Holidays in Wadebridge, North Cornwall – Camel Trail, Bridge & River Camel

HOLIDAYS IN WADEBRIDGE

Wadebridge is a friendly market town at the head of the Camel estuary in North Cornwall, built around one of the finest medieval bridges in England. For more than five centuries the town has grown up around this great stone crossing of the River Camel, and today it is best known as the heart of the Camel Trail – the traffic-free path that follows the old railway line west to Padstow and inland to Bodmin and the edge of Bodmin Moor.

The town centre is compact, level and easy to explore on foot. Molesworth Street, now largely pedestrianised, is lined with independent shops, delis, cafés, galleries and gift shops, while The Platt by the river is home to the town hall and its landmark clock tower. Wadebridge is a working town rather than a resort, with banks, supermarkets, a leisure centre and a busy weekly life, which makes it a practical and good-value base for a holiday on the North Cornwall coast.

Few towns in Cornwall are so well placed for exploring. The sandy beaches of Rock, Daymer Bay and Polzeath are around twenty minutes away, the fishing villages of Port Isaac and Padstow are within easy reach, and the wild uplands of Bodmin Moor lie just inland. The A39 Atlantic Highway bypasses the town, and the A30 is a short drive away at Bodmin.

Wadebridge is also a town of festivals and shows. Every June the Royal Cornwall Show brings tens of thousands of visitors to the showground at Whitecross, just outside the town, and over the August bank holiday weekend the Cornwall Folk Festival, first held in 1972, fills the pubs, halls and streets with music.

History is never far away. The old railway station, terminus of one of the earliest steam railways in the world, is now the John Betjeman Centre, a memorial to the poet who loved this corner of Cornwall. Across the river lies the old village of Egloshayle with its church tower, and on the downs to the south stands the prehistoric St Breock Downs Monolith, the largest standing stone in Cornwall.

Holiday accommodation in and around Wadebridge ranges from town-centre cottages and apartments to farmhouses, B&Bs, holiday parks and campsites in the surrounding countryside – see self-catering in Wadebridge and all holiday accommodation in Wadebridge.

Best Time to Visit Wadebridge

Spring and early summer are ideal for cycling the Camel Trail, when the hedgerows are full of wild flowers, the estuary is alive with birds and the trail is quieter than in high summer. June brings the Royal Cornwall Show, a highlight of the Cornish year, but also very busy roads, so book accommodation early if you plan to visit then.

July and August are the busiest months, with the trail at its liveliest and the beaches nearby at their best. September and October are lovely for walking and cycling, with mellow light on the estuary and fewer crowds, while winter brings flocks of wading birds and wildfowl to the estuary, quiet lanes and cosy pubs. As a working town, Wadebridge stays open all year round.

THE BRIDGE & THE RIVER CAMEL

The town takes its name from its bridge. Before it was built, the settlement was known simply as Wade, from the Old English for a ford, and travellers crossed the River Camel on foot at low tide, praying for a safe crossing at the chapels that stood on each bank. A ferry later ran alongside the ford, but the crossing remained dangerous until the vicar of Egloshayle, John Lovibond, organised the building of a stone bridge in the later 1460s.

The bridge originally had seventeen arches and is one of the longest surviving medieval multi-span bridges in England. Local tradition says it was built “on wool” – either founded on woolsacks sunk into the riverbed or paid for by the profits of the wool trade – and the Bridge on Wool appears on the town’s emblem today. In fact it stands on bedrock. It was widened in 1852–53 and again in 1963, and it carried the main road through North Cornwall until a new bypass bridge opened downstream in the early 1990s. It is now a Scheduled Monument and a Grade II* listed building.

The bridge was so important that in March 1646, during the Civil War, Oliver Cromwell came to secure it for Parliament. Before the railway arrived, Wadebridge was the highest navigable point on the Camel, and ships unloaded coal, timber and goods at the quays, while sand from the estuary was carried inland to sweeten the fields. Today the river is quiet, and the estuary is a haven for herons, egrets, curlews and other wading birds.

