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I'm certain this is an old topic, but can't find a useful search tool on the newfangleforum....
I may have the opportunity to spend some time over the next couple of months in the delightful Cornwall.
Question(s):
What is the riding like down yonder?
MTB / Road bike, or both options?
Orange Sub 5 or new bouncy toy?
Where to get the best pasty?
Fatty.
Philps in Hayle for your pasty. Fatty or road bike.
During the 2003 heatwave I rode much of the Cornish Coastal Path (on a HT). Epic it was, but not something one is officially permitted to do. Didn't have a single issue with any walkers FTR. Further inland I did various road miles with a bit of XC. Spent the last day in Bodmin but had done enough miles by then to take a break from the bike.
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A bakery just outside Lostwithiel did the job for me. Astonishingly good. Just out of the oven. And bloody big too.
Horse and Jockey in Helston for the definition of Pasty.
Anne’s pasties on lizard are good.
I also came across a big pasty warehouse type bakery on the a30 somewhere on the side of the road by a service station. There were loads of old ladies bak8ng pasties and you could buy them from a little shop on the side. Looks like they made proper pasties for distribution across Cornwall. I’ve never found it since. We were on our way back from somewhere on the north coast when we fo7nd it.
Multiple tracks along the north coast around the old mine workings - Cape Cornwall around to Botallack, or Porthtowan to St Agnes Head via Chapelporth. Lots of steps on the coatpath between Portreath to Porthtowan means lots of hike-a-bike.
Where abouts are you staying? Theres a few good mtb spots but I always seem to have to drive to get to the good stuff.
Dartmoor may not be far depending where you are and Gawton and Tavi woods are on the edge of Dartmoor. If your near Bodmin there are some purpose built trails at Cardinham and Lanhydrock which are good when everywhere is soaking wet. Grogley woods are fun too, also near Bodmin.
Some good riding, coastal singletrack is great. As above, most walkers don't mind...just be polite and keep it outside of peak times.
MTB, road, gravel all good. 🙂
Best pasties are either Horse and Jockey in Helston/Porthleven (massive beggers!) or Malcolm Barnecutt. Word.
Links to local groups, shops, ride spots on my blog 😁
Cornwall is pretty big. It’ll take you two hours to drive from top to bottom.
Loads of good riding though.
Devon is betterer. 😉
Nothing on Dartmoor
There's some great MTB in Cornwall, almost all of it is not in a trail centre though so it's a bit more hidden away. Knowing where you'll be is key to recommending where to ride and where the best pasties are.
That said for pasties I endorse Ann's and if you can find them Mary's are also awesome but they're pretty niche. There's a garage in Probus that sells them... If you must use a cross-Cornwall chain Rowe's don't put enough seasoning on them, so I prefer Warren's.
Grogley is good, I drive down from Devon to ride it from time to time, trails are easy to find, park at bottom of hill and then pedal to top and all trails start from there!
Woodys Bike Park when it reopens is fun, flowing jumpy trails. lots of fun and is uplift only so little pedaling!
Great replies, thanks everyone.
Started a new job in Falmouth last Monday and new wheels arriving this week so will be out on the local trails at the weekend.
Probably wait for a few weeks until the moors dry out a bit, but otherwise bring it on!
It’s about as dry as it gets right now.
But forget riding, the surf has been cranking.
Is there any riding near Helston?
If you get to the The Lizard then the St Keverne bakery is a as good a pasty source as you will find. Simon the baker will even do pasty making lessons if you're so inclined.
Loads of good riding in Cornwall, but as above, not all of it is easy to find. It's worth hooking up with someone who knows what's where. This lot are a friendly bunch and have loads of local knowledge. I'm near Penzance so drop me an email (in profile) if you want any pointers out west.
As for pasties, as you've probably noticed everyone has their own favourite. It's a very personal and subjective thing. A few years back we were looking at changing our pasty suppliers at work so we got loads in to do blind tastings. Every single person involved had a different favourite.
Having said that, the best pasty I've ever had was from St Keverne bakery, so I'm with downshift on that one. Same it's convenient for absolutely nowhere!
Any good fatbiking?