding and inline skating. Here, the focus is on a specific place for physical activity, while the trail and circular walk are described as routes.
Events throughout the year
The Royal Cornwall Show is an annual three-day event held in Wadebridge in June. It includes a food and farming pavilion featuring Cornish food and drink. For a trip centred around the show, June is the clear seasonal reference point; it is worth checking the specific event dates before planning.
Wadebridge has hosted the Cornwall Folk Festival since 1972. Together with the Royal Cornwall Show, the festival offers a different reason to visit: while the show is associated with its June dates and food and farming pavilion, the Folk Festival highlights the town’s long-standing local event tradition.
Discover more destinations: Saint Issey, Gwennap, Gweek, Poundstock, Tywardreath, Washaway, Withiel, Carbis Bay
For the main travel overview: Cornwall.
