The Loe, Helston, Cornwall
DISTANCE 12.3km (7.6 miles) CLIMBING 280m (919ft) TIME 30mins to 1hr
Start/ inish Fairground car park, Helston (grid ref SW 653/270, postcode TR13 0RA)
Route summary A gentle spin around The Loe on a mixture of tracks, but mostly good ones with little gradient, which makes this an ideal ride for mountain biking novices
1
Head out the back of the car park, towards the sewage works. Go right (south/away from the main road) on the tarmac road/bridleway. When this becomes a concrete track, follow it around to the right, to the banks of The Loe.
2
Follow the permissive cycle track uphill, leaving the lakeside and entering Degibna Wood. Descend back down to The Loe and continue along its edge (with the water on your right). Follow the trail around to the right, staying with The Loe. When you reach the coast, go right, across the beach. Please note, no swimming is allowed here.
3
Climb up the slope on the far side and continue ahead, with the sea on your left. (If the coastline trail is closed, follow the diversion along the western edge of The Loe and rejoin the route at Penrose, in step 6.) Go right at the fork, away from the coast, uphill. Continue to follow this track as it kinks left and then right. At the T-junction, turn right. 4
Stay on this lane as it becomes a narrow path, which bears right and then left around the edge of the hill, heading northwards. Shortly after trees appear on your right, follow the narrow trail to the left (which crosses over a track and then runs parallel with it) to Higher Penrose Farm.
5
Go left, past the farm (on your left) and over a track. Then turn right, parallel to it. Pass a car park and thatched house, then go right on the road. At the junction with a bigger road, turn right, onto a surfaced track/bridleway.
6
Drop to a junction and take a sharp left. Shortly afterwards, turn right and follow the permissive cycle path out of the trees. Bear left at the fork, into the open and along a hard track. At the next junction, keep ahead (‘Helston’) – or turn right to get to the cafe at Penrose. Follow this track through the trees all the way back to the car park to finish.