Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Tamar Valley Stroll to Cotehele

We often stroll down our beautiful wooded valley to the nearby National Trust property Cotehele Estate.


The Estate covers a large area of the Tamar Valley and both the natural woodlands, orchards, plantations and formal gardens have enough varieties of trees throughout to always be able to catch a seasonal photo.


This time of year, the colours of the trees in the sunlight is quite magical.  Early walkers get views of the gentle mists dreaming in the valley. 


Deer tracks are seen on the paths and the squirrels have fewer leaves to hide behind.  This living willow sculpture in the Cotehele orchards is worth revisiting as its look changes throughout the year.



There's always something happening at Cotehele, this time we caught a parade of the Cornwall Austin Seven Club motor vehicles, and a local crafts gift fair in a marquee in the grounds.


Cotehele House has just started the famous Christmas Garland in the Great Hall. All the flowers are grown in the estate gardens and used to create this huge 60 foot long suspended floral masterpiece. We popped in to look and the scaffolding was just being assembled for the florists to stand on.


This is the Garland from a couple of years ago, it is HUGE!