Affordable Half Term Activities at Cardinham Woods

Published On: 2 February 2026Last Updated: 2 February 2026By CornishStuff

📷 Credit Forestry England/Crown copyright

Free and Low-Cost Half Term Fun Hidden in a Cornish Forest

Families looking for affordable days out this February half term can find plenty to do at Cardinham Woods, where a mix of free and low cost activities are running throughout the school holidays.

Managed by Forestry England, the woodland near Bodmin is offering everything from themed trails to cycling, walking and wildlife activities, with options to suit all ages and budgets.

Room on the Broom family adventure trail

📷Credit Forestry England/Crown copyright

One of the highlights this half term is the Room on the Broom family adventure trail. Trail packs cost £4 and are available from the Ranger’s Hut, which is open Sunday to Thursday from 9.30am to 3.00pm during school holidays.

The trail follows Witch and her friends, with children helping to find a lost hat, bow and wand while collecting ingredients to complete a spell. Each pack includes extra activities and small items to keep children entertained along the way.

More details can be found on the Room on the Broom trail page.

Family cycling for all abilities

📷Credit Forestry England/Crown copyright

Cycling at Cardinham Woods is free and caters for a wide range of abilities. Families with younger children or beginners can follow the gentle Lady Vale route, which runs alongside the forest stream and is suitable for balance bikes.

More confident riders can head for the Bodmin Beast, which includes flowing singletrack and optional red grade sections.

Trail information is available on the cycling and mountain biking page.

Hands on forest learning

📷Credit Forestry England/Crown copyright

Families can also hire a Forest Activity Bag for £5 per bag. Each bag is designed to provide up to four hours of self guided activities, helping children learn about woodland wildlife and trees through practical tasks and a forest quiz.

Each child also receives a goody bag at the end of the session. Full details are available on the Forest Activity Bag page.

Walking trails for every pace

📷Credit Forestry England/Crown copyright

There are several free walking routes through the woods, ranging from gentle strolls to more challenging climbs. The pushchair friendly Lady Vale Walk follows the stream and features Gruffalo sculptures along the route.

For those interested in local history, the Wheal Glyn Walk climbs steeply to the remains of Cardinham’s former bubble mine. All terrain mobility scooter hire is also available, helping more visitors access the woodland.

Trail details can be found on the walking trails page.

Wildlife spotting adventures

📷Credit Forestry England/Crown copyright

Wildlife spotting is free and encouraged throughout the forest. Families can download Forestry England’s wildlife spotter sheet to help children identify and record creatures they see, from minibeasts to roe deer.

The downloadable sheet is available via the wildlife spotter guide.

Planning your visit

More information about half term activities and facilities can be found on the Cardinham Woods website.

Parking charges apply to all activities. Forestry England members can park for free, with membership details available on the Forestry England membership page.