Clay Trails
Encyclopedia
The clay trails are a series of bicycle trails located in south Cornwall
, United Kingdom
. The trails pass through the St Austell
moorland which for over two centuries has been entensively quarried for china clay, hence the name.
The trails are separated into several routes.
50.361°N 4.745°W to the Wheal Martyn China Clay museum
. This also incorporates a short section of trail called the sky spur trail. The trail gives spectacular views of several disused china clay pits
with white walls and turquoise water. A prominent feature of the trail is the white pyramid, although it's now green, which is a disused china clay tip in which the waste sand has been tipped to form a conical hill. The trail then drops into the Trenance valley where it crosses its award winning William Cookworthy
bridge. Here it joins the Lansalson branch line
and is joined by the St Austell trail. A further kilometre through this historic valley is the Wheal Martyn China clay museum.
50.338°N 4.793°W to the Wheal Martyn trail, this section follows the route of the disused Lansalson branch line
along the Trenance valley and on its route passes many historical sites. At the beginning of the trail excellent views of the curved viaduct carrying the Cornish main line railway can be seen. A kilometre from the entrance to the trail is the disused Carlyon Farm china clay dries which is the largest of its type in Europe.
50.395°N 4.793°W to the Eden project.
beach via St Blazey
50.362°N 4.717°W.
a charity promoting sustainable transport in the UK, which part-funded the Clay Trails.
National Cycle Network
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The trails pass through the St Austell
St Austell
St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash...
moorland which for over two centuries has been entensively quarried for china clay, hence the name.
The trails are separated into several routes.
The Wheal Martyn trail - 8Km
This trail connects the Eden projectEden Project
The Eden Project is a visitor attraction in Cornwall in the United Kingdom, including the world's largest greenhouse. Inside the artificial biomes are plants that are collected from all around the world....
50.361°N 4.745°W to the Wheal Martyn China Clay museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
. This also incorporates a short section of trail called the sky spur trail. The trail gives spectacular views of several disused china clay pits
Clay pit
A clay pit is a quarry or mine for the extraction of clay, which is generally used for manufacturing pottery, bricks or Portland cement.The brickyard or brickworks is often located alongside the clay pit to reduce the transport costs of the raw material. These days pottery producers are often not...
with white walls and turquoise water. A prominent feature of the trail is the white pyramid, although it's now green, which is a disused china clay tip in which the waste sand has been tipped to form a conical hill. The trail then drops into the Trenance valley where it crosses its award winning William Cookworthy
William Cookworthy
-Bibliography:*Early New Church Worthies by the Rev Dr Jonathon Bayley*Cookworthy's Plymouth and Bristol Porcelain by F.Severne Mackenna published by F.Lewis...
bridge. Here it joins the Lansalson branch line
Lansalson branch line
The Lansalson branch line is a railway line built by the Great Western Railway to serve the china clay industry in the Trenance valley near St Austell in Cornwall, UK...
and is joined by the St Austell trail. A further kilometre through this historic valley is the Wheal Martyn China clay museum.
The St Austell trail - 2.5Km
This connects the town of St AustellSt Austell
St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash...
50.338°N 4.793°W to the Wheal Martyn trail, this section follows the route of the disused Lansalson branch line
Lansalson branch line
The Lansalson branch line is a railway line built by the Great Western Railway to serve the china clay industry in the Trenance valley near St Austell in Cornwall, UK...
along the Trenance valley and on its route passes many historical sites. At the beginning of the trail excellent views of the curved viaduct carrying the Cornish main line railway can be seen. A kilometre from the entrance to the trail is the disused Carlyon Farm china clay dries which is the largest of its type in Europe.
The Bugle trail - 6Km
This connects the village of BugleBugle, Cornwall
Bugle is a village in central Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is in the parish of Treverbyn and is situated about five miles north of St Austell on the A391 road....
50.395°N 4.793°W to the Eden project.
The St Blazey trail - 5Km
This connects the Eden Project to ParPar, Cornwall
Par is a town and fishing port with a harbour on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated in the civil parish of Tywardreath and Par and is approximately east of St Austell. Par has a population of around 1,400.....
beach via St Blazey
St Blazey
St Blazey is a small town in Cornwall, United Kingdom.St Blaise is the civil parish in which St Blazey is situated; the name St Blaise is also used by the town council.St Blazey is situated east of St Austell...
50.362°N 4.717°W.
See also
SustransSustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
a charity promoting sustainable transport in the UK, which part-funded the Clay Trails.
National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...