Outdoors & Active

Out and About with Tavistock Ramblers

A lovely 4½-mile walk (that can easily be shortened to 2¾ miles by just doing the first loop) down to the River Tamar, with John Noblet of Tavistock Ramblers. Follow the riverside path through woods and meadows with views across the river to Calstock and Cotehele and under the iconic railway viaduct. Park at Bere Alston station (SX440674). Good paths and tracks. Downhill to start but uphill coming back!

1. Walk away from the station building towards the lane and go sharp left up the concrete track, signed as a bridleway, that climbs alongside the car park. Walk past houses on the right and a disused railway cutting on the left to reach a path junction. Continue straight ahead on a lesser path towards woodland. After passing under an old railway bridge there are good views across the Tamar Valley. 2. Turn left at a T-junction down another concrete track. Pass a house called Kingston and bear left, signed to Tuckermarsh Farm. Fork left onto a footpath into the woods. This very old footpath descends gently downhill with a stream on the right. Ignore a footpath on the right to reach a tarmac lane at the bottom.

3. Continue ahead towards some palm trees and follow the footpath in front of the cottages. This is Tuckermarsh Quay, once a hive of activity on the River Tamar. There are views of Calstock on the Cornish side of the river and the impressive railway viaduct. Go through a gate, keeping alongside the river.

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Cross a small stream, where once there was another small quay and, ignoring the track coming down from the left, go straight ahead up a short steep path which bends to the left and continues alongside the river. 4. Ignore several side paths to reach a footpath sign going steeply down a few steps to the river. The path now continues along a flood prevention embankment towards the viaduct. This impressive structure, completed in 1908, is built of concrete and carries the Tamar Valley branch line 120’ above the river. 5. Go under the viaduct and continue on the riverside path. On the far side are old quays which once shipped ore from the local mines. The prominent building on the bend of the river was built in the 19th century and was, for many years, a small hotel. Cotehele House can be glimpsed in the trees and Cotehele Quay is further downstream. Go over a stile and bear right, still alongside the river. 6. Pass the ruins of an old stone building to reach a gateway. Go left, and immediately left again into an old green lane. Cross the lane to North Ward Farm and continue ahead on a track with a hedge on the left. This track can often be muddy but there are great views across fields to the viaduct.

7. Go through a gate onto a lane and turn left. Go under the viaduct and continue straight on between farm buildings. Go sharp left just before the farmhouse to meet the riverside path again. Turn right and walk back to the steps passed earlier. 8. Go right at the top and almost immediately left up a path that climbs steadily through the woodland. Bear left at the top. There are old mine shafts and a few ruins on the left. Go through a kissing gate into a field. Bear left across the field to reach another kissing gate. Go right on the lane, under a double bridge and back to the station.

Tavistock Ramblers walk on most Saturdays and Sundays, and some Wednesdays. There is a mix of short walks and longer all day hikes to suit all. Go to www.tavistockramblers. org.uk to see the latest programme of walks on offer. You are welcome to join us.

You will also find a series of selfguided walks on the website to download or print. Two books of Tavistock District walks and several leaflets of walks in the area are available in the Tavistock Information Centre.

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