Bodmin Accommodation

The Hurlers near Minions, Bodmin Moor

Mining Remains & Standing Stones on Bodmin Moor

The Cheesewring - granite rock formations on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall

Woodland Walks in South Bodmin Moor, here at Golitha Falls

Bodmin Moor Tourist Information Jamaica Inn Bronze Age Minions Cornwall UK

Bodmin Moor's small size as compared to Devon's Dartmoor National Park makes it more manageable somehow, allowing you to really get to grips with the variety of landscapes, prehistoric sites, copper mining heritage, pretty villages and woodland walks. One of the most popular attractions on Bodmin Moor, made famous by Daphne du Maurier's 1930s novel of the same name - is Jamaica Inn. Its conveniently situated just off the A30 too, and near Colliford Lake Leisure Park which is a good one for the tots!

For excellent coverage of the geological history and prehistoric stone circles and standing stones on Bodmin Moor check the superb Bodmin Moor Pages weblink right. Visit the highest village in Cornwall - Minions with nearby 3 stone circles, the Hurlers. Note the mining remains and take a walk upto the Cheese Ring. The highest Tors on Bodmin include Rough Tor at 1,311 feet and Brown Willy at 1,375 feet. Both are easily walked to from Camelford or Bolventor near Jamaica Inn (about 3 miles from Brown Willy). Alternatively walk 1 mile south of Jamaica Inn to Dozmary Pool, supposed resting place for the Lady of the Lake and Arthur's swod Excalibur! Golitha Falls to the south of Bodmin is one of the most beautiful woodland walks in the moors, and for CAMRA real ale pub of the year head for delightful Blisland to the west of Bodmin Moor.

Bodmin Moor Tourist Information Centres

Bodmin Tourist Information Centre, Shire Hall, Mount Folly Square, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 2DQ. Tel: 01208 76616.

Camelford Tourist Information Centre, North Cornwall Museum, The Clease, Camelford, Cornwall. PL32 9PL. Tel: 01840 212954.

Liskeard Tourist Information Centre, Foresters Hall, Pike Street, Liskeard, Cornwall. PL14 3JE. Tel: 01579 349148.

Minions Heritage Centre, adjacent to Minions Village. Tel: 01579 362350. (set within a reconstructed old mining engine house).

Jamaica Inn, Daphne du Maurier & Bodmin Moor

Built in the mid-18th Century, Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor was a resting place for travellers long before Daphne du Maurier made it famous after she stayed here in the 1930s and was inspired to write her novel Jamaica Inn - twice made into a film first by Hitchcock in 1939 staring Maureen O'Hara as Mary (many deem this as Hitchcock's worst film!), then later a pale copy in the mid 1980s staring Jane Seymour.

Today it's still an inn offering good quality accommodation (some four poster bedrooms for the romantics), with good hearty food and a friendly, warm atmosphere in it's aptly named Smuggler's Bar. Du Maurier's novel is about a young girl - Mary - orphaned and sent to live with her aunt and uncle at Jamaica Inn - it's a mystery based around her uncles dubious smuggling ring. No doubt Du Maurier heard a few stories whilst staying here - smuggling was common at the inn, with visitors often stashing their smuggling treasures here. The Jamaica Inn museum pays homage to both it's smuggling history and Du Maurier who made it famous. Numerous smuggling artefacts are on display, plus audio visual recreations of Du Maurier's book. The Daphne du Maurier room contains her original Sheraton writing desk and other memorabilia.

Jamaica Inn is a popular place to stay, and does host corporate meetings, weddings and events - book early through the weblink right. Coach parties are also welcome.

Jamaica Inn Bodmin Moor, Bolventor, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 7TS. Tel: 01566 86250.

The Hurlers Stone Circle, Minions & Caradon Copper Mining

There's a choice of prehistoric sites across Bodmin Moor, including stone circles, standing stones, burial mounds and so on. Check the Bodmin Moor Pages weblink right for more comprehensive details. One of the best areas in Bodmin Moor for prehistoric sites is to the South and East of the moor around Minions, taking in the magical Hurlers - not just one circles of stones but three circles of mammoth standing stones - a sublime sight to see indeed.

