North Cornwall Electric Bike Tour: Cliffs & Shipwreck Cabin

The shipwreck-wood cabin was built into the cliff face in 1843 by an eccentric vicar.

Ride electric bikes through the quiet country lanes and remote coastline of Morwenstow, North Cornwall, with a local guide born and raised in the area. The route covers 2.5 to 3 hours on sleepy roads with very little traffic, reaching clifftop sites including a cabin built from shipwreck timber in the 1800s and an ancient church. A 15-minute walk on foot gets you to the most interesting places. Electric assist handles the hills so you can focus on the wild landscape and the history woven through it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Morwenstow and coastline

• Ride electric bikes through countryside
• Stop at shipwreck wood cabin
• Walk 15 minutes to cliffs
• Visit ancient Morwenstow church
• Enjoy views of wild coastline

The Experience

The electric bikes do the heavy lifting on terrain that would otherwise demand constant effort. North Cornwall's beauty comes with elevation, and the motor lets you ride at a steady pace through country lanes without grinding uphill or arriving exhausted at the viewpoints. You'll cover ground that stays remote (very little traffic means you're riding through genuine quiet, not a busy cycle route), and the guide knows the back roads because he grew up here.

Two stops anchor the ride. The shipwreck-wood cabin sits built into the cliff face, a structure an eccentric vicar assembled from salvaged timber in 1843. You'll walk the last 15 minutes on foot to reach it, and the views out to the wild coastline justify the climb. Morwenstow's ancient church stands at the end of a narrow road, just a short walk from the towering cliffs, with history layered through both the building and its churchyard. Between the two, you're moving through lanes that feel forgotten by the wider world, stopping where a tea room or local pub offers a chance to rest if you want one.

Bring shoes you're comfortable walking in. The bike sections are smooth, but the 15-minute walk to the cabin and the church exploration need proper footwear. The bikes have a maximum rider weight of 120kg. You need to be a confident, competent cyclist and in at least moderate physical fitness. The electric assist helps, but the terrain and the walking still demand stamina.

What’s included

• Use of an electric bike with helmet and reflective clothing.
• a local guide who grew up in the area.
• access to remote clifftop sites including the shipwreck-wood cabin and Morwenstow church.
• the route through quiet country lanes over 2.5 to 3 hours.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Guided Walks, E-bike Tours & Trail Running in North Cornwall & Devon

Is this one for you?Choose the 2- to 3-hour option if you want to move at a steady pace and explore the two main sites without rushing. Pick the half-day tour if you'd like more time to linger at the cliffs, walk further inland, or stop longer at the tea room or pub along the way. Either way, the electric bikes let you cover remote terrain without the constant effort of pedaling uphill.

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Top questions

How hilly is the route on the electric bikes?

The area is extremely hilly, which is exactly why electric bikes are used here. The motor handles the elevation so you can ride steadily through the landscape without exhausting yourself on the climbs.

What's the shipwreck cabin actually like when you get there?

The cabin was built into the cliff face in 1843 from salvaged shipwreck wood by a local vicar. It sits on the wild coastline with views out to sea, and you reach it after a 15-minute walk from where you park the bikes.

Do you stop for food or drinks during the ride?

The route passes a tea room and a local pub along the way, and you can stop at either one if you want a refreshment. The stops are optional, so you choose whether to pause.

What's included with the bike rental?

You get the use of the electric bike, a cycle helmet, and reflective clothing for visibility on the country lanes.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not a strong cyclist?

You need to be a confident, competent rider and in at least moderate physical fitness. The electric motor helps with the hills, but the terrain still demands stamina and solid bike-handling skills.