Rail Services

Overview

The Cornish main line runs through the centre of Cornwall however some main line and branch lines stations are useful for accessing the coast path. There are branch lines to St. Ives and Newquay (both on the coast path), which connect with the main line at St. Erth and Par respectively. There are also stations at St. Erth (near the path, and for trains to St. Ives) Hayle (on the coast path), Redruth (buses to Portreath), Camborne (buses to Portreath), Truro (buses to St. Agnes and Perranporth), Par (near the coast path on the south coast and for trains to Newquay), Newquay (on the coast path), Bodmin Parkway (buses to Padstow and Constantine) and Exeter St. Davids (buses to Bude and Newquay). The main line stations of Bodmin Parkway, Truro, St Erth and Par have approximately hourly services from Plymouth and Penzance and also frequent longer distance services to London, the Midlands and Scotland. At Bodmin Parkway, there is a connection with the Bodmin and Wenford steam railway which runs two services. The first runs from Bodmin Parkway - Bodmin General (in the town centre). The other runs from Bodmin General to Boscarne Junction. Boscarne Junction is on the Camel trail, which is a footpath which runs over the old railway line to Padstow.

Coastal Routes

The following places lists the rail stations and routes that are useful for accessing the North Cornwall coast. Places on or near the coast path are listed in bold. For the rail timetables, see the links below. There are bus links from many other stations not on the coast path to points on the coast path. Consult the bus information further down for details of bus services. Principle connections are Exeter St Davids station to Bude, Bodmin Parkway station to Padstow, Truro station to Perranporth and St Agnes, Redruth Station to Portreath, Penzance station to Lands End.

From To Walk Line Operator
Plymouth Devonport, Dockyard, Keyham, St Budeaux Ferry Road, Saltash, St Germans, Menheniot, Liskeard, Bodmin Parkway, Par, St Austell, Truro, Redruth, Camborne, Hayle, St Erth, Penzance Portreath to Lelant Cornish Main Line First Great Western, Cross Country Trains
Par Luxulyan, Bugle, Roche, St Columb Road, Quintrell Downs, Newquay Newquay to Mawgan Porth, Newquay to Perranporth Par to Newquay branch First Great Western, Cross Country Trains
Penzance St Erth, Lelant Saltings, Lelant, Carbis Bay, St Ives Porreath to Lelant, Lelant to Zennor St Ives Branch First Great Western

Operators

First Great Western run longer distance services between London Paddington and Penzance. Most services through Cornwall will call at Bodmin Parkway and Par (for the Newquay branch line). They also run some direct services between London Paddington and Newquay on summer weekends. First Great Western run a sleeper train every night except for Saturdays between London Paddington and Penzance. In addition First Great Western operate all local trains on the main line and on the various branch lines through Cornwall including the lines to Newquay and St Ives.
Cross Country Trains run longer distance trains from Scotland, The North, Midlands, Bristol and on to Penzance via Exeter and Plymouth. They also run services to Newquay on summer Saturdays.
The Bodmin and Wenford Railway runs steam and diesel trains between Bodmin Parkway and Bodmin General and between Bodmin General and Boscarne Junction (for the Camel Trail). A limited service runs on some days during the winter and daily during the summer months.

Timetables

Printable Timetables

All timetables for Cornwall can be downloaded and printed via the links below. Printed copies can also be obtained at most staffed stations in Cornwall.

On-Line Timetables and Ticket Sales

There are several web sites which allow you to search for rail information, some also provide information on fares. If you are booking train tickets in advance, it is advised to book your ticket on the website of the relevant train operator as this will typically offer you the lowest fares, on-line booking of tickets and free delivery. The sites below provide timetable information and some information on fares accross the rail network. Some also sell tickets, but you typically have to pay an additional booking fee where this facility is available.

National Rail

The National Rail site has lots of information on the rail network, including a journey planner that gives the train times and fares, real time travel information and real time departure information for many stations. For the timetable, follow the link Planning Your Journey near the top left.

