Walks in Cornwall often have a lot of up and down, particularly the coast path. Finding accessible walks in Cornwall that are wheel friendly can be tricky, so we’ve rounded up some walks that are suitable for anyone needing to use a wheelchair, mobility scooter, buggy, pushchair or just for those where lots of steps and all that up and down just doesn’t work. We’ve listed in order of length, shortest first. Ready? Let’s roll.

Kerdroya & Colliford Lake (1 mile out and back)

Kerdroya - The Cornish Landscape Labyrinth — Kerdroya – The Cornish Landscape Labyrinth

Kerdroya, located at Colliford Lake, Bodmin Moor, is the world’s largest known classical labyrinth and is now fully built and open. Made entirely from Cornish stone hedging, it is a celebration of Cornwall’s rich landscape and a monument to Cornwall’s heritage, designed to last for generations to come. Follow the 750m meandering path to the Heart of Kerdroya and back out again – it is flat, so will work for prams, but save the bikes for elsewhere. For a longer walk, take the path around Colliford Lake to the dam and back – one for a sunny day though, as the path can be slippery with wheels.

Cardinham Woods (1.5 miles circular)

Cardinham Woods Near Bodmin Cornwall UK — Cardinham Woods – accessible walks in Cornwall

The ancient woodlands of Cardinham Woods are just the place for an a spot of fresh air and forest bathing, with a real mix of trees. The Lady Vale trail is suitable for all types of wheels (except, we’d warn, kids scooters can be a bit tricky on the stones) and if you choose the anti-clockwise direction, starting by the toilets in the carpark, you’ll end on a downwards slope by Muddy award winning Woods Café, perfect for a cup of tea and slice of cake.

Pentire Haven nr Polzeath (1.5 – 2 miles circular)

walk the coast path the rumps cornwall south west coast path

Choose from four routes around the Rumps at Pentire near Polzeath which have been updated for easy wheeled access, including to allow for gates that open easily from a Tramper or other scooter. Three of the designated Tramper routes give cliff top views, with a fourth heading down to the beach. Hire a Tramper at the National Trust Pentireglaze café (book by email in advance). (A word of warning, we probably wouldn’t do these routes on a bike, although we have seen it, and you’ll find it a bit tricky on a scooter. A good off road buggy should work).

Penzance to Marazion (2.7 miles one way)

St Michael's mount causeway from Marazion, arrive after accessible walk from Penzance

Start at the station in Penzance and head east along the Coast Path (take the path shared by the cycle path inland of the sea wall, alongside the railway). Soon you’ll have views across Mounts Bay to St Michael’s Mount. The largely flat path is suitable for wheels of all types and will take you past Long Rock beach and then the Bird Reserve at Marazion, which in autumn attracts rare migrants and flocks of swallows, and in spring nesting birds. You’ll also find the Marazion Hotel and Cutty Sark restaurant for a bite to eat as well as several pubs. If the tide is out, the causeway to St Michael’s Mount is exposed and depending on your wheels is always a fun exploration. There is also a bus back to Penzance.

Siblyback Lake (3 miles circular)

Park by Olive & Co café – the Muddy Awards finalist which serves up great breakfasts and lunches – and follow the path round Siblyback Lake. This 140-acre reservoir is used for water sports and fishing. The path round the perimeter is flat enough for prams, bikes, scooters, and wheelchairs. There is also a children’s play area, plus campsite if you want to make it a longer stay.

Helston to Loe Pool / Penrose (3 miles out and back)

Tim Green Loe Pool Penrose Helston Cornwall UK — CC © Tim Green via Flickr

Start at the boating lake in Helston and take the woodland trail alongside the River Cober to the National Trust gardens and house of the Penrose Estate where you’ll find Loe Pool (fun fact, this is the largest natural freshwater lake in Cornwall and therefore home to all sorts of birds) and then The Stables café for refreshments.

Botallack, Pendeen (3.4 miles circular)

This circular walk is billed as being accessible, but it will definitely depend on your wheels – you wouldn’t want to take kids on bikes, for example. Start at the village car park at Pendeen, past Geevor Tin Mine and head for the coast path, before passing Botallack Count House (this is prime Poldark country) and following the lanes back up to the car park – see here for more details. Note, it’s possible to hire a Tramper all-terrain mobility scooter, provided by Countryside Mobility SW at Levant mine.

Bude Canal (3.7 miles)

Bude Canal accessible walk in north cornwall

The tow path walk alongside Bude Canal (Britain’s most westerly canal) is another wheel friendly favourite. Gentle to moderate, you’ll be walking alongside mostly canoes and kayaks rather than the original boats transporting sand. A Tramper all-terrain mobility scooter is available for hire from Whalesborough Farm. Passes Bude Marshes so take your binoculars for some bird watching.

Wadebridge to Padstow (5.5 miles one way)

View from Camel Trail across Camel Estuary towards Padstow in Spring, Cornwall UK

Bicycle is often the first type of wheels associated with The Camel Trail due to the prevalence of bike rental places, but it’s also an excellent flat route for wheels of all kinds. The part from Wadebridge to Padstow (or vice versa) is the most traditionally scenic part, being coastal and skirting the Camel Estuary, but in fact all parts of the trail have their own beauty. For a longer outing, we think starting in Wadebridge, lunch in Padstow and then back again makes a lovely day out – or, pay a visit to the converted old railway carriage The Atlantic Express half way along for a cuppa and a crépe.

The surface between Wadebridge and Bodmin has been recently re-laid, so for an ultra-smooth ride, start by the river in the town and then head back inlands towards Bodmin, pausing at Camel Valley Vineyard.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan

The Lost Gardens of Heligan are spread over 200-acres, but around 13 acres of this can be accessed via even paths including the Productive Gardens, Pleasure Grounds and Home Farm as well as access to the Steward’s House, which means prams, and wheelchairs are fine, although be aware of the gentle downhill gradient (the gardens are not suitable for bikes or scooters!). Trampers are available to pre-book, and you must be a member of Countryside Mobility, which can be done on arrival. The ticket office has accessible maps, and there are several cafés and food outlets within easy walk of the car park and flat paths in the Pleasure Grounds.

Note that the latest sculpture (Lowarnes) in not currently accessible by wheelchair, scooter or tramper, although they are working to improve accessibility within this area.

Golitha Falls, Nr St Neot, Liskeard

Not all of the paths here are wheelchair friendly so be sure to follow the signs from the carpark which indicate which ones are – there can also be a bit of mud to contend with, so this may be one to pick for a drier day, but the beautiful woodlands alongside the banks of the River Fowey make a fun day out with the kids.

Trebah Gardens, Mawnan Smith

Garden-Court-Trebah-May-2023 — Flat paths in the Court Garden at Trebah are accessible for prams and wheelchairs

Although most of Trebah is quite steep, there is step-free access from the car park towards the Visitor Centre, including the Court Garden. There is a circular, step-free route around the garden, although as a valley garden there are hills in places, but it is manageable with a pram, wheelchair, and by mobility scooter. Routes suitable for wheelchairs are marked clearly on their map, which can be requested at the entrance desk. Additionaly, they have two Tramper mobility vehicles available to hire from 10am for all day use and must be pre-booked. To book, please call the office on 01326 252200 or email mail@trebah-garden.co.uk.

12 accessible walks across Cornwall

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