All Day Ride – Pinnock Tunnel – Sunday 7th September 2025

This Sunday’s all day ride will be led by Guy Mayhew. A volunteer to be Tail End Charlie would be appreciated. The ride offers those attending the rare opportunity to ride through the longest tunnel in Cornwall, The Pinnock Tunnel, at 1,073m in length. The tunnel is part of Imerys Minerals private road between the Ports of Par and Fowey and is not accessible by the public. Thanks go to Imerys Minerals for allowing us to use this private road as part of our ride.

Please meet at The Travelodge, Saltash Services, Callington Rd, Saltash PL12 6LD (///coached.aimless.plums) from 9.00am with a full tank of fuel ready for a briefing at 9.20am and a prompt 9.30am departure.

The route will head via Hessenford to Looe, then Pelynt and on to Bodinnick where we take the ferry across the river to Fowey. The cost for a motorcycle and single rider is £4.00. 

Having crossed the river we will take the Imerys Minerals private haul road (6km in length) encompassing the Pinnock Tunnel. 

A bit of history on the road and tunnel: 

Construction and early use (1872–1968)

The tunnel was a key part of the new rail network built by the Cornwall Minerals Railway (CMR) to connect the China Clay Pits to the deep-water docks at Fowey. The line between St Blazey and Fowey was a crucial mineral transport route.

Construction began in May 1872, with the line opening for service on June 1, 1874. The tunnel was bored through solid granite from both ends and from five vertical shafts dug along its path. Dynamite was used by Cornish miners to blast the rock, while Irish navvies removed the spoil with wheelbarrows. Construction was perilous, with many accidents reported, including a premature explosion that injured three miners. The CMR was taken over by the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1896, which was later nationalized into British Railways in 1948. The line’s passenger service was discontinued in 1965, followed by the closure of freight operations in 1968. 

Conversion to a private road (1968–present)

Immediately after its closure to rail traffic on July 1, 1968, the line, including the Pinnock Tunnel, was sold to English China Clays (ECC). ECC converted the trackbed into a private road to transport china clay from Par to the docks in Fowey via lorry. Today, the tunnel is owned and operated by Imerys Minerals, ECC’s successor and continues to be a strategically important route for the transport of minerals from Par to Fowey for the Company. The tunnel is surfaced and lit, and its single-lane access is controlled by traffic lights.

After leaving Par Docks it’s a short ride to Snowy’s Diner, 3 Pearces Row, Par, PL24 2AD (///racked.nightfall.whisker) where we’ll stop at approx. 11:00am for a coffee (30 mins). 

Following coffee we’ll head on a meandering route towards Newquay for lunch at The Potting Shed, Newquay Garden Centre, Garden Way, Newquay, TR8 4LG (///breathy.threading.thrilled) for lunch (1 hour) arriving at approx. 1.00pm.

After lunch we’ll head via Wadebridge and Camelford onto Launceston for a short comfort stop (20 mins) at Costa Coffee, Tesco, Tavistock Rd, Launceston, PL15 9HG (///machine.couriers.decimal) arriving at approx. 3.30pm.

We’ll then head back to finish the ride, where we started and can say our goodbyes at The Travelodge, Saltash Services, Callington Rd, Saltash PL12 6LD (///coached.aimless.plums), arriving at around 4.30pm. The route will cover 132 miles in total.

The route is split in two (before and after the Pinnock Tunnel) as MRA will not recognise the tunnel! The two part routes are available to download from the PAM MyRoute-App page entitled:
PAM ADR 07092025 Part 1: https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/route/12042837?mode=share
PAM ADR 07092025 Part 2: https://www.myrouteapp.com/en/social/route/12034479?mode=share

The ride will be conducted in accordance with the IAM’s Group Organised Rides manual. The ride is open to all members. Associates are particularly encouraged to attend as these rides provide a great opportunity to meet fellow members and practice your skills amongst like-minded individuals. This is a social event and not an observed ride.

You are reminded that the ride leader is responsible for navigation and route guidance only. It remains your personal responsibility to exercise your own judgement about every course of action that you take, and every rider is responsible for their own actions and the consequences that those actions may have.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

The PAM Team.