Circular walks around Bodmin Moor

Circular walks around Bodmin Moor

Bodmin Moor, Cornwall

Enjoy the walks by being guided by the app

Phone showing walk for purchase
Download the app and use it to explore the walks and to purchase a guided route.
Phone showing Google navigation to start of walk
The app will direct you to the start of the walk via satnav.
Hand holding a phone showing the iWalk Cornwall app
The app guides you around the walk using GPS, removing any worries about getting lost.
Phone showing walk directions page in the iWalk Cornwall app
The walk route is described with detailed, regularly-updated, hand-written directions.
Person looking a directions on phone
Each time there is a new direction to follow, the app will beep to remind you, and will warn you if you go off-route.
Phone showing walk map page in the iWalk Cornwall app
A map shows the route, where you are at all times and even which way you are facing.
Phone showing facts section in iWalk Cornwall app
Each walk is packed with information about the history and nature along the route, from over a decade of research than spans more than 3,000 topics.
Person looking at phone with cliff scenery in background
Once a walk is downloaded, the app doesn't need a phone or wifi signal during the walk.
Phone showing walk stats in the iWalk Cornwall app
The app counts down distance to the next direction and estimates time remaining based on your personal walking speed.
Person repairing footpath sign
We keep the directions continually updated for changes to the paths/landmarks - the price for a walk includes ongoing free updates.

Bodmin Moor is a granite outcrop in the centre of Cornwall which is the source of many of the major rivers including the Camel and Fowey. As these grow in size towards the edges of the moor, they have carved sheltered valleys with bluebells woods. This makes for a diverse landscape to explore on foot and since on many of the routes you won't see anyone else then it's also good for encountering wildlife. The landscape is dotted with the remains of prehistoric civlisations including houses, fields, tombs and stone circles.

  • 2.7 miles/4.4 km - Easy-moderate

    Blisland to Lavethan Wood

    Snowdrops next to Mill Race, near Lavethan

    Blisland to Lavethan Wood

    2.7 miles/4.4 km - Easy-moderate

    A short circular walk from the village of Blisland through the churchyard, two stretches of the Woodland Trust reserve of Lavethan Wood and land which was once the estates of Lavethan and Barlandew manors.

  • 3.9 miles/6.2 km - Easy-moderate

    Stannon Moor prehistoric relics

    Logan Rock

    Stannon Moor prehistoric relics

    3.9 miles/6.2 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk around Stannon Moor near St Breward with panoramic views of Bodmin Moor, passing stone circles, burial chambers and other prehistoric monuments to a massive granite boulder balanced on Louden Hill which gently rocks if you sit on it.

  • 4.2 miles/6.8 km - Easy-moderate

    Davidstow and Inny Vale

    Control tower at Davidstow Airfield

    Davidstow and Inny Vale

    4.2 miles/6.8 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk in the Inny Vale on the northern edge of Bodmin Moor through the WW2 airbase on Davidstow Moor, the tunnel of trees to Treworra and past the source of the River Inny to the church and holy well of St David.

  • 5 miles/8.1 km - Easy-moderate

    Camelford to Watergate

    River Camel

    Camelford to Watergate

    5 miles/8.1 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk from Camelford through bluebell woods along the Camel valley to the Celtic churchyard of Advent and the Neolithic remains on the edge of Bodmin Moor.

  • 5.1 miles/8.2 km - Easy-moderate

    St Breward to King Arthur's Hall

    Tree-lined track from St Breward Church

    St Breward to King Arthur's Hall

    5.1 miles/8.2 km - Easy-moderate

    A circular walk from St Breward across the Treswallock Downs to the curious prehistoric structure of King Arthur's Hall and ending at the mediaeval Old Inn.

  • 5.5 miles/8.8 km - Easy-moderate

    Altarnun and West Moor

    West Moor

    Altarnun and West Moor

    5.5 miles/8.8 km - Easy-moderate

    A walk from Altarnun across the downs and out onto the open moor where the relics of mediaeval tin workings and prehistoric roundhouses can still be seen

  • 3.8 miles/6.8 km - Moderate

    Minions and the Cheesewring

    The Cheesewring

    Minions and the Cheesewring

    3.8 miles/6.8 km - Moderate

    A circular walk around the iconic landmarks at Minions, including The Hurlers stone circles, The Cheesewring and the engine houses of the South Phoenix Mine.

