Camel Trail: Wadebridge to Padstow

The Camel Trail follows the trackbed of the old Bodmin and Wadebridge railway along the tidal estuary to Padstow. Wide, level and well used, it is the route to reach for when you want distance without a fight.

1 hr 20 min – 1 hr 55 min

Wadebridge, Trail car park off Southern Way to Wadebridge, Trail car park off Southern Way

Desk-researched / Not yet field-checked

Distance: 17.3 km
Elevation: 65 m
Start: Wadebridge, Trail car park off Southern Way
Terrain: Multi-use path
Difficulty: Easy
Route type: Out and back

Practical notes

Best for

Steady long runs
Beginner-friendly distance
Recovery miles away from traffic

Watch for

Shared with cyclists and dog walkers, narrow in a few stretches
Can be busy to the point of congestion in summer holiday weeks
Compacted stone surface holds puddles after heavy rain

Facilities

Pay and display parking in Wadebridge
Toilets, shops and cafes at both ends
Water tap at Wadebridge trail car park

Season

A year-round route. Useful in winter when the coast path is too exposed, though shorten your expectations of pace on a busy Saturday in August.

Parking: The main Trail car park in Wadebridge is signed off Southern Way and fills up on warm weekends.
Public transport: Wadebridge and Padstow are both served by regional bus routes. Check current timetables before planning a one-way finish.
Conditions: Compacted crushed stone the whole way, flat enough to hold pace but not immune to standing water after prolonged rain.
Navigation: Impossible to get lost. One trail, one estuary, both ends signed.