Tamar Valley area
The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is an area around the Tamar, Tavy and Lynher rivers. The area is famous for its mining heritage landscape.
On one side is Devon, the other Cornwall. The Tamar Valley has an intricate, deeply incised river that meanders just below Launceston and Tavistock. It borders Dartmoor National Park to the east and the Kit Hill area to the west.
The Tamar Valley is great for exploring – from walking, cycling, horse riding to shopping, eating, sight-seeing, scenic train rides and visiting historic houses and gardens.
This beautiful area comprises the Bere peninsula, the historical viaduct to Calstock. The area is known for its flora, fauna and geological features.
Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor National Park is recognised as one of the UK's finest landscapes. Dartmoor is the largest open moor in southern England and a place of remoteness and tranquillity. Radiating out from the moorland are deep river valleys cutting through enclosed farmland with distinctive field patterns and historic features which evidence our historic relationship with the land.
Granite is a strong unifying feature across Dartmoor, found forming the distinctive tors of the high moorland and as a key element in many of the features of the enclosed landscape including stonewalls, hedgebanks and buildings.
Dartmoor’s landscape has inspired many writers, poets and painters over the centuries, including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Hound of the Baskervilles which is set against Dartmoor’s dark and brooding landscape. More recently Steven Spielberg set his film War Horse in the vast and spectacular Dartmoor landscape.
There are lots of events happening at Dartmoor, click the link below to find out more.
Towns and cities in the area
Tavistock
Tavistock is an attractive market town on the western edge of Dartmoor. The birthplace of Sir Francis Drake. The two is a great place to shop, with a Pannier Market and over 70% of independent retailers. Tavistock has great cycle trails and a renowned Goose fair in October.
Plymouth
Plymouth is a vibrant waterfront, port city. The city has quaint cobbled streets, a picturesque harbour, a wealth of shops, galleries and museums, combined with dazzling views. Synonymous with Francis Drake, the Mayflower, Plymouth Gin, sea battles and ocean-explorations.
Liskeard
Located on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor, Liskeard is dated all the way back to 1240. As with many old towns of Cornwall, Liskeard boomed in copper mining rush in the 19th century. The town features, hilly ups and downs, great views, cobbled streets and a ton of interesting places to visit.
Truro
The only city in Cornwall! It is a bit of drive from Todsworthy Farm, but is worth it. Truro has great architecture, an imposing gothic cathedral, a rabbits warren of compact streets, great gardens and a wealth of independent shops.
Places to visit
The area around Todsworthy Farm contains a plethora of places to visit, from the tip of Cornwall with Land’s End and the Minack Theatre, to the lovely fishing towns of Padstow and St. Ives. The places below are a little closer to Todsworthy Farm.
Calstock Viaduct
Nestled n the Tamar Valley is the village of Calstock. Dominated by the railway viaduct that brings trains from Plymouth on the pretty Tamar Valley Line, the village has a thriving arts community with the Old Chapel and village hall regularly putting on music and theatre events.
Eden Project
What was once a discussed quarry has been turned into one of the most outstanding visitor attractions in there UK. Massive biomes now dominate the skyline, housing the largest rainforest in captivity. Events are year-round, but the summer gigs are something special.
Lost Gardens of Heligan
Once completely covered by weeds and woodland. Twenty-five years ago, the gardens were re-discovered and have since been restored. Visit this enchanting secret garden, with great plants, jungles, all types of wildlife (not hippos), and excellent estate grounds.
Lydford gorge
The deepest gorge in the South West, with a spectacular 30 metre waterfall. The area is a great place to hike, with lots of trails and different wildlife hiding everywhere. The walk on a misty, chilly morning can be a magical experience.
National Trust in Cornwall and Devon
National Trust do a great job of restoring, maintaining and protecting venues and environments. The Trust manages many places in Cornwall and Devon. Cornwall has a rich mining history, many exotic gardens and ancient houses, these are covered by the National Trust badge.
The are lots of places to visit; Cotehele Mill, a working Victorian watermill and workshops, near Saltash. The Mill is a 15 minute walk from Todsworthy Farm, along a nice downhill path through Cotehele Woods. Unfortunately a slight incline on the way back.
Other places to visit include; Buckland Abbey, in Yelverton (gem of country house and surrounding gardens); Wembury beach, a little east of Plymouth (unusual beach, great for rock pooling; Lanhhydrock House and Gardens, a massive Victorian country house, with outstanding gardens and woods; Polperro beach, west of Plymouth (beautiful beach, with great hiking trails); Anthony is a country house, close to Plymouth, offering excellent gardens and a lovely tea-room.
National Trust has a wealth of workshops, indoor activities and much more to discover.
Events in South East Cornwall
There are lots of events going on around the South East of Cornwall, from crazy santa claus swims, to festivals and boat processions. Check out the sites below for everything from the upcoming gigs, to the next big thing at the area galleries.