The TrainLine

The TrainLine.com provides timetable, train fare information and it allows you to book a ticket in advance (which can be picked up at some stations or delivered to your house). It does require you to register first though and does charge a booking fee.

Duetsche Bahn

Duetsche Bahn (the German rail operator) provides (in English) an on-line timetable for all UK rail services. It also offers a list of calling points for all the trains (rather than just where you need to change), a map of the route takes and will produce a personalised PDF (Adobe Acrobat file) of the timetable between any two stations.

Train Running

Rail Services in the UK sometimes suffer from delays and disruption, so it is useful to check for potential problems before setting out. National Rail Enquiries is a telephone line (open 24-hours a day) which can provide timetable and current train running information. The number is 08457 48 49 50. Calls are charged at the local rate within the UK.

There is also a SMS text service to check current train running. To use this service, text the name of the station you wish to travel from to 84950 and you will recieve a message back in response listing the times of the next few departures from that station and whether the trains are delayed. You will be charged for using this service in addition to any charge your mobile provider may levy for sending text messages.

There is also on-line train running information available updated frequently. The main site lists problems and disruption (current and cleared), for the whole UK. In addition current live arrival and departure information is available for most stations in the UK. The links below include the live arrival and departure screens for all the stations relevant to the North Cornwall Coast.

Discount Cards

If you're travelling regularly by train, it might be worth investing in a Railcard, which offers discounts on most rail services. The following lists details of all the railcards that are available, their cost and validity. For further details and to apply, see the Railcards website.

Railcard Eligibility Cost Discount Available Routes valid on
16-25 Railcard Available to anyone aged 16 to 25 and to full-time students over 26. £26 per year 1/3 off most standard class rail fares. Minimum fare applies before 10am on weekdays. All routes nationwide, except preserved railways.
Senior Railcard Anyone aged 60 or over. £26 per year. 1/3 off most rail fares - see website for details. All routes nationwide, except preserved railways.
Family and Friend railcard Up to 4 adults and 4 children, but must be at least one child in group to qualify for the discount £26 per year 1/3 off most adult fares and 60% off child fares. Must be at least 1 adult and 1 child travelling together and a maximum of 4 adults and 4 children. All routes nationwide, except preserved railways.
Disabled Persons Railcard People with certain disabilities, see website for more details £18 per year or £48 for three years 1/3 off most rail fares. All routes nationwide, except preserved railways.
Devon and Cornwall Railcard Available to residents of Devon and Cornwall, only. £10 per year. 1/3 off off peak fares within Devon and Cornwall. Routes within Devon and Cornwall only.

Bus Services

Routes

Bus services operate between many points on the South West coast path and also connect with major towns and cities and the National Rail network. Some bus services run only during the summer or during the week only and may run different timetables at weekends. There are also some bus services which connect with the National Rail network, some with through rail - bus tickets available from stations.

The following table lists bus routes of use for accessing the coast path, with places on the coast path in bold. Note that for larger towns, not all bus services to the town are listed but all buses that serve other points on the coast are listed.

The timetable links below may be out of date, you are advised to check before travelling. The information here was last updated in July 2010

