A Walk to Cotehele from Calstock Station
| Wet weather rating |
** Cothele House is dry but it is a good mile walk to reach the house |
| Family Rating |
*** Cotehele house, gardens and museum are run by the National Trust, and for anyone interested in history this is a super place to visit. This trip tends to be a bit of a favourite, and the walking is very scenic without being too strenuous |
| Travel Rating |
Moderate; involves a brisk change on the outward journey |
| Journey Time |
about 45 minutes |
| Comments |
The daffodils are beautiful at Cothele during the spring |
| Sundays |
Not possible on Sundays |
Notes |
Of late, the timetabling of the Cornwall and Gunnislake branch lines have not worked well together - it may be a good idea to plan a couple of hours in Plymouth visiting the museum or doing some shopping as part of your trip. It would be worthwhile searching the journey planner link below for trips from Plymouth to Gunnislake or Calstock, as well as from St Germans, to get a full list of options. Alternatively visit the National Rail site on the transport planning page. |
Calstock is a pretty village sitting upon the river Tamar with picturesque views of the railway
viaduct. Traditionally a mining area, this little village is now somewhat a hub for the arts,
as well as being in the centre of a market garden area. Often events happen here, from poetry
readings to harp recitals, drumming workshops and rock concerts. A particularly good time to
visit is the week of the Calstock Festival, which is always held over the Whitsun half term.
However Calstock has plenty to offer at other times, including a pleasant pub selling real
ales, a fish and chip shop, a restaurant, and one or two small shops.
Cotehele House is a very historic house, dating back to the medieval times. It has had very
few alterations and still contains original armour, tapestries and furniture from this period.
The gardens are beautifully landscaped with a splendid dovecote, terraces and pools. There is
a restaurant and a shop alongside the house. A short walk from the house is a working water
mill, lime kilns, a restored Tamar sailing barge, a shop selling quality pottery and art, a
tea room and in the summer a stall selling ice creams. Because there is no electric lighting
Cotehele House closes at dusk in the spring and autumn.
To walk to Cotehele from the railway station take the footpath on the right heading downwards
to the road. At the road turn left and begin descending the hill. Go past the chapel that has
been beautifully converted into a poetry centre for Peterloo poets, and take the first right
turning. This lane leads first above, then later alongside, the river. It is worthwhile looking
to your right to view the other side of the converted chapel with its huge glass facade. As
you continue along this lane you will notice on the right the grounded body of a GWR coach,
built in Swindon in the 1890s. The road passes under an old incline bridge and past a small
boat yard. After a large house with distinctive balconies on the right the road veers to the
right. Take the lane that leads off to the left on the bend, past a small terrace of houses.
One of these houses is the home of a potter who sells her beautiful blue glaze ware from a
small hut at the beginning of the terrace.
After the terrace the path splits, and we take the left hand path, skirting upwards through
the woodland with the river always just to the left. At the top of the hill the path levels
and you can take a right turning signed to Cotehele, but I would suggest continuing along this
path to the stunning view point and the tiny Renaissance chapel.
The chapel, tucked on the outskirts of the woodland and overlooking the river, was erected in
the fifteenth century to celebrate the lucky escape of Richard Edgecumbe from the roundheads
during the civil war. Being pursued by a whole troop of men, Richard Edgecumbe threw his hat
and a stone into the river below, fooling his pursuers into thinking he had fallen in and
drowned, and thus escaping a fairly certain death. The chapel was put up on the spot where
he had been hiding.
Continue along this lane and another turning on the right will take you through Cotehele gardens
and towards Cotehele House. However if you stay on this pleasant and wide walkway you will reach
the quay with all its attractions; coffee shop, art gallery, lime kilns, sailing barge, ice
creams and mill. Here once again Cotehele is clearly marked up the short hill, and this is the
route I would recommend.
It is possible to turn this walk into a longer circular walk with the aid of an OS map and a
leaflet that can be picked up in the art gallery detailing walks of the area. However, for the
purpose of this trip I suggest returning the same way as you came, but going through the
gardens to pick up the original path. Turn left, descend the steep hill, right at the bottom
and past the terrace of houses, straight on at the metalled road and back to Calstock. However
rather than returning up the hill to the train station it is worth going down to the quay and
having a look around Calstock, perhaps making use of the riverside café that serves cream teas,
or the pleasant riverside pub.
The contact number for Cotehele House is (01579) 351346. In 2008 admission to the House, Garden and Mill costs £8.80 with gift aid, £8 without. A family ticket costs £22 with gift aid, £20 without. Admission to the Garden and Mill only costs £5.20 with gift aid, £4.25 without. Family ticket costs £13 with gift aid, £11.81 without. There is a reduced rate when arriving by cycle or public transport.
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