Things To Do

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The Tamar Valley has a huge range of interesting things to do, whether you are trying to amuse the kids or fancy a day exploring the countryside (or both) we hope we can inspire you with a few ideas.

Cotehele

Cotehele, owned by The National Trust, is set on the steep wooded slopes of the River Tamar. The house is one of the least altered mediaeval houses in the country and has a superb range of textiles, armour and furniture - all making a fascinating visit. As well as Cotehele House with its formal gardens, terraces, orchard and dafodil meadow you can also take a visit to Cotehele Mill and Cotehele Quay which are both a short walk away and give an insight into the history of the area. For those of you that are dog owners or just enjoy to walk, Cotehele has both woodland and countryside walks to be enjoyed.

For more information click here.

The Rail Ale Trail

Collect stamps from each pub you visit and send off for your free souvenirs. A cheap day return allows you to break your journey as many times as you wish, on either leg, as long as you continue travelling in the same direction.

This is a truly great day out, or maybe a few days out, there are 19 pubs for you to complete!

 

For more information visit the official website by clicking here.

 The Tamar Valley Donkey Park

The Tamar Valley Donkey Park is Cornwall’s only donkey sanctuary, situated in the beautiful Cornish countryside overlooking the Tamar Valley, with views to Plymouth Sound. It is the home to 26 donkeys, over 20 goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits and more. Visitors are able to stroke and feed our friendly animals. Each child entry ticket includes a free donkey ride. With the two children’s play areas, a café, a picnic area, and a gift shop; a visit to the park makes an enjoyable day out for children and adults alike.

For more information visit the donkey park website by clicking here or call 01822 834072.

 

Canoe Tamar

 

For more information visit the Canoe Tamar website by clicking here or call 01822 833409.

 

 

 

Eden Project

 

 

The Eden Project communicates its story in a ‘Living Theatre of Plants and People’ based in a large crater in which nestle two vast greenhouses (biomes). These house plants, crops and landscapes from the humid tropics and warm temperate regions and act as a backdrop to the temperate landscape. Eden uses exhibitions, art, storytelling, workshops, lectures and events to put messages across to both the public and formal education groups. The underlying concept presents to the widest possible public audience the need for environmental care through a celebration of what nature gives to us. Eden is demonstrating behaviour change on site, holding a mirror to our values and civilisation and encouraging respect for the things that sustain us.

 

For more information visit the website by clicking here.

 

Tavistock Pannier Market


 

A large covered market, open every Tuesday to Saturday with up to 100 traders’ tables. Tuesday to Thursday: antiques, collectibles, bric-a-brac and hand crafted wares; Friday: original charter market with food and general needs. Saturday: 1st of month “Aladdin’s cave”; 2nd Craft; 3rd mixed and 4th Victorian Fair.

Tavistock Pannier Market Website

 


Morwellham Quay

For many a highlight of the visit is the journey underground into the copper mine. Here son et lumiere displays illustrate the harsh working conditions of Victorian miners and the train drivers offer an expert commentary on the technical aspects of hard rock mining.

By way of contrast the Victorian farm and nature reserve offer you the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of 21st century life as you wander through the tranquil countryside with only the wildlife for company.

Whether you've an interest in Cornish mining, Victorian history, shipping in the age of sail, cottage gardens, reed-beds, old farm machinery, or if you simply want a continually stimulating and entertaining day out, Morwellham Quay is the place to go.

Morwellham Quay Website

Tel: 01822 832766 (enquiries)
Tel: 01822 833808 (information)

 

The Garden House

In 1961 they set up the Fortescue Trust to ensure the survival of the garden for future generations and by the time they died in the 1980's, the volume of visitors was overwhelming. Lionel's successor, Keith Wiley and his wife, undertook to expand the garden into a field and have created a revolutionary garden. It takes inspiration from natural landscapes for a series of interlinked, different garden experiences which offer a kaleidoscopic sea of colour from Spring until Autumn.

Tel: 01822 854769

The Garden House Website

 

Plymouth Dome

The panoramic windows provide a wonderful view point overlooking the Sound, and text panels explain the various points of interest around the Bay. Among the many other attractions, the Climate Zone provides a hands-on link to the Met Office and illustrates how the oceans affect our world.

For more information visit the website by clicking here or telephone 01752 603300

 

Mount Edgecumbe Park and Country House

 

The Earl's Garden was created beside the House in the 18th century. Ancient and rare trees including a 400 year old lime, a splendid Lucombe oak, and a Mexican pine are set amidst classical garden houses and an exotic Shell Seat. Colourful flowers and heather grace the re-created Victorian East Lawn Terrace, which has spectacular views over Plymouth Sound.