From To Walk(s) Service No Operator Approximate day time frequency (Monday - Saturday) Notes
Barnstaple Bideford, Abbotsham, Ford, Fairy Cross, Bucks Cross, Clovelly Cross, Clovelly, Hartland. Sunday services extend to Bude Barnstaple to Bideford, Bideford to Wetward Ho!, Westward Ho! to Clovelly, Hartland to Clovelly, Hartland to Bude, Crackington Haven to Bude 319 Stagecoach in Devon 6 buses a day Monday - Saturday, 2 on Sundays, extended to/from Bude Some services do not serve Clovelly, only Clovelly cross (just over 1 mile from Clovelly). Bus serves Hartland village, not the quay or Hartland point. Some services Monday - Saturday have connections to Bude on service 519.
Hartland Baxworthy Cross, Welcombe Cross, Crimp Corner, Kilhampton, Stratton, Bude Hartland to Clovelly, Hartland to Bude, Crackington Haven to Bude 519 Western Greyhound Monday - Saturday : 4 daily to Hartland, 6 daily between Bude and Kilkhampton. For sunday service see 319 above. Some services timed to connect with Stagecoach 319 to/from Barnstaple. Sunday service available between Hartland and Bude on Stagecoach 319. New service for summer 2010 (formerly First service 319).
Bude Stratton, Stibb, Cooombe, Morwenstowe, Woodford, Shop, Gooseham, Crimp, Kilkhampton, Bude Hartland to Bude, Crackington Haven to Bude 520 Western Greyhound 1 - 3 buses per day Monday - Saturday New service.
Bude Marhamchurch, Widemouth Bay, Bude Hartland to Bude, Crackington Haven to Bude 518 Western Greyhound Hourly between Widemouth Bay and Bude, 2 hourly between Bude, Marmchurch and Widemouth Bay. 4 buses on Sundays only from Widemouth Bay to Bude. New service.
Exeter (Bus Station) Exeter St Davids station, Okehampton, Thorndon Cross, Castle Cross, Halwill Junction, Dunsland Cross, Holsworthy, Stratton, Bude Hartland to Bude, Crackington Haven to Bude X9 First Devon and Cornwall Approximatly once every two hours Monday - Saturday. Twice daily on Sundays. Some services on weekdays run only on Fridays - check times of last bus before travelling!
Exeter Exeter St Davids station, Okehampton, Holsworthy, Stratton, Bude Hartland to Bude, Crackington Haven to BudeCrackington Haven to Bude 599 Western Greyhound 2 daily seven days a week Also see First service X9 for additional buses between Exeter and Bude
Plymouth (Bus station & City Centre Plymouth Station, St Budeaux, Saltash, Hatt, St Mellion, Callington, Kelly Bray, Pages Cross, Pennygillam Cross, Launceston, Newport, St Stephen, Yeolmbridge, Whitstone, Bevills Hill, Red Post, Stratton, Bude Hartland to Bude, Crackington Haven to BudeCr ackington Haven to Bude 576 Western Greyhound At least once every two hours, some additional buses. 3 per day on Sundays. Now operated by Western Greyhound (formerly First service 76). Improved service frequency and evening service.
Bude Widemouth Bay, Treskinick Cross, Wainhouse Corner, Crackington Haven, Boscastle Hartland to Bude, Crackington Haven to BudeCr ackington Haven to Bude, Tintagel to Crackington Haven 595 Western Greyhound 6 daily Monday - Saturday. 4 daily on Sundays. Not all buses service Crackington Haven. No Sunday service in the winter. Not all buses go to Crackington Haven.
St Columb Major Wadebridge (Bus station), St Kew Highway, Camelford, Tintagel, Boscastle Tintagel to Crackington Haven, Port Isaac to Tintagel 594 Western Greyhound Broadly Hourly Monday - Saturday. Some buses do not run between Wadbridge and Camelford. On Summer Sundays runs 4 times per day. Some services run St Columb to Wadebridge only. Some services run Camelford ot Boscastle only. Many buses continue to Bude as service 595 (through tickets available). On Sundays may have to change buses at Camelford (through tickets available).
Camelford Delabole, Port Gaverne, Port Isaac, Port Quinn, Polzeath, Rock, Wadebridge Port Isaac to Tintagel, Rock to Port Isaac, Padstow to Constantine(via ferry) 584 Western Greyhound Once every two hours Monday - Saturday. 4 times per day Summer Sundays. Most buses operate through from/to Boscastle and Camelford as service 594 - through tickets available.
