[Closed] Bissoe, Cornwall

Well worth putting the bike in, poldice valley is where all the proper trails are. I'm up in bristol at the moment but thats my regular riding spot when i'm home. Have a look at facebook at cornwall freeriders group - don't be put off by the name, there's plenty of xc/trail riders as well as dh'ers.
If you need a decent bike shop whilst down there clive mitchell cycles in truro is where i'd recommend.

Have a look on the [url= http://www.cornwallmtb.kk5.org/ ][b]Cornwall MTB Club[/b][/url] website they post up rides in Cornwall including Bissoe. Although they aren't going to Bissoe again until 25th April 😕

You could always try posting up on their [url=

[/b][/url] page to see if anyone can help you out or post up here again closer to Easter as I know one or two use STW.

Watch out for the arsenic

bissoe area is Full of trails! be it xc orientated, Down hill or jumping,
there always guys up there every weekend, so can always tag along with them, there arer a coupl eof Awesome older guys on dh bikes there normally when we do the loops (cornwallmtb club) always makes me smile when you see them, tkae of lids and reveal full grey hair!!

if you like jumping then look out for the area called Mars, (you'll know it when you see it!!) some good stuff in there!!
dh tracks everywhere! some recent additions to the routes too,
xc wise some of the old Dh runs are great for it, i'd say they were more aggresive XC orientated over Dh now, (but would have once been top dh tracks lol!)

if you look on the cornwallmtb facebook group there are Loads of pictures from bissoe rides, to wet your appetite! (club also has a ning network page, http://cornwallmtb.ning.com - is a bit mroe active than the FB page, more chance of getting a guide or some others up for a ride!!)

That's great, thanks!
Wish I'd known this before, I have been going down to Truro a few times a year all my life!

As above, loads of good stuff ! Check out Cornwall trail riders on face book, we meet on sunday mornings + Thursday nights ! Always good 2 c new faces !

Watch out for the arsenic

When I used to live in Falmouth a mate told me about a lake jump they'd built into one of the pools down there... He went a little white when I told him about the arsenic! At least that cleared up why they were all feeling a little sick afterwards.

There's an XC race at Idless Woods (just north of Truro) on the Sunday after Easter - but I guess you'l be home by then.

My Bro lives near Redruth so I think I'll take my bike with me when I go down this summer. Is the arsenic a real problem? What are the symptoms of poisoning? Crikey, no wonder my relatives are so crazy with there being arsenic and radioactive granite and stuff down there 😮

Facebook cornwall trailriders and get hold of mark wright. I am away but there are plenty around if you want a ride, I am sure that Jude will be going out from Bissoe Cycle hire on the Sunday. You could try the Bike barn. I have some old mtb pro routes if that will help, email if you want them paul421@tiscali.co.uk. Thing are quite hard to find but there is some nice riding, best bet get hold of [url=

riders[/url] hope this helps.

Is the arsenic a real problem?

I've done a lot of work (professionally) in the Carnon valley, and the "mars" site particularly over the last 20 years. The arsenic concentrations are upto 100 times higher than the level regarded as safe for gardens... I can understand the cynical attitudes that I have encountered from mtbers on the site, but (as an active mtber) trust me on this one, the risks are real - particularly if you are low bodyweight, visit the site frequently, and get skin / mouth / nose exposed to mud and / or dust.

Ok thanks @rkk01. My Grandparents have told me many interesting tales about the mining and poisonings and such but I didn't realise it was still a real problem. I think I will cover my face If I go there this summer.

Clive Mitchell Cycles are ace. Bloke gave me a OS map when I went in there a few years ago, told me all about the trails in the Poldice Valley, and gave me a generous discount on some stuff. Really friendly and helpful.

The Poldice is a nice ride. Some real variation in surfaces, and loads of history; all the little mines and stuff, quarries, etc. It's a lovely place to ride.

My big gripe with Cornwall, is that it can be difficult to find places where it's actually 'legal' to ride. A journey from St Austell to Truro had me having to ride on footpaths, to avoid massive diversions. One bit of 'bridleway' was only accessible by 'footpaths' at either end. Crazy. As for up near Bude; forget it. All footpaths, I found.

the trail riders are a great bunch, but seem tp prefer a 25-30mile Fast ride, rather than say a session in poldice/bissoe, but if you want a tour of the good bits at a good pace then they are the guys to go with,

talkemeda, your not wrong fella, it doies take some seeking out but when you do find it its defo weorth it!!!

there's all manor of things in the mining waste up there, generally though, as long as your not rubbing your hands in it and then smearing it on your face you'll be alright! 😉 just dont drink out of the ponds!!!

the Cornwall freeriders are the guys that use the place the most, run events there etc, from what ive seen they are a great bunch of guys and have a good active FB page, depending on the days and times, i may be able to come out and show you some of the trails if needed, give you and idea whats up there! i dont know them all but the club (cornwallmtb) are up there quite often,

My big gripe with Cornwall, is that it can be difficult to find places where it's actually 'legal' to ride. A journey from St Austell to Truro had me having to ride on footpaths, to avoid massive diversions. One bit of 'bridleway' was only accessible by 'footpaths' at either end. Crazy. As for up near Bude; forget it. All footpaths, I found.

