West Cornwall Way

Has anyone done the West Kernow Way? If so, what is the series of bridleways running west-east above Zennor like? The bit around the Men an Tol. If i get my kids (not gnarly) up there will they enjoy the traverse?

Someone must have ridden that bit?

Last bump before I give up. Humour me.

Zennor west of St Ives?

I can’t see many bridleways near it – just one short deadend.

Best off asking on the WKW Facebook group for up to date info, if you’re on there.

I live nearish but haven’t ridden that section for ages*. Most of the trails locally had dried up really nicely up to last weekend. It’s mostly on firm terrain so after a bit of rain, it generally fine. There’s a section of narrow trail with the odd bit of small wheel sized drops near Men an Tol from memory.

Depends on kids’ ages, size, skills etc really…the whole route is generally not gnarly but there’s the odd section that’s rough and may be a little challenging for kids.

*I say ages…might have been 12 months ago when I had a bit of a re-explore!

Thanks all.

I know this section very well.

When are you planning to ride it? It’s really weather dependent – I’ve not been up there for a couple of weeks, but it shouldn’t be too bad at the moment as long as we don’t get any more rain.

Like the rest of the WKW, this section is a curious mix of really nice mellow riding with some much more difficult stretches (never for long, and not TOO hard, but enough to put off beginners or anyone after an easy pootle). It’s not particularly gnarr, just some awkward bits which will have them off and walking.

If you’re looking further ahead, I wouldn’t take youngsters between say mid-June – early October as bits will be overgrown with gorse and heather. And definitely avoid if there’s been a reasonable amount of rain over the past few weeks.

Feel free to PM me if you want any pointers. I’m very local and happy to suggest shuttle drops, etc….

I’m staying down in praa next week, I can probably manage one long day out on the gravel bike. Western loop around lands end or eastern loop around the lizard?

Anyone?

I’d pm pz_steve who knows tbe area well.

In my case we ditched tbe bikes and instead wandered around lots of monuments and mines near men-an-tol. Lovely afternoon.

I rode the route last year. I preferred the Lizard to Lands End as the views were better and it was interesting to dip in and out of the beaches and villages. Also fewer overgrown bridleways. But it’s a bit more up and down (steeply so).

Interesting, I don’t know the lizard well so maybe an option. Flat out with covid at the moment so either may be unlikely…

Sorry – only just seen this.

I don’t know the Eastern half of the WKW at all. It’s on my to-do list, but I can’t really give any meaningful advice on it, I’m afraid.

As to the Western loop, it’s a mixed bag. It’s all on road from Penzance to Trethewey (above Porthcurno). From there to Men an Tol a gravel bike would be fine, and it’s still 80% road. In fact a gravel bike is fine all the way round – it gets a wee bit more marginal from the boundary stone east of Men an Tol, but if it stays dry and you don’t mind the odd push then you’ll be fine. Might be a bit scratchy through the gorse, both nothing too scary.

I’d maybe suggest going clockwise from Pz as far as Bossulow, then take the road back via Madron (taking in Lanyon Quoit). Or even better, push on to Men an Tol, turn off the route to ride right past the stones and follow the path heading to the engine house on the skyline (“Ding Dong” – that’s the name of the mine). From there there’s a track you can take south which will join up with the Madron road and back to Penzance. Very doable on a gravel bike and a nice loop.