Bodmin Parkway station Bodmin, Dunmere, Washaway, Sladesbridge, Wadebridge, Whitecross, St Issey, Padstow Rock to Port Isaac (via ferry), Padstow to Constantine 555 Western Greyhound Hourly Monday - Saturday. 6 buses on Sundays. Some buses extended to operate from Newquay to Padstow (and vice versa) as service 556.
Padstow Windmill (for Trevone Bay), Harlyn Bay, St Merryn, Constantine Bay, Porthcothan Bay, Bedruthen Steps, Mawgan Porth, , Newquay Airport, Watergate Bay, Porth Beach, Newquay Station, Newquay Rock to Port Isaac (via ferry),Padstow to Constantine, Constantine Bay to Newquay, Newquay to Perranporth 556 Western Greyhound Hourly Monday - Saturday. On Sundays once every two hours. On summer Sundays additional buses between Newquay and Newquay Airport (hourly on this part of the route). Some buses start from/end at Bodmin Parkway Station as service 555.
St Columb Major St Merryn, Windmill (for Trevone Bay), Padstow Rock to Port Isaac (via ferry),Padstow to Constantine 557 Western Greyhound Limited service, approx once every two hours Monday - Saturday. Only approx half of buses from Padstow to St Columb serve Windmill and St Merryn. From St Columb to Padstow only around half of buses serve Windmill and St Meryn by request from passengers already on the bus only. Windmill and St Merryn served by request of passengers already on the bus only northbound. Check timetable before travelling.
St Austell St Dennis, St Column Road Station, Quintrell Downs, Newquay Constaintine Bay to Newquay, Newquay to Perranporth 521 Western Greyhound Hourly, Monday - Saturday Limited Sunday Service
Newquay Perranporth, Portreath, Hayle, St Ives Constaintine Bay to Newquay, Newquay to Perranporth, Portreath to Perranporth, Portreath to Lelant.Zennor to Lelant 547 Western Greyhound 2 - 4 daily Summer only service
Newquay Perranporth, St Agnes, Truro Constaintine Bay to Newquay, Newquay to Perranporth, Portreath to Perranporth 583 Western Greyhound Hourly Newquay to Perranporth section operates only during the summer. Winter service runs Perranport to Truro only.
Redruth Porthtowan, St Agnes Portreath to Perranporth 315 Williams Travel 6 daily Serves Porthtowan, Beach Road
Truro St Agnes Portreath to Perranporth 85 First Devon and Cornwall Hourly Serves St Agnes village, a short walk from coast
Redruth (Station) Portreath, Pool, Camborne Portreath to Perranporth, Portreath to Lelant 44 First Devon and Cornwall Hourly No Sunday service
Gwithian Hayle, St Erth, Marazion, Long Rock, Penzance Portreath to Lelant 515 Western Greyhound 3 daily, Gwithian to Hayle, 3 daily, Hayle to Penzance No Sunday Service, some buses do not operate between Gwithian and Hayle
St Ives Carbis Bay, Lelant, St Erth, Hayle, Camborne, Redruth, Chacewater, Truro Portreath to Lelant, Lelant to Zennor 14 First Devon and Cornwall Hourly, Monday - Saturday, 120 minutes on Sundays Runs as 14B on Sundays.
Penzance Long Rock, St Erth, Hayle, , Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Chacewater, Truro Portreath to Lelant 18 First Devon and Cornwall Hourly, Monday - Saturday, 120 minutes on Sundays Runs as 18B on Sundays. Additional journies on the Camborne to Truro section.
Penzance Long Rock, St Erth, Hayle, , Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Chacewater, Truro Portreath to Lelant 18 First Devon and Cornwall Hourly, Monday - Saturday, 120 minutes on Sundays Runs as 18B on Sundays. Additional journies on the Camborne to Truro section.
St Ives Zennor, Gurnards Head, Morvah, Pendeen, Botallack, St Just, Sennen, Lands End, Porthcurno, Mousehole, Penzance Zennor to Lelant, Zennor to Cape Cornwall, Cape Cornwall to Penzance, Penzance to Porthleven 300 First Devon and Cornwall Approx every 120 minutes, summer only Open top service, during summer months only
Gurnards Head Hotel Morvah, Pendeen, Botallack, St Just Zennor to Cape Cornwall 507 Western Greyhound 4 times daily, Monday - Saturday only Some buses connect with the 508 to/from Penzance and the 504 to/from St Just and Lands End
St Ives Zennor, Gurnards Head Hotel, Penzance Zennor to Lelant, Zennor to Cape Cornwall 508 Western Greyhound 4 daily, St Ives to Penzance, 6-7 buses daily between Zennor and Penzance. No Sunday service.  