  • 4 miles/6.5 km - Moderate

    Bowithick to Buttern Hill

    Cairn on top of Buttern Hill with Roughtor behind

    Bowithick to Buttern Hill

    4 miles/6.5 km - Moderate

    A circular walk over the northern tip of Bodmin Moor to the prehistoric burial chamber at the top of Buttern Hill and source of the River Fowey, returning via farm tracks and country lanes to the tributary streams of the River Inny.

  • 5.2 miles/8.4 km - Moderate

    Poley's Bridge to Blisland

    Wenford Driers on the Camel Trail

    Poley's Bridge to Blisland

    5.2 miles/8.4 km - Moderate

    A circular walk from Poley's Bridge along the Camel Trail past the old china clay driers to Wenfordbridge and crossing the De Lank valley and Pendrift Downs to Blisland, returning along the Camel valley.

  • 5.6 miles/9.0 km - Moderate

    St Clether to the Rising Sun

    Stream beside the footpath

    St Clether to the Rising Sun

    5.6 miles/9.0 km - Moderate

    A figure-of-8 walk from St Clether past the ancient chapel and holy well, with views over the Inny Valley, to the Rising Sun pub near Altarnun, serving beer made from the moorland springwater by a local micro-brewery.

  • 6.2 miles/10 km - Moderate

    East Moor and Lynher Valleys

    Trees on East Moor

    East Moor and Lynher Valleys

    6.2 miles/10 km - Moderate

    A circular walk in one of the less well-known areas of Bodmin Moor to the summit of Fox Tor and through the prehistoric remains which date from the Bronze Age and Neolithic times.

  • 6.4 miles/10.3 km - Moderate

    St Breward to Advent

    Clapper Bridge at Hennon

    St Breward to Advent

    6.4 miles/10.3 km - Moderate

    A circular walk from St Breward past the granite pillars of Devil's Jump to the 8ft Celtic cross and ancient churchyard of Advent at the foot of the moors, returning via the remains of the mediaeval village of Carwether to the Inn used by 11th century monks to build the highest church in Cornwall.

  • 6.6 miles/10.6 km - Moderate

    Inny Valleys from Altarnun

    Gimbletts Bridge

    Inny Valleys from Altarnun

    6.6 miles/10.6 km - Moderate

    A circular walk around the valleys of the River Inny and Penpont Water to the mediaeval church at Laneast and the old bridge at Gimlett's Mill from the 15th century "Cathedral of the Moors" in Altarnun, set beside a 6th Century Celtic cross where churches and chapels had been throughout the Dark Ages.

  • 3.7 miles/5.9 km - Moderate-strenuous

    North Hill to Hawks Tor

    River Lynher

    North Hill to Hawks Tor

    3.7 miles/5.9 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A circular walk along prehistoric trade routes in the Lynher valley from the village of North Hill where the granite was quarried to build Westminster Bridge.

  • 4.3 miles/6.9 km - Moderate-strenuous

    Blisland and Pendrift Downs

    De Lank River

    Blisland and Pendrift Downs

    4.3 miles/6.9 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A circular walk from Blisland through the De Lank granite quarry, used for many famous buildings including the Royal Opera House, between the moss-covered boulders and trees of the De Lank river valley and across the Pendrift Downs, passing Jubilee Rock - a huge granite boulder, decorated with carvings.

  • 5.1 miles/8.2 km - Moderate-strenuous

    St Neot Two Valleys

    Bluebells in Bowden Woods

    St Neot Two Valleys

    5.1 miles/8.2 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A circular walk from St Neot though the valley of the River Loveny, past a prehistoric settlement, through bluebell woodland and along the River Fowey, and returning via the church, famous for its mediaeval stained-glass.

  • 5.2 miles/8.4 km - Moderate-strenuous

    Rough Tor and Brown Willy

    Roughtor Moor

    Rough Tor and Brown Willy

    5.2 miles/8.4 km - Moderate-strenuous

    A mostly circular walk to Cornwall's two highest tors, passing prehistoric remains including the holy well, summit cairns and settlements.

Download the iWalk Cornwall app and use the QR scanner within the app to find out more about any of the walks above.

If you're looking for a circular walk on the high parts of the moor try the Roughtor and Brown Willy walk, the Minions and Cheesewring walk or the Altarnun and West Moor walk. The Stannon Moor walk is particularly good for prehistoric remains. For a pub walk, you could try one of the walks from St Breward, Blisland or St Clether.