Wheal Maria Trail Welcome to the This wide trail passes through mixed woodland, revealing spectacular views across the Tamar Valley and its mines. The trail is a compacted stone track, with some loose stones in parts. It is generally level with steep, challenging sections Tamar Trails in parts. It is recommended to complete this circuit in a clockwise direction.
WHEAL MARIA TRAIL 1. Wheal Maria. In 1844 a great copper strike here founded the Devon Great Explore the historic mining 1 Wheal Maria Consols mine. Wheal Maria was named after the wife of Josiah Hitchins (Wheal is
CORNISH MINING WORLD HERITAGE www.cornishmining.org.uk www.tamarvalley.org.uk Cornish for mine). landscapes of the beautiful WHEAL MARIA 2. Wheal Maria. Rich deposits of copper ore were found in Gard’s shaft just 18 TRAIL 2 fathoms (36 metres) from surface. The lode (a vein of mineral) was 12 metres in width Wheal Maria
CORNISH and stretched eastwards for over three kilometres. The large waste dump is from a MINING WORLD HERITAGE www.cornishmining.org.uk www.tamarvalley.org.uk crusher. Tamar Valley…
WHEAL MARIA TRAIL 3 3. Wheal Fanny. When this mine (named after Josiah’s daughter) was started in Wheal Fanny 1845, ore was struck at only 3 fathoms (5.5 metres) from surface.
CORNISH MINING WORLD HERITAGE www.cornishmining.org.uk www.tamarvalley.org.uk Take the Tamar Trails to discover 4. Blanchdown Wood. These woods have had three owners since records WHEAL MARIA TRAIL historic and natural dramas of the 4 began: Tavistock Abbey until Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540; Blanchdown Wood the Russell family (later Earls and Dukes of Bedford) until 1959; and the Tavistock
CORNISH MINING WORLD HERITAGE www.cornishmining.org.uk www.tamarvalley.org.uk Cornwall and West Devon Mining Woodlands Estate of the Earls of Bradford, to date. Landscape World Heritage Site and 5. Wheal Anna Maria. Named after the Duchess of Bedford. When its rich WHEAL MARIA TRAIL the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding 5 copper waned, Devon Great Consols became the largest arsenic mine in the world as Wheal Anna Maria demand increased dramatically. Arsenic ore, unlike copper ore, was refined on site using
CORNISH Natural Beauty. Journey along the old MINING WORLD HERITAGE www.cornishmining.org.uk www.tamarvalley.org.uk the ‘calcination’ process – and yielded over 72,000 tons of refined arsenic! network of railways, leats and trackways; 6. Wheal Frementor. The large fenced ‘cavern’ is a ‘gunnis’ (an open void WHEAL MARIA TRAIL there’s a choice of routes that vary in 6 left after ore has been removed). The ore here was tin and tungsten hosted in granite. Wheal Frementor On the Cornish riverbank and valley side (opposite) are the remains of Gunnislake length and terrain - whether you’re CORNISH MINING WORLD HERITAGE www.cornishmining.org.uk www.tamarvalley.org.uk Clitters Mine. on foot, bike or horse! 7. Blanchdown Wood. The Earl and his forester, Phil Hutt, developed what NEW
WHEAL MARIA is known as the ‘Bradford-Hutt Plan’ for growing conifers. This allowed continuous TRAIL ROUTES 7 cover in the woodland despite commercial felling regularly taking place. Look out Blanchdown Wood for the rare and beautiful Heath fritillary butterfly, which can be found here and CORNISH MINING WORLD HERITAGE ADDED www.cornishmining.org.uk www.tamarvalley.org.uk only a few other spots across the UK. The Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project has been funded by the following organisations: