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A delightful 4½-mile walk in the Tamar valley with John Noblet of Tavistock Ramblers. This is a fine stroll at any time of year, but in winter, when the trees are bare, the views are even better. An added bonus is the opportunity to visit the famous garland at Cotehele House throughout December. Start in the free car park on Calstock Quay (SX437685).
The area is rich in agricultural and industrial history and the walk passes plenty of evidence of these activities before arriving at the fine medieval National Trust property of Cotehele, once the home of the Edgcumbe family.
1. Walk out of the car park with the river on your left and past the village hall and the Tamar Inn. Turn left into Commercial Road, then almost immediately fork left into Lower Kelly to continue towards the massive viaduct dominating the view ahead. This was completed in 1907 and built of concrete blocks, very unusual for the time. The farm on the other side of the river was once a boatyard where many Tamar sailing barges were built.
Pass under the viaduct and soon you will see Cotehele House in the distance in the trees above the river. Pass a working boatyard, noting the unusual opening hours, and then the old railway carriage. Go under a bridge, once an incline plane for a mineral tramway serving the mines around Gunnislake, and then a huge lime kiln.
2. The road goes sharp right by an elegant house just where the river bends to the left and into the Danescombe valley. Ignore a concrete track on the right, but continue ahead. Just past a row of cottages turn left signed to Cotehele House.
The track climbs steadily at first through beech and oak woods before levelling out. Bear left at a path junction and start to go downhill. Pause at the viewpoint for a splendid outlook of Calstock and the river. Pass a 15th century chapel with a curious story relating to Sir Richard Edgcumbe avoiding his pursuers all those years ago.
3. The wide track gradually descends to Cotehele Quay. Pass to the left of several large stone buildings on the quay to join a road by Quay House signed as a footpath to Cotehele Mill. Alongside the quay is the Shamrock, built in 1899 and now the last Tamar sailing barge in existence.
4. At the bridge continue on the track straight ahead (not over the bridge) and up the valley. Where the path forks, bear right uphill and immediately right again signed to Cotehele House. At the top, go through the white gate and carefully cross the road to enter Cotehele’s main drive. Go past the car park entrance and then follow the road to Cotehele House reception.
5. To continue the walk, pass reception and through a wooden gate behind the toilets, signed as a public footpath. The path goes below the front of Cotehele House and overlooks the lower garden before bearing right alongside a stone wall. At the path junction retrace your steps back to Calstock the way you came.
Come and join Tavistock Ramblers for more walks in the Tamar Valley or on Dartmoor or other parts of West Devon. Walks vary from short strolls to all-day treks and everything in between. See www.tavistockramblers.org.uk for the programme of walks on offer. We will be walking around Cotehele on 2nd December. Why not join us?