Cardinham Woods

About

Cardinham Woods is one of Cornwall’s hidden gems, nestling in a beautiful valley with a bubbling stream. The mixed woodland offers a range of waymarked walking trails, mountain biking, and family-friendly play and picnic areas. Discover stunning viewpoints and evidence of the area’s fascinating history with remnants of the old mine and traditional clapper bridge.

For any help while visiting Cardinham Woods, head to the Ranger’s Office (level access from the car park) which is open 9.30am-3.30pm on weekends and bank holidays, and 9.30am-11.30am on weekdays. Outside of these hours, look out for our team in green. Our team has completed disability awareness training. Mobility hire is available daily 10am-4pm – pre-booking essential.

Things to do at Cardinham Woods

Walking
Waymarked walking routes make the most of Cardinham’s beautiful surroundings with well-maintained trails for all abilities. Choose an easy-going stroll along the valley bottom, suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, or strike out up the slopes for a challenging hike. Each route sets out from the car park, either near the toilets or the cafe. For little explorers, don’t miss the Gruffalo Party trail. Collect the missing party items to help Gruffalo celebrate his 25th birthday. Activity packs are available from the Ranger’s Hut for £4. 

Mobility hire

Visitors with reduced mobility can explore the forest with our all terrain mobility scooter, available to hire via the Countryside Mobility scheme. Our easy-to-use Tramper can tackle forest terrain come rain or shine. Trampers are available 10.00am-4.00pm daily; pre-booking is essential to provide you with a smooth hire experience

Mountain biking
Get your adrenalin fix on the blue grade Bodmin Beast mountain bike trail that winds around the wooded slopes of the Cardinham Valley. Two optional red sections can be added to test your technical skills.

Play
The whole woodland is a playground. But if that isn’t enough, enjoy our dedicated play area and Zog activity trail. Activity packs are available from the Ranger’s Office for £4. 

Food and drink

After your forest adventure, refuel at Woods Cafe. You'll be spoiled for choice with delicious homemade light bites, locally-made cakes, and hot and cold drinks. Or bring your own picnic to enjoy in your favourite spot. There are picnic benches dotted throughout the forest, or head down to the streamside meadow. To help us prevent wildfires, please never light a BBQ or fire in the forest.

Outdoor learning and birthday parties
The experienced team at Badger Forest School offers hands-on learning in the great outdoors through regular school sessions, holiday clubs, family sessions and birthday parties.

Dogs at Cardinham Woods

Dogs love the forest and all its sights, sounds, and smells. There is drinking water and a self-service dog wash in the car park, and the stream is the perfect paddling spot on a warm day. Cardinham Woods is surrounded by grazed farmland with vulnerable livestock, so we ask you to keep all four-legged family members in sight at all times and use a lead if their recall isn’t reliable. For happy times and waggy tails, please check out our guidance for dogs in the forest.

View the full accessibility guide for Cardinham Woods.

Please visit the Cardinham Woods website for opening times and parking charges