The folk lore surrounding the Hurlers is based around the idea that some local men were playing a game of hurling on a Sunday and were promptly turned to stone for their sin. In the distance a little from the Hurlers you'll note some mining engine house remains - this is the superb little Minions Heritage Centre - well worth a look in here as a cross section of information is available not just on geology, Bronze Age and prehistoric sites around Bodmin - particularly around Cornwall's highest village Minions, including the nearby Hurlers and the Cheesewring Bodmin stones, but also the fascinating mining heritage of the 18th and 19th century around these here parts. Many remains of mines and quarries are to be found around Minions! There's ample parking here too just as you enter the village.

They're not charging you 'yet' for seeing the Hurlers or the natural formation of precariously balanced rocks believed to have been left on Stowes Hill by receding glaciers - the glorious Cheesewring. It's well worth the challenging climb up to the top of the Cheesewring for panoramic views of the Hurlers, Minions, distant mining remains and beyond.

Minions village is a great base from which to access some of the best Bodmin prehistoric sites, mining remains and dramatic natural features such as the Cheeswring. Minions has ample B&B and other accommodation bases, including campsites. Also good news - nearby is fabulous Siblyback Lake with it's Water sports Centre. It's a superb water sports playground offering sailing, water skiing, canoeing and windsurfing. All from the experienced to beginner are welcome and the centre is RYA and AALA approved and all instructors are trained to national governing body qualifications. See the website right for more details. Siblyback Water sports Centre, Siblyback Lake, Common Moor, Nr Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 6ER. Tel: 01579 346522.

Golitha Falls Bodmin Moor

About 5km north of Liskeard is the idyllic woodland walk and nature reserve - Golitha Falls. Highly recommended, it's a particularly famous spot on the south east edge of Bodmin Moor. The reserve consists of a rather steep sided valley through which flows the River Fowey. The result is a series of stunning waterfall cascades.

Perfect for families and couples, it's a steady gentle walk through some of the most beautiful woodland to be found in Cornwall. It's also easy to hook into longer walks such as the Two Valleys Walk (see the St Neot's village weblink right for details). The Two Valleys 6 mile circular walk, which starts at beautiful St Neot's Village, transgresses the valleys of the River Loveny and River Fowey, and the stunning heights of Berry Down.

The woodland around Golitha Falls is ancient woodland indeed, consisting of Oak and Ash trees, and some beech - all protected. There are some rare lichen and mosses to be found at Golitha too. Public toilets are available within the car park adjacent to the entrance by the bridge, with a choice of woodland trails to take - magic. Highly recommended for families, and for gentler walking. Very romantic too on quieter days outside peak season and weekends.

Find the Golitha Falls Reserve just 5 km north west of Liskeard and 2 km west of St Cleer village. Visitors coming by car can get to the reserve via minor roads from the A38, A30 and B3254. There is a car park 0.5 km north east of the reserve near Draynes Bridge. The nearest train station is in Liskeard and regular bus services run from Liskeard to St Cleer.

Colliford Lake Leisure Park & the Beast of Bodmin Moor

If you're a family visiting Bodmin Moor don't miss the superb Colliford Lake Leisure Park - a haven for kids with adventure playgrounds galore both inside and outside, a woodland adventure area, an animal petting section and moorland and lakeside walks and trails.

Also at Colliford try your hand at a spot of water skiing on the lake, or organise a corporate team building event. Check the Colliford weblink right for more details. They've started to hold excellent music festivals and events here too, with camping on-site available. Or why not join them for a special Halloween burning of a wooden effigy of the Beast of Bodmin - spook!

Truth of fiction, the Beast of Bodmin Moor story has certainly attracted some attention. Reportedly the Best of Bodmin Moor - a beast of about 3 foot length, 2 foot height has been spotted several times around Colliford Lake. Residents have reported sitting the odd big cat across the moorland, and indeed giant cat bones have been found on the moor and a few livestock killed. No one seems to have got to the heart of it yet. Still, makes for a good story.

Colliford Lake Park, Bolventor, Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, Pl14 6PZ. Tel: 01208 821469.

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