Cornwall

Lanhydrock Respryn Ramble

Spring Walks NI — Walking in the woodland at Lanhydrock | © ©National Trust Images/John Millar

This circular walk from Respryn car park, near Bodmin, crosses a historic bridge, taking in the wildlife along the River Fowey and on through semi-natural ancient woodland. Look out for otters, kingfishers and lichen-covered ancient trees – plus traces of Cornwall's tin mining past.

Near to

Lanhydrock

Start point

Respryn National Trust car park, grid ref: SX099636

Road

This walk begins with a short, narrow road section over Respryn Bridge. Please look out for bicycles and cars when joining the road.

Address
Respryn Bridge car park, Lanhydrock, near Bodmin, Cornwall
Directions via Google Maps
By train
1 mile (1.6km) level walk on a footpath from Bodmin Parkway.
National Rail
By bus
Bus stop at Bodmin Parkway, then a 15 to 20-minute level walk on a footpath.
By road
From A30 or A38 follow brown signs for National Trust Lanhydrock. Continue past the entrance to Lanhydrock’s main car park. At the end of the road, turn right down Respryn Hill. Respryn car park is on the left just before Respryn Bridge.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Respryn National Trust car park, grid ref: SX099636
Stage 1
Take the track and footbridge next to the car park entrance, then turn left over Respryn Bridge. Turn right and follow the footpath alongside the river.
Bridge and railway
The river crossing here has long been important. 'Res' in Cornish means ford. The first bridge was mentioned in 1300 and the current bridge dates from the 15th century, with later additions. The main railway line that runs alongside this walk links London to Penzance and was constructed by the Cornwall Railway in 1859. For a short while, until the station now called Bodmin Parkway was opened, passengers for Bodmin had to use a small halt here at Respryn.
Respryn Bridge over the River Fowey on the Lanhydrock Estate | © National Trust/Sue Brackenbury
Stage 2
Continue down the river and admire the magnificent veteran and ancient oak trees. Look out for dippers, wagtails and the more elusive kingfishers and otters enjoying the River Fowey. At dusk you can see Daubenton's bats hawking over the water, catching insects.
Ancient oaks
You'll see impressive oak trees on this walk, some of which are more than 400 years old. As you leave the small woodland, sandwiched between the River Fowey and railway line, there's a great example on your right, but the best are within the meadow. Look closely. You'll see the oaks are covered in many species of lichen. All the clean, fresh air from the Atlantic in western Cornwall helps lichens to thrive as they are extremely sensitive to air pollution.
Stage 3
Cross the wooden Kathleen Bridge, which was rebuilt in 1992 by the Royal Engineers. Its predecessor was swept away by floods.
Tin streaming banks and ditches
The remains of tin streaming here date from the late 1600s. Tin streams are formed by the erosion and accumulation of tin-rich rocks in the bottom of river valleys. After their formation, layers of sand, gravel and peat settled on top. Tinners removed the formations by hand, making the banks and ditches you can see today. To extract the tin, they diverted a stream of water so that lighter sands and silts were washed away, leaving heavier gravels containing tin-rich rocks.
Stage 4
You're now in Higginsmoor Wood, a semi-natural ancient woodland. The area was previously used for tin streaming, one of the earliest forms of tin mining. You can still see where the water was channelled to allow workers to extract the tin. Turn right up the hill.
The old deer wall in the woodland at Lanhydrock | © National Trust/Laura Fox
Stage 5
Walking up the hill, you'll see hornbeams either side of the path. These look very similar to beech trees but have a sinewy appearance to their trunks, and their leaves are smaller and more serrated.
Stage 6
Go through the first red gate and turn right along Newton Lane.
Stage 7
At the end of Newton Lane you'll find yourself at the bottom of the Beech Avenue, which leads to Lanhydrock House situated within the historic parkland. Turn right down the hill.
Newton Lodge at the end of the Beech Avenue at Lanhydrock | © National Trust Images/Rupert Truman
Stage 8
As you near the end of the road you will see horse chestnut trees on your left, a family favourite for conkers in September and October. Cross the road, through the red gates onto Station Drive. Walk past Station Lodge and take the track to the right. Go over the wooden footbridge back into Respryn car park.
Station Drive on the Lanhydrock Estate | © National Trust/Laura Fox
End point
Respryn National Trust car park, grid ref: SX099636
Trail map
Map of the Lanhydrock Respryn Ramble | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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Bodmin, Cornwall, PL30 4AB

01208265950

lanhydrock@nationaltrust.org.uk

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Start point

Trail information

Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

Road

Getting here

Facilities

Accessibility

Terrain and elevation

Trail route

Total stages: 8

Total stages: 8

Start point

Stage 1

Point of interest

Stage 2

Point of interest

Stage 3

Point of interest

Stage 4

Stage 5

Stage 6

Stage 7

Point of interest

Stage 8

End point

Trail map

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