The formal gardens are grouped in the lower park near Cremyll. Originally a 17th century "wilderness" garden, the present scheme was laid out by the Mount Edgcumbe family in the 18th century. The French Garden overlooked by a conservatory is formally laid out with flower beds and box hedges. This contrasts with the English Garden with irregular lawns around the pretty English Garden House (1729). Since 1976 Mount Edgcumbe has also housed the National Camellia Collection.

For more infomation on visiting Mount Edgecombe click here!

 

Catch some Crabs

 

Dartmoor Safaris

Sensible clothing and footwear is recommended because the weather on Dartmoor is anything but predictable! Click here to take a look at the website for more information. The company organise RSPB rambles for the more energetic amongst you.

 

This is an opportunity to see Dartmoor from the back of a ten seater Landrover. The tours take you on the samller roads that the coaches can't reach and a local guide will travel with you giving you infomation and interesting facts along the way. Each safari trip covers upto 100 miles but the day is thoroughly relaxing and interesting so you won't beleive you've been that far. The trips are suitable for children and the elderly and truely enjoyable for all.
Safaris run Sundays Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Fridays from Plymouth throughout the Summer Season. Other times throughout the year on request. There are two set trips to choose from, 'The Hound of The Baskervilles' gives you a look in the area written about by Sir Arthur Connen Doyle. The other is 'A Taste of Dartmoor', this stops at local markets and the cider press and an 'olde worlde' pub for lunch.

Why not take a trip to Bere Ferrers where the quay is the perfect place to drop a line and fill up your bucket! Bere Ferrers Quay really is a scenic spot to spend an afternoon. There are benches for those of you unable or unwilling to perch on the edge of the wall and, even better, the pub is only 50 yards up the hill. Please be kind to the crabs and pop them back in the water when you've finished your fun.

Sir Richard Edgcumbe of Cotehele built a new home in his deer park at Mount Edgcumbe in 1547-53. Miraculously the walls of his red stone Tudor House survived a direct hit by bombs in 1941 and it was restored by the Earl of Edgcumbe between 1958-64.

Created in 1971, the park covers over 800 acres and has been famous since the 18th century for its landscape and gardens. Individual trees and plantations are placed to enhance a magnificent setting above Plymouth Sound and the River Tamar. Woodlands contain specimen trees that provide shelter for the herd of wild fallow deer. The Coastal footpath runs along the shores of the Park from Cremyll to Whitsand Bay.

No visit to Plymouth is complete without spending some time at Plymouth Dome, which stands on the city's scenic waterfront, The Hoe, just a short distance from the centre. Completed in 1989, it makes a fine introduction to the city, with a wide range of atmospheric attractions and interactive displays that explain the city from geographical and historical viewpoints. Visitors can hear about Drake, Cook, Raleigh and the Pilgrim Fathers; learn about the great engineers who used their skills to build lighthouses (including the neighbouring Smeaton's Tower);and to see how Plymouth rose from the ashes of the Blitz.

In 1945 retired Etonian schoolmaster, the late Lionel Fortescue, came to The Garden House with the ambition of building the best garden in Britain. He restored a derelict piece of land into what is today The Walled Garden, surrounding the ruins of the medieval vicarage of Buckland Monachorum, demolished at the end of the 18th century to be replaced by the building that is today The Garden House.

Morwellham Quay is an award-winning, evocative museum and visitor centre based around the historic port and mine workings on the River Tamar. Costumed staff welcome visitors to the restored port and help to transport you back to the bustling 1860s. Explore the busy assay office, marvel at the over-crowded miner's cottages and stroll through the delightful walled gardens.

The Eden Project was established as one of the landmark Millennium projects in the UK to mark the year 2000 and is structured as an educational charitable trust.

The ideal family activity; Canoe Tamar offer daily guided Canadian canoe trips along the tranquil river Tamar. Experience the wildlife as you silently glide through some of the most beautiful scenery in England, sloping woodland, hidden quays, farms and boatyards.

Sit back, relax and let the train take you on a scenic tour of real ales along the Tamar Valley branch line. Pick up a booklet from us, we keep a pile of them, and follow the guide along the 14 mile journey from Plymouth to Gunnislake, or you can start half way from our local train stations in Bere Ferrers or Bere Alston.