A trip to Bodmin Parkway, including a walk to
Lanhydrock House and a journey on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway.
| Wet weather rating |
*** (train journey is dry and there is a café at the end of the steam line and another at
Lanhydrock House!) |
| Family Rating |
*** something for most people |
| Travel Rating |
easy |
| Journey Time |
less than 30 minutes |
| Comments |
There are numerous ways to spend a day from Bodmin Parkway. More walks are detailed
elsewhere in this booklet. The steam trains are not always very well co-ordinated with
the stopper trains, so it will depend on when you arrive as to which order you do things
in. The steam trains do not generally run over the winter, but there are Santa Special
services on weekends over December and mince pie ramblers between Christmas and New Year.
If you choose to walk to Lanhydrock during the winter do take refreshments as the café
may not be open. There is a small café at Bodmin Parkway but it shuts before midday.
|
| Sundays |
The trip on The Bodmin and Wenford Steam Train is only viable on Summer Sundays - to include
the steam ride it would be better to go on a week day.
|
The Bodmin and Wenford Railway is a pleasant steam excursion on a steep gradient line taking in some
interesting Cornish countryside on its route, and has a very good gift shop at Bodmin General.
From the downside platform cross the footbridge and the steam platform is the one facing away
from the mainline.
Once on the railway there are several things to do on the way. At Colesloggett halt a footpath
with stiles (muddy in wet weather), leads to Cardinham woods where there are nature trails,
cycle tracks and refreshments in the woodland café. Cycle hire can be arranged through Glynn
Valley Cycle Hire in Cardinham woods, Margate; phone 01208 74244.
At Bodmin General there is a gift shop and café, and from here you can catch a train to
Boscarne junction. This links with the Camel trail cycle path, and from here a ten minute
walk will take you to the Borough Arms.
To get to Bodmin town, turn out of the station and walk down the hill. In Bodmin there are
plenty of places to shop and there is a fish and chip shop at the bottom of the town.
Among the attractions in Bodmin is Bodmin Jail, a theme museum for families. This is a former
county prison dating back to 1776. The exhibition includes a visit to the dungeons with a
historical display of crime and punishment. There is a family play room, shop, tea room and
licensed bar. The contact number is 01208 76292.
The Bodmin and Wenford Railway run a variety of interesting and entertaining events in
addition to their normal timetable, including Murder Mystery evenings, jazz weekends and
European traction weekends. The contact number for the Bodmin and Wenford Railway is
01208 73666
Back at Bodmin Parkway a pleasant two mile walk will take you to Lanhydrock House through
beautiful woodland. From the west bound platform head down towards the car park. Just before
the car park you come to a burgundy gate, leading into an estate lane that goes under the
railway. Follow this lane to its end, beside a lodge house. Go straight across the cross
roads, past another lodge house and continue along the tree lined avenue to Lanhydrock House.
At the first Lodge House a pleasant diversion can be made by turning left to the bridge
which offers good views over the railway, and then taking the clearly marked river walk.
There is often an ice cream van in the car park here during the summer months!
Lanhydrock House is one of Cornwall’s grandest houses, and is set in beautiful gardens and
woodlands overlooking the valley of the river Fowey. It has a restaurant, shop and toilets,
and the interior of the house is well worth a visit, if only to look at the fascination
sculptured ceiling and walls of the great hall. The house has been used for several
costume dramas, and is opened from April to October, except for Mondays, with the exception
of bank holiday Mondays when it opens from 11 to 5.30. The park is open all year round and
extends to nearly 1000 acres. The contact number for Lanhydrock House is 01208 73320.
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