THE ancient market town of Wadebridge in North Cornwall sits on the tidal River Camel, around five miles upstream from Padstow, and was previously an inland port.

The town has a pleasant centre with interesting shops, eateries and other amenities including the John Betjeman Centre in the former railway station. There are also plenty of sports facilities as well as a large park beside the river.

The Old Bridge across the river dates back to 1468 when it was built by the Rev Thomas Lovibond, who was the vicar of Egloshayle, on the other side of the river from Wadebridge. Legend has it that the bridge was founded on sacks of wool, though it is actually firmly positioned on rock.

The Old Bridge crosses the tidal River Camel at Wadebridge. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)
The Old Bridge crosses the tidal River Camel at Wadebridge. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)

The modern A39 viaduct, on the Atlantic Highway, stands away to the north and, in one direction, carries traffic towards a steep hill that reaches up to the Royal Cornwall Showground, home to the annual Royal Cornwall Show and many other events important to the life of the county. For a while, earlier in my career, I was involved in graphic design work for the huge annual agricultural show and it was always a thrill to walk around the showground during the three-day extravaganza and see the results of my efforts on display.

It has been a busy day in the cattle ring for Royal Cornwall Show day 1
A familiar scene from the Royal Cornwall Show. (Picture: Mark Stevens)

Back down by the river, Wadebridge is a key location on the 18-mile-long Camel Trail, which heads to Padstow in one direction and Bodmin in the other. The trail, following old railway routes, is suitable for cyclists, walkers, horseriders and wheelchair users.

The trail between Wadebridge and Padstow is mostly level and has plenty of spots to stop and admire the beautiful views of the Camel estuary. Cycle hire is available in both Wadebridge and Padstow.

*Andrew Townsend is a journalist and writer. He further explores the county in the travel book, Cornwall Favourites For One And All!: A Quick Guide To Good Places To Visit Across The County, which is available in print and as an ebook. More details on Andrew’s books and ebooks can be found via this link to his author page on Amazon - https://bit.ly/AndrewTownsendAuthor

Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, a lovely tour around the county, is available as an ebook on Amazon.
Cornwall Favourites For One And All!, offering a lovely armchair tour around the county, is available as a book and an ebook on Amazon. (Picture: Andrew Townsend)