THE CAMEL TRAIL

Wadebridge sits at the heart of the Camel Trail, one of the most popular leisure trails in Britain. The trail follows the route of old railway lines for about 18 miles, from Padstow through Wadebridge and Bodmin to Wenfordbridge on the edge of Bodmin Moor. Because it was once a railway, it is almost flat all the way and completely free of traffic – perfect for families, beginners and anyone who wants a relaxed day on two wheels or on foot.

The most popular stretch runs west from Wadebridge to Padstow, about 5½ miles along the edge of the estuary, with wide views across the water, sandbanks crowded with birds and the iron bridge over Little Petherick Creek. Heading east, the trail follows the wooded valley of the River Camel for about 6 miles to Bodmin, passing Boscarne Junction, where you can connect with the steam trains of the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, before continuing to Wenfordbridge.

Bike hire shops line the trail beside the old station in Wadebridge, with adult bikes, children’s bikes, tag-alongs, trailers and e-bikes. Most families cycle to Padstow, enjoy lunch or an ice cream by the harbour and pedal back in the afternoon.

The Camel Trail is also an excellent way to explore the countryside around Wadebridge at a leisurely pace. As you leave the town, the route opens out towards the Camel Estuary, where the changing tides reveal stretches of mudflats and sandbanks that attract wading birds and other wildlife. The peaceful setting makes this section particularly appealing to walkers, photographers and nature lovers, with plenty of opportunities to stop, take photographs and enjoy the views. The largely level surface is suitable for many visitors who prefer an easy-going outdoor activity without the challenges of steep hills or busy roads.

For those cycling towards Padstow, the journey is as much about the scenery as reaching the destination. The trail follows the former railway line beside the estuary, passing through attractive countryside and over bridges that provide memorable views of the surrounding landscape. Allow time to pause along the way, particularly near Little Petherick Creek, where the combination of tidal water, green banks and open skies creates a lovely setting. Once in Padstow, visitors can explore the harbour, browse independent shops, visit cafés and restaurants or simply sit beside the water before returning to Wadebridge.

Travelling east from Wadebridge offers a different experience, with the trail following the River Camel through a greener, more sheltered landscape. Trees line parts of the route, providing shade on warmer days, while glimpses of the river and surrounding farmland add to the peaceful atmosphere. The former railway heritage is still evident along the way, making the trail interesting for visitors who enjoy exploring Cornwall’s industrial and transport history. At Boscarne Junction, railway enthusiasts may be able to combine their walk or cycle ride with a trip on the nearby Bodmin & Wenford Railway, subject to its operating timetable and services.

Whether you choose a short walk, a family cycling trip or a longer excursion through the Camel Valley, the trail is one of the best outdoor attractions in North Cornwall. Wadebridge makes a convenient starting point, with local shops, cafés and facilities available before or after your journey. Visitors can bring their own bicycles, hire equipment locally or explore on foot, making the route accessible to a wide range of ages and abilities. During busy holiday periods, it is worth starting early, keeping to the appropriate side of the trail and being considerate of other users, including walkers, cyclists and families with young children.

See our Camel Trail guide and Bridge Bike Hire, Wadebridge for more details.

THINGS TO DO IN WADEBRIDGE

Wadebridge is an easy-going town to spend time in. The level centre is ideal for a wander, with the river on one side and Molesworth Street’s independent shops, galleries, delis and cafés on the other. Arts and crafts are well represented, and many local artists and makers sell their work in the town.

On two wheels and on foot, the Camel Trail is the main attraction, but there is plenty more. The ancient Saints’ Way, a waymarked path of about 27 miles from Padstow to Fowey, passes close by, quiet lanes lead to the villages of St Kew, St Mabyn and Egloshayle, and the coast path is only a short drive away.

On rainy days, the Wadebridge & District Museum in Chapel Lane tells the story of the town and its people through a large collection of old photographs and local artefacts, and the leisure centre has a swimming pool. Here are some of the best things to do in and around Wadebridge.

