DAYS OUT BY TRAIN ON THE CORNISH MAINLINE Content Plymouth 4 Attraction Icons Saltash 8 Adrenalin Animal Park St Germans 14 Beach Menhiot 18 Boat trip Liskeard 20 Castle Bodmin 23 Parkway Bodmin Parkway Cycling Newquay Liskeard Lostwithiel St Germans Food Market Menheniot Lostwithiel 26 St Austell Saltash Par Garden Looe Plymouth Par 27 Redruth St Ives Truro Museum Hayle St Austell 30 Penzance Camborne Shopping St Erth 39 Falmouth Truro Theatre/Cinema Redruth 44 Camborne 48 Hayle 52 © 2015 RailHoliday 57 St Erth www.railholiday.co.uk printing info: printing house, city Penzance 60 Layout & illustrations: Jenny Sjödin information, visit: Plymouth City Museum www.barbicanwaterfront.com and and Art Gallery www.experiencesuttonharbour.co.uk Wet weather rating: How to get there: A 10 min walk from the Plymouth train station. Follow the signs to the city The waterfront city Plymouth has a rich history and alluring surroundings. National Marine Aquarium centre. Turn left after the first underpass Take a stroll along the hugely popular Barbican and Sutton Harbour along Wet weather rating: and continue past Plymouth University. the waterfront or go shopping in the delightful independent shops. How to get there: A 25 min walk from the Follow the road around to the left at the train station. Follow the directions to the roundabout and the Museum and Gallery Barbican; the bridge to the Aquarium is are opposite the pedestrian crossing. opposite the Mayflower Steps. Plymouth is a waterfront city situated Because of the city’s location, views are Plymouth’s main Museum and Art between the River Plym to the east and spectacular and ideal for countryside The National Marine Aquarium is the Gallery is free and shows the city’s natural the River Tamar to the west which both walks. For more information, visit: largest aquarium in Britain and functions history, art and human history collec- flow into the natural harbour of Plymouth www.visitplymouth.co.uk as a charity committed to promoting tions. It is spread over two floors and Sound. The sea has played a prominent an understanding of the sea through presents nine permanent galleries. For role in the city’s history. During the conservation, research and programs of more information, visit: Industrial Revolution, Plymouth grew Barbican and Sutton Harbour education. For information on prices and www.plymouth.gov.uk/museums as a commercial shipping port while the Wet weather rating: opening hours, visit: neighboring town of Devonport became How to get there: A 20 min walk from www.national-aquarium.co.uk an important shipbuilding and dockyard Plymouth Train Station. Walk through Plymouth Hoe town. Throughout World War II the the city centre, crossing Royal Parade and Wet weather rating: city was targeted and partially destroyed Princes Street. Turn left at Notte Street, Royal William Yard How to get there: A 20 min walk from the because of its naval importance and the then right down Southside Street, past Wet weather rating: train station. Follow the directions to the city centre was completely rebuilt as a the Plymouth Gin Distillery and to the How to get there: Catch the 34 or 34a Barbican, but instead of turning left at consequence. Barbican. bus from Royal Parade or take the Royal Notte Street, continue straight ahead. William Ferry from Barbican Landing Stage. The Barbican area with its cobbled streets, The historic Barbican and Sutton Har- Plymouth Hoe offers breathtaking views charming harbour and many galleries, bour are at the heart of the city’s heritage. Royal William Yard is considered one of across Plymouth Sound. The iconic bars, cafés and restaurants gives the water- The area around Barbican has many of the most important groups of histo- Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse is open to the front a metropolitan feel. The city offers the oldest buildings in the city and char- ric military buildings in Britain. Visit public all-year-round and presents specta- a number of historic attractions like Ply- ming cobbled streets filled with galleries, resident artist Martin Bush’s Gallery or cular views. During the summer months, mouth Hoe, where Sir Francis Drake play- boutique shops, cafés and restaurants. explore the newly opened tunnel between you can take a plunge in the renowned ed his last game of bowls before engaging Sutton Harbour is located right at the Royal William Yard and Devils Point – Art Deco Tinside Lido or visit The Royal with the Spanish Armada, and the Royal centre of Plymouth’s waterfront with the offering spectacular views of Plymouth Citadel with guided tours on Tuesdays William Yard, one of the most important enchanting harbour and striking marina. Sound and Drakes Island. For more infor- and Thursdays. For more information, groups of military buildings in