Bolventor Headwaters Loop

This is Bodmin Moor at its most honest. No big landmarks, no busy routes, just open ground stretching out in all directions and a quiet that settles in as soon as you leave the road behind. Starting near Bolventor, close to the well known Jamaica Inn, the route heads out onto the high ground where the River Fowey begins its journey. At first it can feel almost too open, with no clear line to follow, but that is part of what makes this walk so rewarding. Underfoot, the ground changes constantly. One moment you are on firmer grass, the next picking your way through wetter hollows or tussock. Sheep trods appear and disappear, sometimes helping, sometimes leading you off line. It is a walk that asks you to pay attention. As you move further out, the sense of space grows. There are no crowds here, no obvious stopping points, just the steady rhythm of walking and the feeling of being properly out on the moor. It is this simplicity that makes the route special. On the return leg, the ground tends to improve slightly as you arc back over higher areas, before dropping again towards the headwaters and closing the loop. By the time you reach the start point again, it feels like you have seen a side of Bodmin Moor that many miss.