Walking on Bodmin Moor

Having lived in Cornwall for 13 years the most obvious place to spend all your spare time is the dramatic North and South Coastlines and lose sight of the abundance of viewpoints inland.

Walking on Bodmin Moor offers baron peaceful landscapes and colourful far reaching views. Beyond the quarries, granite boulders and marshes, the gorse bushes and moorland flora provide the essence of the moors.

No matter what the weather, the colours are as vibrant as a sunny day and a steady wind adds to the atmosphere and remoteness of this captivating region.

The wild ponies of the moors are an animal lovers thrill and provide photographers many quintessential models to choose from. The varied colours and markings along with their calm inquisitive nature makes it easy to stick around until they either elegantly pose or poke their nose into your camera lens. Certain crossroads of the moors tend to be where a family of ponies hangout, slowly approaching the area you find they are quite keen to find out more about you too. Please be gentle and approach slowly, recognising if they are bothered by your presence. If they are, move on, as others just up the road might be more content with you being on their land.

The Highland cattle grazing are an incredible addition to the moors. Be cautious, but very slowly you can trek or pass with ease. They will happily look straight at you or ignore you if you are quiet, enabling you to hear them munching away at the grass. I have at times seen more Highland cattle on Bodmin Moor than a driving holiday in the Highlands.

A couple of good areas to head for on your walks are North of Warleggan and Colliford Lake shown on the below map. Both are easy to reach and should you head to one from another you will be met with a few of the picturesque crossroads, ponies and a cow or two. Colliford Lake is baron and colourful, it’s particularly unique to Cornwall and can offer a tranquil setting for a picnic depending on the elements on the day.