Helland, Hellandbridge, Camel Trail and Shell Woods

Hellandbridge at the bottom of the hill is an attractive group of stone cottages. Although the walk now turns onto the disused railway, it is worth walking on the short distance to see the attractive medieval stone bridge across the River Camel. The narrow roadway has passing places created above the massive supporting piers of the old bridge.

The Camel Trail itself is based on the track bed of the old Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway, designed by a Cornishman, Henry Taylor. This was the first railway built in Cornwall for the use of steam locomotives, though it was not joined to the rest of the railway network until 1886.

The trail is named after the River Camel, whose valley the old railway line used to follow. It has much the same character as a country lane, with banks and hedgerows on either side. Shortly after joining the walk, look out for one of the old railway distance stones to the right of the path. After leaving the shallow cutting, the path enters woodland and the river, which up to now has only been heard gurgling behind the trees, comes into view. The track itself runs on a little ledge cut into the rock of the hillside and is overhung by trees. The old railway was built more or less straight, but the river bends and twists, sometimes running alongside the trail, then swinging away again.

By the traditional stone farmhouse 'Waterland', there are wider views across the valley to the steep, heavily wooded slopes on the opposite bank. On the near side of the river, green fields run down to the track. Shrubs and trees line the route; elder, beech, birch and dog rose are well established. And blackberries growing profusion. A thin line of oak woodland straddles a small stream, which meets the line just before the path itself enters Shell Woods - an area of mixed pine and broad-leaved woodland.

In Shell Woods the path passes through an avenue of oak, while the river rushes through a series of small waterfalls. Look out for the path-side benches, which are made out of old railway sleepers.

After leaving the Camel Trail, the walk joins the lane that climbs uphill through Shell Woods between high banks. These are seen at their best in spring and early summer, when there is a carpet of flowers on the woodland floor.

Across the fields is Lower Kernick, where the farm is built in the typical style of the area with slate-hung walls. From here there are particularly good views back across the Camel valley. From Lower Kernick ii is a short walk back to the starting point in Helland.