Route 3
National Route 3 of the National Cycle Network connects Land's End in Cornwall to Bristol via St. Austell, Bude, Barnstaple, Taunton and Wells. The route is fully open and signed, although improvements are still planned to create more traffic-free route options along the route.
The route is described here from Land's End to Bristol but is signed in both directions. Where no printed map is available for a particular section please use the Sustrans online mapping.
Land's End to Bude
National Route 3 in Cornwall is known as The Cornish Way. Starting or finishing at Land's End the route passes through Penzance, Hayle, Cambourne and Redruth. Near Truro the Cornish Way splits and National Route 3 forms the southern option crossing the River Fal on the King Harry Ferry and taking in Mevagissey, St. Austell, The Eden Project and Bodmin where the route options rejoin. Heading north the route passes Camelford and the edge of Bodmin Moor on the way to Bude.
Map: Corwall Council are producing The Cornish Way multi-use trails leaflet pack, check their website for details. Alternatively, please use the Sustrans online mapping.
Bude to Bridgwater
National Route 3 continues out of Bude towards Bristol as The West Country Way. Taking in large parts of the traffic-free Tarka Trail to Barnstaple the route then crosses Exmoor (with an optional detour via Tiverton and Tiverton Parkway) to Taunton and follows canal tow-paths to Bridgwater. Barnstaple via Bridgwater to Bristol also forms part of EuroVelo 1.
Map: OS Tour 5 Devon & Somerset West shows the whole section or NNP30 Goldeneye Devon Pack, which shows Bude to Tiverton Parkway.
Bridgwater to Bristol
The route to Bristol crosses the Somerset Levels, Mendip Hills and the Chew Valley on mainly country roads to Bristol passing through Street, Glastonbury, Wells and Chew Magna.
Map: Please check the Somerset page for free maps or use the online mapping. FPR12 North Somerset, A Map For Cyclists and FPR09 Bristol, A Map For Cyclists show the route into Bristol from Charterhouse near Wells. RMC01 Severn and Thames Cycle Map shows Wells to Bristol.