1. Cycle the Camel Trail to Padstow or Bodmin – see above.
2. Walk across the medieval bridge and along the riverside to watch the birds on the estuary.
3. Visit the John Betjeman Centre in the old railway station, a memorial to the much-loved poet.
4. Browse Molesworth Street for independent shops, galleries and delis.
5. Explore the Wadebridge & District Museum, run by local volunteers.
6. See the St Breock Downs Monolith, Cornwall’s largest standing stone – St Breock Downs Monolith (English Heritage).
7. Ride a steam train on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, reached from the trail at Boscarne Junction.
8. Spend a day at the beach at Rock, Daymer Bay or Polzeath, around twenty minutes away.
9. Visit a historic house – Prideaux Place in Padstow, Pencarrow near Washaway, or Lanhydrock (National Trust) near Bodmin.
10. Go to the Royal Cornwall Show in June, or the Cornwall Folk Festival in August.

HISTORY OF WADEBRIDGE

Wadebridge grew up at the lowest crossing point of the River Camel, where the old parishes of Egloshayle on the east bank and St Breock on the west met at the ford. In 1312 King Edward II granted a licence for a market and two annual fairs at Wade, and after the bridge was built in the 15th century the town took the name Wadebridge.

The Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway opened on 30 September 1834, one of the earliest steam railways in the world. It was built to carry sea sand from the estuary to the farms inland and minerals down to the quays, but it carried passengers from the start. Its most notorious excursion came on 13 April 1840, when trains carried crowds from Wadebridge to Bodmin to watch the public hanging of the Lightfoot brothers, convicted of murdering the Wadebridge merchant Nevell Norway – see our page on executions in Cornwall.

The line was later joined to the national network, and in 1899 extended to Padstow, bringing holidaymakers and through carriages from London on the Atlantic Coast Express. Passenger trains ended in 1967, and the trackbed became the Camel Trail. Masons from Wadebridge worked on the granite for the Eddystone Lighthouse in the 1870s and 1880s, and the town remained an important market and trading centre. The A39 bypass and its new bridge, opened in the early 1990s, took through traffic away from the old bridge and town centre.

KEY BUILDINGS & LANDMARKS

• Wadebridge Bridge (later 1460s) – the medieval “Bridge on Wool” across the Camel, originally of seventeen arches, widened in 1852–53 and 1963; a Scheduled Monument and Grade II* listed.
• The Old Railway Station – once the hub of the Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway and the North Cornwall line, now the John Betjeman Centre beside the Camel Trail.
• Town Hall, The Platt – home of Wadebridge Town Council and a venue for concerts and events, including the Cornwall Folk Festival.
• St Petroc’s Church, Egloshayle – the medieval parish church across the river, whose vicar John Lovibond built the bridge.
• St Breock Downs Monolith – a prehistoric standing stone on the downs south of the town, the largest in Cornwall, cared for by English Heritage.

LOCAL EVENTS & THE ROYAL CORNWALL SHOW

The Royal Cornwall Show is the biggest event of the Cornish year – a three-day agricultural show held every June at the Royal Cornwall Showground at Whitecross, just outside Wadebridge, with livestock, food and craft halls, show jumping, displays and entertainment. The Cornwall Folk Festival, first held in 1972, takes over venues around the town over the August bank holiday weekend.

• Royal Cornwall Show (June) – three days at the Royal Cornwall Showground.
• Camel River Festival (dates vary) – a celebration of the river and the town.
• Rock Oyster Festival (July) – food and music near Rock, across the estuary.
• Cornwall Folk Festival (August bank holiday weekend) – music, dance and workshops across Wadebridge.
• Bikelights (dates vary) – a festive procession of illuminated bikes and lanterns through the town.

Dates change from year to year – check our Cornwall events guide for current dates.

PLACES NEAR WADEBRIDGE

• Padstow – the famous harbour town at the mouth of the estuary, about 5½ miles along the Camel Trail.
• Rock – a sailing village on the far shore of the estuary, with sandy beaches and the ferry to Padstow.
• Polzeath – one of Cornwall’s favourite family surf beaches, beside Pentire Point.
• Port Isaac – the fishing village famous as Portwenn in Doc Martin.
• Bodmin – the old county town, about 7 miles inland, with Bodmin Jail and the Bodmin & Wenford Railway.
• Tintagel and Camelford – the legendary castle and the old market town on the edge of Bodmin Moor.