This is very much the way down here. Luckily we all have a fairly lax attitude to the law and very, very rarely experience any gripes as long as you're sensible with the trails you ride.

To not ride the cliff paths around here would be far more criminal than riding them ever will be 🙂

To not ride the cliff paths around here would be far more criminal than riding them ever will be

Can you recommend any particularly good bits? I've done some coastal walking around Zennor and as I remember the paths were good there and the scenery was awesome. I think NT own a lot of the coastline in Cornwall don't they? I can't imagine them being too anti cycling.

To not ride the cliff paths around here would be far more criminal than riding them ever will be

That's my attitude; sadly, arguments with my relatives who live there reveal the complete lack of understanding and tolerance of mountain biking. The same old 'erosion' excuse is brought out straight away, along with 'irresponsible mountain bikers tearing around mowing people down'. Strangely, I've not been told about the figures of victims of such irresponsibility.

Interesting, how in other countries where mountain biking is tolerated much more than here, that this mythical 'erosion' seems not to be such an issue.

Cornwall does seem to be particularly bad for narrow mindedness towards biking. Shame, as there's some lovely stuff to be ridden.

I think cycling on most public footpaths is still technically illegal in England. I'm a little out of touch with English access laws though having lived in Scotland for a while. In Scotland you can cycle on 'paths' within reason but you have to give way to walkers and avoid causing erosion etc etc. It's basically common sense stuff and hopefully things will go this way more down south too.

there is a Legal section you can ride from Northcliffs into portreath, has two Very good descents but one not really rideable due to Steep steps on the path down (zig zags the hill), that and it drops 200ft in about 100M and then climbs much the same the other side! there is also a Legally rideable section down on the lizard area,

the Path from Poprthtowan Up the coast is a Cracker, rode it a couple of weeks back with some guys that know it well, we rode Porthtowan up to PerrenPorth and back, A LOT of climbing but some proper awesome ST sections along the edge of the cliff (have to remind your self to fall to your right not left!! or you'll be getting wet!) the scenery is Stunning on the right day, can see down to St.Ives one way and Padstow the other, Loads of old Mine workings along there too,

the general rule of thumb is to ride out of season on normal paths, and always be polite and curtious to walkers, (common sence as mentioned in a few other posts!) and if you see the warden, get of the bike sharpish! 😉 even though she is of biking stock! the only main issues that become from riding the paths are the downslop corners getting cut up due to skidding into them etc. otherwise it seems to be of very little effect,
obviously its not Strictly legal on the coast paths so if you do get caught then its up to you, but as said, common sence and you'll be fine!!

Can you recommend any particularly good bits?

Cornwall does seem to be particularly bad for narrow mindedness towards biking. Shame, as there's some lovely stuff to be ridden.

On my journey from ST Austell, I tried as much as possible to stay 'legal'. I found it impossible to continue the journey along the coast, without straying onto footpaths, as the alternative meant huge diversions. Only met one grumpy bloke who moaned about 'cyclists ruining the paths' etc.

I appreciate there are places where bikes should not be allowed, but mostly, there's no justifiable reason for bikes to be forbidden on many paths. I prefer to make my own judgements of where is suitable to ride my bike, than be told my some ignoramus that I can't. Sadly, the attitude of my Cornwall dwelling rellies is the typical 'bikes are evil full stop' one. Without wishing to open up the whole access debate, some attitudes and regulations are just stupid. I think it's just selfishness a lot of the time.

I've ridden the coast from loe bar,helston down to the lizard for years with very few problems - once got approached by national trust at mullion in the summer and just pretended i was on holiday and clueless about not being allowed on the paths.
Nowadays i steer clear of the coast in the summer months unless i ride the mornings as its too crowded and your going to have a disrupted ride with all the people traffic and dogs.
Amazing views and pretty good singletrack to boot.

Thanks for the info, hopefully I can check out some of those routes this year.

Nowadays i steer clear of the coast in the summer months unless i ride the mornings as its too crowded and your going to have a disrupted ride with all the people traffic and dogs.
Amazing views and pretty good singletrack to boot.

Sounds like a good excuse for a night ride.... Anyone know what the coast path Cremyl to Port Rinkle is like? Ride able? Views back over Plymouth at night are great from the top of Maker Heights....

If you need someone to guide you for a weekend ride let me know.I ride a lot of Xc/trail around this area.

It would be a lot of tarmac, I guess.

Mt Edgcumbe estate probably wont want you cycling through there patch - at least not beyond Barn Pool / the Folly. Cawsand - Penlee - Rame - Cliff Road could be good, but TBH I've only ever walked along these bits (fancied a crack at the CG station to St Michaels Chapel - but it wouldn't do to go over the cliff at Western Gears).

Freathy - Tregantle along the cliff road is nice for views of Whitsand Bay, but is, err, road. More road from Tregantle to Portwrinkle, because of the Tregantle ranges....

nicolaisam, rkk01 - might take you up on that- I'm working weekends at Antony House til end of April, but with the light evenings and all- how about a Saturday night?