Trail closures at Cardinham Woods as safety works begin

Anyone planning a walk through Cardinham Woods this week will want to check the map before they set off. From tomorrow, Monday 21 September, parts of the popular woodland near Bodmin close while contractors carry out path improvement and tree safety works.

What’s closing, and why

Forestry England says the first section of the Lady Vale Walk, running from the Rangers’ Hut to Centenary Bridge, will be closed for the duration of the works. The Room on the Broom Activity Trail is being paused while the work is carried out, and the meadow site used by Badger Forest School will also be closed, with visitors asked to follow any instructions on site about alternative arrangements.

Which trails are affected

Not every trail is shut. According to the site map issued alongside the notice, the Callywith Walk stays open as normal, while the Lady Vale Walk, Deviock Trail, Wheal Glynn Walk and Lidcutt Loop are all running with diversions in place around the closed section. Cycle trails at Cardinham are unaffected and remain open throughout.

Getting around while the work is on

Forestry England says all other walking trails can still be reached from the other side of the car park, so a visit doesn’t have to mean turning back at the gate. Visitors are being asked to follow all on-site signage and instructions, both for their own safety and that of contractors and staff working in the woods.

How long it will take

The works are expected to take around three weeks to complete, though Forestry England has warned that further diversions or closures may follow as the project develops. No firm reopening date has been given beyond that estimate, so it’s worth checking the signage on arrival rather than assuming the map matches what’s on the ground.

📷Map and notice: Forestry England / Cardinham Woods