Circular walks around Bodmin Moor

Enjoy the walks by being guided by the app
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.
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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, returning via the Holy Well of St Hyacinth and St Pratt.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Minions and the Cheesewring
3.5 miles/5.6 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.
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North Hill to Hawks Tor
3.7 miles/5.9 km - Moderate
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
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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.