The Tamar Valley

More than just a river….

Entering Cornwall you are almost certain to cross the Tamar, the river that divides the county from the rest of England. It enters the sea in Pymouth Sound, a natural harbour from which many a historical journey has started or finished. The rivers own journey starts within a few miles of the north coast and flows south through rich farmland before reaching south east Cornwall and the rich industrial heritage around the village of Gunnislake. Here Victorian miners tunnelled under the river in search of copper, their labours now celebrated in World Heritage status for the area.

The river widens and becomes navigatable as it flows past the pretty waterside village of Calstock and the National Trust property of Cotehele, its Elizabethan splendour hidden amongst woodland and fine gardens. As you move downstream mining is left behind as the river passes amongst the former meadows that once provided cherries, apples and spring flowers for the markets upcountry.

The Tamar Valley railway line runs from Gunnislake to Plymouth, crossing the river and its tributaries on fine viaducts and providing a excellent way of accessing some of the smaller villages tucked away along the river.

At Saltash the river passes under Brunel’s Royal Albert Bridge, built to bring the railway into Cornwall in 1859, beside it the modern road bridge has taken over as the main crossing route into the county. Saltash itself offers a good shopping centre and has a information point for those entering the county.

From here the river runs down past the naval dockyard at Devonport, being joined by the Lynher River just below Torpoint. This river, although not as grand as the Tamar, is well worth exploring, its hidden creeks unknown to but a few.

And so the river reaches the sea, its route having snaked through some of the finest countryside in the south west…but don’t take my word for it, come and have a look for yourselves.