Britain. To see upcoming events and for further mation, visit: www.royalwilliamyard.org visit: www.plymouthhoewaterfront.com 4 5 Saltash Situated on the River Tamar surrounded by the Tamar Valley, Saltash is a perfect location for exploring the countryside. This riverside town will charm you with its thriving high street and astonishing Royal Albert Bridge. Saltash is a very old town located by the activities on the river pop into Ashtorre river which came to prominence because Rock have a cup of tea and sit on their the relative narrowness of the river made waterside balcony. Alternatively visit it an obvious crossing point. The town ‘Just Be’ a coffee and wine bar to soak up is known as the ’Gateway to Cornwall’ the atmosphere. The colourfully painted since it connects Cornwall to Devon by ‘Union Inn’ pub on the riverfront with rail, road and river. Travellers arriving by its Union Jack painted facade and murals train will cross the famous Royal Albert is one of the town’s landmarks, as is the Bridge, engineered by Isambard Kingdom Cornish Cross set just back from the Ta- Brunel and completed in 1859. To see mar Bridge next to Elwell woods. All of this bridge in more detail and a different this is a short walk from the train station perspective of the River Tamar take the and main shopping high street in the free pedestrian walkway along the Tamar heart of the town supporting a number road bridge for a fascinating and breath- of independent shops, high street names, taking walk. coffee shops and cafes. For more informa- tion, visit: www.saltash.gov.uk Saltash presents many beautiful views across the river and canoeing trips on the Tamar are popular. The town has a local Churchtown Farm Heritage Trail with an Information Cen- Community Nature Reserve tre in the Guildhall, a Leisure Centre and Wet weather rating: a museum with an ever changing display. How to get there: Approx. 20 min, 1 mile, The Waterside Conservation Area is walk from Saltash Train Station. The home to a colony of mute swans and reserve is on Wearde Road, opposite the serves as a popular place for water vehicle entrance to Saltash.net secondary sport enthusiasts. To watch the various school. Entrance is FREE. 6 View of Saltash from Royal Albert Bridge 7 One mile south of Saltash in a pictu- Want to grocery shop resque setting between the Tamar and like in the old days? Lynher estuaries, is the beautiful Chur- chtown Farm Community Nature Reser- Elliotts Grocery Store, on Lower ve. The site falls within the Tamar Valley Fore Street, is a museum shop St Germans Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that presents a time capsule Take a stroll in the peaceful and charming village St Germans and its and is owned and managed by Cornwall of days gone by when perso- surroundings, visit Port Eliot for a guided tour of the house or wander Wildlife Trust. nal service was key. Admire freely in the magnificent gardens. the vintage packaging and Characteristic wildlife to be seen are the experience the atmosphere of goldfinch and the redshank, a medium this old grocery store, largely sized wader with distinctive orange legs. unchanged since the 1940s. St Germans is a small village in East post office and the village pub The Eliot The views over the rivers and beyond to Cornwall situated on the St Germans Ri- Arms serves Cornish ales and traditional Devonport and Plymouth are spectacu- ver, or Lynher River, as part of the Tamar food all day. lar and this reserve is a perfect place for Mary Newman’s Cottage estuary. Originally, it was a busy fishing walking in peaceful surroundings. To Wet weather rating: village in the 19th century and the quay, download a free trail leaflet, visit: How to get there: 2 min. walk from with the viaduct towering above it and www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk Saltash Train Station; cross the road brid- its sailing club, is a popular spot. St Ger- ge over the railway and head down the mans and the Lynher estuary have been hill for 50m. Mary Newman’s Cottage is designated as an Area of Outstanding on the right. Entrance is FREE. Natural Beauty and offer, in addition to the scenery, excellent opportunities for Mary Newman’s cottage is an Elizabethan walking and bird watching. cottage and garden, Grade 11 listed and managed by the Tamar Protection The village takes its name from the St Society. It is the oldest building in German’s Priory Church of St Germanus, Saltash, built around 1480 and was re- a Norman church next to the Port Eliot portedly the home of Sir Francis Drake’s Estate, home to the present Earl of St first wife, Mary Newman. The cottage is Germans. Visit the magical house and furnished with pieces from the Victoria estate during spring when it is open to and Albert Museum, giving the interior the public.