Danescombe Valley walk… 3 miles

Cotehele Estate, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

Explore the countryside surrounding house and venture into the historic The Chapel in the Wood landscape of the Danescombe Valley. stands high above the banks of the Tamar and

Start: Cotehele Quay Grid ref: SX424681 Map: OS Landranger 201 commemorates the escape of Richard Edgcumbe from the How to get here and local facilities troops of Richard III, The Train: from station walk 1½ miles to Cotehele Quay. Please note: you will story is explained on a board, cover part of the walk route getting to and from the station inside the chapel above the Bus: service 190, , Station or to Cotehele Quay, door (in old English).

Sundays only. Visit www.traveline.org.uk or call 0871 2002233 © NTPL/Andrew Butler Ferry: ferry service from Calstock to Cotehele Quay, summer only and tide dependent. Visit www.calstockferry.co.uk or call 01822 833331 Danescombe Valley sawmill Road: from Tavistock: A390, Gunnislake and Callington, then at St Ann’s Chapel was opened in 1878, primarily follow brown Cotehele signs. From /: A388, Callington road, then at to provide timber for the roundabout after St Mellion follow brown Cotehele signs Cotehele estate and the local

mines. It was powered by water Edgcumbe Arms tea rooms (Cotehele Quay), Barn Restaurant, gallery and shop (in and was considered to be the house grounds). WCs at the quay and near main reception at the house most complete water power mill in the west of . Look out for… © t Calstock lookout gives a wonderful view down to the nearby village of Calstock with its impressive viaduct, which still carries the trains from Gunnislake to Plymouth. The Danescombe Valley paper mill was the first in the Calstock t We have recently renovated an old engine house, once belonging to Cotehele area. It was working by 1788 Consoles. It is now leased as a holiday let to the Landmark Trust. making coarse brown paper, paste and millboard, and t Pop into the Discovery Centre at Cotehele Quay to find out more about Cotehele supplied the area with paper to Estate’s rich history during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when the help protect soft fruits when Quay and Tamar Valley industries were in their heyday. packaged. It ceased in 1857, when a larger mill was built. t Why not take the opportunity to visit Cotehele garden, house, shop or gallery. © National Trust

Contact us… To book a holiday cottage on the Cotehele ‘A great walk that takes in the industrial archaeological history of

Telephone: 01579 352720 Estate, contact the booking office on the Danescombe Valley, once an open and busy valley, but now Email: [email protected] 08448 002070 or visit quiet and secluded.’

Web www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele www.nationaltrustcottages.co.uk Joe Lawrence, National Trust countryside team

Directions ©© ReproducedReproduced byby permissionpermission ofof OrdnanceOrdnance Survey.Survey. AllAll rightsrights reserved.reserved. 1. From the quay car park, walk up the short slope leading to a wide track at the edge of the OSOS licencelicence no.no. ALAL 100018591100023974 woods. Bear right and pass the Chapel in the Wood and continue following the track to reach the Calstock lookout. 2. Follow the track up hill (hand rail on right) to another path. Bear right along the level sign posted path to Calstock. 3. The path descends into the Danescombe Valley. At the bottom of the hill turn left onto the valley track. Directly on your left you’ll see the remains of Danescombe Sawmill. Continue up the valley with the stream tumbling down on your right where you will soon pass a group of houses, two of which are National Trust holiday cottages (Danescombe and Engine cottages). Walk over the wooden bridge, crossing the stream, still following the track up the valley, now with the stream on your left (take a look at the old mine entrance on your right). 4. As you continue up the track you will see a tall chimney next to a large four storey building; the Engine House. The track narrows to a path continuing up the valley, eventually meeting a lane. 5. For a detour to see the remains of the old paper mill, bear left along the lane, cross over to a footpath passing between Danescombe Farm on the left and an old barn on the right. 6. Retrace your steps to the lane and go directly across to a track that enters a field via a field gate. Continue up this rough field track to another gate that enters the wood, becoming a footpath known as Lady Walk. Continue along this path, where you will once again see the chimney stack and cottages below. Continue along this undulating track for approximately ½ mile (1km), ignoring paths to both left and right. Just before another field gate, take the small path forking to the left and follow this rough, steep path down to a level track. 7. Turn right along the track (ignore left-hand fork) and follow the chestnut fencing on your left. As the path starts to climb and bears to the left, turn right and walk a short distance to a white field gate. 8. Closing the gate behind you, bear left up a grassy slope and follow the garden wall to the Mother Orchard on your right. Take a peek inside and explore the cider press, sculptures and fruit trees planted in 2007 (sorry, dogs are not allowed in the orchard).

9. Returning to the orchard gate, turn right and follow the track up to the garden compost area. Bear left onto a track and follow it down, meeting a tarmac drive. Continue down, Distance, terrain and accessibility bearing right, then left, then right again following the road down to Cotehele Quay. Near the 3 mile (4.8km) circular walk through woodland with some bottom you will find a gap in the laurel hedge on your left. Walk down the steps and steep muddy tracks, uneven surfaces and steep gradients. Dogs path to return to the car park. welcome under control; please clean up after them.

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