St. Ives-Lands End-St. Ives. 45ish miles

Whilst on a late break at the beginning of October, Mary and I timed the weather just right and spent a relaxing, sun-filled week in a cottage in St Just, four miles from Lands End. I allowed myself one days cycling and set off from the St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall.

An A Road cuts across the moorland to Penzance on the south coast, giving a fantastic elevated view of St Michaels Mount. The road then gives you the option of more 'A' class riding or a great 'B' road that takes you to Mousehole, a small fishing village with unbelievably narrow streets and a killer of a climb out of the town.

It's then on to Lands End via another 'A' road where you can watch the huge trawlers and tankers head up the coast into the Bristol channel. It is from here that the real joy of this route begins. The road closely follows the contours of the coast to St Just and back to St Ives giving some of the most picturesque scenery in the British Isles.

Click on any picture for a bigger version......

All of the pics were taken on this section. There are plenty of short climbs and twisty descents and at this time of the year the roads are quiet (they may be too dangerous in the height of summer). You pass through ruined tin mines, over open moorland, past lighthouses, bays and beaches before heading back into St Ives.

There are some great little pubs along the way serving clotted cream teas as well as local ales and the Cornish folk were really friendly - a great ride highly recommended