What is the road cycling like in West Cornwall?
Difficulty
Moderate to Tough
Not for the faint of heart. The land in West Cornwall is hilly. It is not uncommon to encounter challenging ascents of between 6–9% gradient, with several exceeding this.
The coastal sections in particular will often be a steep descent and ascent to get into and out of many of Cornwall's iconic fishing bays.
Surface Type
Mostly paved
Most roads, even the small B roads, will be tarmacked. Though when riding in unknown rural locations, I always ride flat pedals with regular shoes (rather than clip-on cleats) to mitigate the chances of unexpectedly encountering an unpaved road along the route.
Surface Quality
Good
The surfaces are not perfect quality, often quite pitted and gravelly, though all totally rideable with a road bike.
Sight Lines
LImited Visibility
Roads are fairly poorly sighted, what with all the high hedges. This means you must be mindful of your speed to watch for oncoming traffic which you might not see until it is upon you.
Scenery
Spectacular
Similar to sightedness, the scenery can be a little challenging to see since you will often be enclosed within the high hedges. When you can catch a glimpse though, it will be of a sparkling blue sea, or of a very old fishing village full of teeny tiny cottages made from stone and often revived by the modern-day dweller or holidaymaker. World-class coastal scenery when the views open up. The sound of gulls will be an ongoing soundtrack for the ride.
Quietness
Mixed
Cornwall is a known and beloved holiday destination for the Brits, and it can be busy because of this. Don't expect the roads to yourself, even when you're a little way off the beaten path.
The roads inland do tend to be much quieter than by the coast, though, and there are enough criss-crossing byways and some major carriageways that mean not everyone is forced onto the one road. You will be able to get away from major traffic thoroughfares without too much trouble.
