Bodmin

The town of Bodmin lies in the centre of Cornwall, south-west of Bodmin Moor, the supposed home of the infamous “Beast of Bodmin”. The town is the home to many popular tourist attractions, which are spread out around the whole of the town.

Bodmin Gaol, which was operational for over 150 years, now stands as a semi-ruin, but is still an impressive example of an 18th Century prison and was the first British prison to house convicts in separate cells.

The Bodmin Beacon Nature Reserve is a hill overlooking the town, and has 83 acres of public land. The reserve’s highest point is around 162 metres with a 44 metre tall monument to Sit Walter Raleigh Gilbert, which was built in 1857 to honour Raleigh’s work in India. As you can tell Bodmin caters to those interested in enjoying the outdoors, a legend and a spot of history, as well as housing a number of shops in which to indulge in a bout of retail therapy.

Bodmin & Wenford Railway, General Station, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 1AQ (01208) 73555
Enjoy a leisurely 13-mile trip on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway – Cornwall’s only full-sized steam railway.
Operating a large number of diesel and steam locomotives between February and December, the railway makes between four and six return journeys each day between Bodmin Parkway and Boscarne Junction.

Bodmin Town Museum, Mt Folly, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 2DB (01208) 77067
Housed in an impressive late-Victorian building, The Bodmin Town Museum displays a large collection of fossils, photographs and artefacts relating to Bodmin and the surrounding area.

Cornwall’s Regimental Museum, The Keep, Victoria Barracks, Bodmin PL31 1EG (01208) 72810
Housed in a listed militia building constructed in 1889, Cornwall’s Regimental Museum charts the history of the County Regiment of Cornwall.
Exhibits include weapons, medals and even the Bible belonging to the first US President, George Washington. It was captured by the regiment in 1777.