Geevor Mine Café

Cornwall is really hilly. There aren't many, if any depending on your definition, mountains in the county.

I was quite surprised when we cruised to marizon at an above average pace, even climbing up Chacewater hill. I thought that our rider leader Jerry had found a secret valley through the rolling terrain. On reflection and looking at the map I think it was one long climb rather than the tumbling repetitive climbs that I've become used to.

Cycling in Cornwall is beautiful. If you're in the centre of the county, away from the coasts the range of colours is refreshing. I tend to call these hedge-y, yellowy, overgrown lanes the spine of Cornwall. Whereas the north and south coast brings the eye-catching sea views.

Our ride started in Truro, we took the Northern route out of the city towards three mile stone and up chase water hill. The route took a southern pass around Redruth, and its hilarious castle thats foundations is a giant boulder. This was our first glimpse of the northern coast and the Atlantic.

We stopped in Marazion to show our London guest, Peter, Saint Michael's mount. I was surprised to learn that they're more than two St Michael's Mount, apparently its a common name for a castle on a hill. I later googled and found a second one just down the road in the Roseland.

The road through Penzance to Mousehole is fantastic. There are lots features on the road to slow cars down. Bumps, single lanes and at one point the lanes separated and rejoined later. Mousehole is a wonderful village and sitting by the dock in the sun is a great way to unwind. The climb out is a sharp one, which ever route you take.

The Cornish headland is a mysterious false finish. It's 8 miles from Penzance to Land's End and I spent the next 45 minutes thinking that the café was just around the corner.


We stopped at Geevor mine. When I think mines, I imagine wet, cramped, rusty, and temporary huts. Imagine my surprise when we walked through the giftshop into a grand hall café, with a giant window at the end featuring a giant uninterrupted seaview, homemade cornish pastys and cakes. I'm very fussy about stodgy food on a bike so I had a date flapjack and a jam tart. Jerry committed to the medium cornish pasty, (the large is ginormous!)

The staff were very friendly. There is room to store bicycles by the front door and just below the big window. If you get a window seat you can see your bike without ruining the wonderful sea view.

Our route home went along the northern coast route, which I'll write about when I review the fantastic cafés and ice cream shops along the way.

Ride ideas:

• My recommendation for a short ride is to take the train to Penzance, cycle to Mousehole for coffee and then cycle back.
• If you're looking for a medium ride I would go from Penzance to Mousehole, head to St Just and then to Geevor Mine.
• For a long ride I recommend continuing on this route up and over 'the eagles nest' towards St Ives. The road from St Just to St Ives is rated one of the best in the country.