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Wadebridge and environs for ~10 days

Posted by (California USA) on

We are headed to England for a 5 week trip in May. In my other post I got some excellent advice on our Norwich base and transportation. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/2025-may-june-with-a-norwich-base We have never been to Cornwall and chose Wadebridge as our base for the last part of our trip. We like the nearby train and bus options but we will have a car if we need one. Some things we have planned are to explore our towns, Port Isaac, Padstow and the Camel River trail. We are considering an overnight trip by train to St Ives but are open to other scenic Cornwall coastal towns. We like beautiful scenery, gentle walks, historic towns, cozy pubs and good food.

We have our train trips booked for the beginning of our trip and getting from Norwich to Bodmin/Wadebridge. We are looking at a couple of train/bus options for getting from Wadebridge to our LHR area Premier Inn hotel on the day before our flight home in mid June. We are thinking about taking a train to Hayes and Harlington (change in Reading) then a bus to our hotel on Bath Rd. We stayed at this hotel on a recent trip. We have a two together rail card. If you have other routing to suggest with minimal changes we are looking at all options. Thanks for your help and indulgences with our travel style.

Posted by
280 posts

In my view Cornwall is much easier with a car, noting that Bodmin Parkway station is over 10m away.

You don’t say when in May you are coming. 26-30 May is a holiday period for English schools and you can expect Cornwall to be noticeably busier that week than before or after.

Do visit both coasts- they are very different. And one , very small place worth a quick visit if you’re nearby is the church at St Just in Roseland. On the south coast. Arguably the prettiest churchyard anywhere. If you can arrange it, go on a nice day around high tide.

Posted by
9291 posts

In case you haven't seen it this is the summer bus timetable for Cornwall.

https://images-transportforcornwall.passenger-website.com/2025-04/TFC%20April%2025%20Guide%20Web.pdf

One interesting change this year is a new bus from Bodmin direct to the Eden project.

Yes Hayes and Harlington then bus seems the best option to a Bath Road hotel.

The interesting way to Padstow is bus to Rock village, walk down through the village then the cross estuary ferry.

Posted by
1430 posts

It's perfectly straightforward to walk from Wadebridge to Padstow or ideally hire bikes and cycle there.

If you cycle the other way from Wadebridge you can get to the Camel Valley vineyard which makes some fabulous English fizz. You can take a tour and tasting Monday to Friday at 10.30am or have a Grand tour on Wednesdays at 5pm.

Posted by
4186 posts

Thanks for the helpful replies. We won’t be in Wadebridge until June 12 so we will miss the crunch of the school break there. We bought our train tickets based on your confirmation so that is all set. Thank you, thank you, thank you all. Our trip begins May 12.

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