Calstock in 360º - Ash Blagdon 360º Photography

Calstock in 360º

The sleepy riverside village of Calstock on the bank of the River Tamar in a beautiful location with fantastic views of the viaduct and part of the Tamar Valley Line Rail Ale Trail.

Location/Facts History Where To Eat & Drink Things To Do Events Getting Around Getting There Helpful Tips Weather Nearby Destinations

Update: 25/01/2021

Added more 360 images

I’ve been here a few times over the years via both car and train, parking is limited, but free. Getting around is easy if arriving by car as once parked in the free car park everything is on the level. If coming via train you will have to walk up and down a fairly steep hill to/from the station. The walk back up to the station is steeper than you think, so if you’re easily out of breath leave yourself plenty of time to reach the station at the top. It’s part of the scenic Tamar Valley line, Plymouth to Gunnislake and also a stop on the famous Ale trail, which is what I was doing here the first time I came in 2015.

Calstock is a stunning place to sit and enjoy a beer or go for a wonder along the river. There is a circular walk that takes you around Cotehele which I plan to do next time i’m here.

360 images available to purchase here or watermarked at half price here.

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Location/Facts

The village is situated on the River Tamar 6 miles (9.7 km) south west of Tavistock and 10 miles (16 km) north of Plymouth. Calstock village is overlooked by Cotehele house and gardens, and lies on the scenic Tamar Valley railway. Calstock railway station opened on 2 March 1908. The village is twinned with Saint-Thuriau in Brittany, France.

The Tamar Inn allegedly was once a meeting place for smugglers and highwaymen. Built on a split level, it sits close by the waterfront in the village centre.
The viaduct standing at 120 feet tall with 12 sixty foot arches was built between 1904 and 1907 by John Lang of Liskeard using 11,148 concrete blocks. These were cast in a temporary yard on the Devon bank opposite the village. The engineers were Richard Church and WR Galbraith. The viaduct was first crossed by truck on 8 August 1907 and first used by passengers on 2 March 1908. It is a Grade II listed structure.
Calstock Regatta started in 1873 to decide who was the best boat crew of all those vying for trade on the then hectic river.
Calstock fort was discovered in 2007 as part of an earlier University of Exeter project to investigate medieval silver mining in Bere Ferrers, on the opposite side of the River Tamar in Devon. The fort is dating from the 1st century AD and only the third Roman fort to have been found in Cornwall.

History

Calstock has a long history as an industrial post. In Roman times it was already settled and possibly a tin trading post and from Saxon times it was definitely a port. Calstock’s heyday was in the 19th century when it was a booming mining town with a population of around 7,000. Copper, tin, tungsten and even silver were mined here and there was a granite quarry nearby. These were then all shipped downstream from the town’s quay.

Where To Eat & Drink

Boot Inn (built in the year 1666)
Lishe
Tamar Inn
Valenti’s Gelato-Artisan Academy Shop (Ice Cream)

Things To Do

Antony House and Gardens
Cotehele House and Gardens
Cotehele and Metherell circular walk
Danescombe Mine
Limekiln Gallery
Port Eliot House and Garden
Tamar Boat & Canoe Hire
Tamar Valley Donkey Park

Events

Calstock Regatta

Getting Around

Getting around is easy if arriving by car as once parked in the free car park everything is on the level. If coming via train you will have to walk up and down a fairly steep hill to/from the station.

Getting There

If travelling by train there is a fairly steep hill down to the village centre. There is a free car park opposite the Tamar Inn and behind the village hall.

By Car, there is a free car park just opposite, if not there’s 2 hours free at the train station.
By Train, every 2 hours. Just a short 5 minute walk down the hill from the station.
By Bus, every hour from The Quay, just outside the pub. No. 79 will take you to Tavistock.