TOP ROADS: Cornwall

The coastal county down in the southwest corner of this fair isle is a special place to ride; from gently sweeping Tarmac with spectacular sea views to lush, hedge-lined single-track lanes, it’s well worth making the pilgrimage and having an explore…

Land’s End

Stick to the smaller coastal roads and you’ll not go far wrong in Cornwall. That said, if you’re down here, you need to make the trip to Land’s End. Our favourite way to get there is along the B3306 from St Ives – a special stretch of road which offers some cracking views of the Atlantic off to your right as you pass through the lovely villages of Zennor, Pendeen and St. Just. There’re bags of cool stuff to see on the way if you’ve got the time, and if not, Sennen Cove is worth a nosy for a brew, bag of chips, or even a post ride beer. 

Lizard Peninsula

You might as well keep the good times going. Swing a right as you leave Land’s End and follow the B3315 up to Penzance. If you’ve got the time and fancy a leg stretch, you can nip down to the famous Minack Theatre on your way through. And then from Penzance, jump on the A394 before joining the A3082 just outside Helston and heading down to Lizard Point (the most southerly point of England’s mainland). You could spend all day down here, nipping off the ‘main’ road and searching out little coves for a refreshing dip. One of our favourite spots is Kynance Cove (partly because there’s parking and a little caff. 

Bodinnick Ferry

We love a ferry crossing, which is partly why we’ve included this stretch of road in our best bits of Cornwall. The run starts back in the bustling town of St. Austell, but you want to head for the quaint village of Fowey and nip up to Bodinnick. That’s where you’ll be crossing the water, albeit very briefly. You’ll likely spend more time waiting than actually on the boat, but it’s still an adventure. Once across you want to skirt the coast, passing through Polperro, Looe and Seaton, before joining the B3247 briefly as it passes through Portwrinkle. From there you need to keep looking for a right-hand turn just after the Tregantle car park to head along the Military Road towards Rame. It’s the perfect chance for a potter – but you can just keep going and follow the road as it loops back round towards Mount Edgecumbe (which is the home of the seriously-cool Armchair Adventure Festival).