Tamar Valley Holiday Area

Tamar Valley is a photographic treat!  New photographs have gone on our website.  A local Tamar Valley photographer made  these collages for us from her own collection which has been built up on local walks and trips out on the train and bus. 

By using the local train or bus, the photographer says she can hold the camera out of the window and get shots that are not possible by car or foot!

We are so spoiled for choice with living in such a beautiful part of the country that the photos had to have extra little photos next to them! 



Calstock on the Tamar Valley Line train goes over the Viaduct which straddles the Cornwall and Devon Border

Cotehele. A stroll through woods and footpaths brings you to the Tudor mansion house of the National Trusts Cotehele. 

Allow at least one full day for your visit to Cotehele, with the stunning house full of tapestry and history, gardens, orchards, gift shop, cafe, flour mill, river quay, two restaurants, local ice cream stand, cafe and acres of wooded hillsides, this place is a treat.


Dartmoor, A moorland full of contrast and drama. 

Granite Tors to climb up to, Brentor Church, Visible for miles around. Dartmoor Ponies, Highland Cattle and sheep all wander freely on the moorlands. Merrivale Stone Rows, exposed for hundreds of years, their origins still a mystery.

Bodmin Moor Cheesewrings

Bodmin Moor. Dramatic, moody, Daphne du Maurier set her brooding novels here.

Local mining heritage is so important that the area now has World Mining Heritage status.  The local hillsides and valley is dotted with mine chimneys poking through the trees and often you can come across old mine engine houses.

Tavistock

Tavistock. Local town just over the River Tamar.  Rich in Victorian heritage.  Pannier market opens Tuesday to Saturday with different themes on most days. We like the Antiques and Craft Tuesdays.

Plymouth

City of Plymouth. Great train journey from our local train station of Gunnislake just 10 mins stroll with view across to Dartmoor along the way.  The city has an incredible variety of attractions from its historic Hoe and sea waterfront, the ancient Barbican area to the new Drake's Circus shopping centre.

Harvest Time at Albaston Farm Barn

Our guests have been enjoying the start of the autumn colours in the Tamar Valley.  Local mixed woodlands with a good network of local footpaths take you right into the heart of the valley.  A wonderful time of year for nature photography with the nearby Cotehele National Trust estate just down the road from us.

Tamar Valley, Cotehele Gardens.

Our soft fruit season is now coming to an end with the freezer well stocked with produce from our garden field allotment.  The sunshine this year gave a bumper tomato and cucumber harvest. 

Albston Farm Barn Tomatoes

The kitchen has been busy with the fragrance of cooking our own apples from the little orchard. No sooner have we finished one crop than another is demanding our attention.  This valley is famous for having a much longer fruit growing season than the rest of the country with its sheltered sun facing hillsides.

 

Tamar Valley Apples, Albaston Farm Barn

This is the time for woodland sweet chestnut gathering which is a good reason to get out walking in the woods.  Paths are full of the green spikey outers and these beautiful freebies are well worth the effort.  These sweet soft floury nuts are ideal for baking in an oven and then the social time munching the cooked centres straight from the shells is a delight.