Operators

Tickets purchased from one bus company are not normally valid on buses run by different companies.

First Devon and Cornwall First Devon and Cornwall are the biggest bus operator in Cornwall, and operate many of the local and longer distance services. In recent years they have reduced services in the more rural parts of Cornwall and now primarily operatore in the more urban areas of the county.
Western Greyhound Western Greyhound have expanded a lot in recent years and are now the principal operator along the North Cornwall coast. Services have improved a lot in recent years and there is now almost a continuous network along the coast from Bude to Cape Cornwall during the summer months. Many of their buses are timed to connect and through tickets are usually available if you have to change.
Summercourt Travel Summercourt Travel operate a range of services including a regular link between Newquay and Newquay Airport (RAF St Mawgan) as well as services between Newquay and Truro and Truro to Bude.
Hopleys Coaches Hopleys Coaches run a small number of services around Porthtowan and St Agnes. For details of their services call 01872 553786.

Timetable information

  Bus timetable information is available from the Traveline South West site, operators concerned, or from Traveline telephone information on 0871 200 22 33. The website also includes a journey planner, and includes rail information.

Rover Tickets

Rover Tickets provide a way to travel on bus and train services for several days at a time, without having to purchase seperate tickets. If your in the area for a few days it is worth looking into.

Bus Only Rover Tickets

First Tickets

Allows unlimited use on First Group buses in Cornwall. Tickets are available for a 1 day, 3 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 month, 6 months or annual basis. For details see here.

Western Greyhound Tickets

A day explorer ticket is available, providing unlimited use for 1 day of all Western Greyhound buses. Longer period tickets are available on some routes.

Bus and Rail Rovers

Ride Cornwall

This ticket allows unlimited travel on all rail services within Cornwall and all buses operated by First Group (including Truronian service) and Western Greyhound. The ticket is valid at any time on weekends and after 9am on weekdays and costs £10.

Rail Only Rover Tickets

Several tickets relevant to the North Cornwall coast are available.

Freedom of the South West 3 in 7 day Rover

The Freedom of the South West 3 in 7 day rover provides unlimited off-peak use of all National rail services in Devon and Cornwall as well as most parts of Dorset and Somerset. The ticket can be used on any 3 days out of 7 (selected by marking a cross in the appropiate boxes on the ticket) and is available to use on all services at weekends and services after 09:00am on weekdays. The ticket costs £70.00 and further details are available here.

Freedom of Devon and Cornwall, 8 in 15 day rover

The Freedom of Devon and Cornwall 8 in 15 day rover ticket is a ticket that enables unlimited off-peak use of all National Rail services in Devon and Cornwall. The ticket is valid at any time on weekends and after 09:00am on weekdays and costs £60. You select the days you wish to use the ticket by placing a cross in the appropriate boxes and it can be used for a maximum of 8 days in a 15 day period.

The Freedom of Devon and Cornwall 3 in 7 days rover.

The The Freedom of Devon and Cornwall 3 in 7 days rover provides unlimited off-peak use of all National Rail services in Devon and Cornwall for any 3 days in 7. It is valid after 09:00 Monday - Friday and any time at weekends and the ticket costs £40.

The Freedom of The South West 8 in 15 days rover

The Freedom of the South West 8 in 15 days rover provides unlimited off-peak use of all National Rail services in Devon and Cornwall as well as most of Dorset, Somerset and parts of Wiltshire. The ticket is valid after 09:00 on weekdays and any time at weekends. The ticket costs £95.

Cornish Day Ranger

The Cornish Day Ranger provides unlimited use off rail services in Cornwall at any time at weekends and after 9:30am on weekdays. The fare is £10 per day.

Maps

Maps are available showing bus and rail services. Click on the links below.

Comments? Email webmaster@explorethesouthwestcoastpath.co.uk