Things To Do

Our recommendations for days out and places to eat in Devon and Cornwall within a 30 mile radius of the old station

Calstock

4.3 miles

A stunning place to visit, an important river port since Saxon times, with its tall white houses appearing to cling to the steep Cornish bank of the River Tamar

The village is dominated by the impressive grade 2 listed viaduct, completed in 1908 and the largest in Britain to be constructed of concrete blocks. Today it serves the Tamar Valley branch line from Plymouth to Gunnislake, a trip that’s well worth taking… In the last century Calstock railway served the local area of intense industrial and mining activity in a parish renowned, at the time, for its cultivation of fruit and flowers

Calstock boasted a rich mining history going back to medieval times and Silver, arsenic, copper and tin have all been mined in the locality

The village has a small active boat yard, as the river is navigable, at high tide, from Plymouth which is fourteen miles upriver. The village has some interesting artisan shops and a lovely pub

Tavistock

8.3 miles
https://www.visit-tavistock.co.uk/

Tavistock is one of our favourite local places to visit and we tend to do our shopping here preferring to use the lovely independent and artisan shops dotted across the town. Make sure to walk up every street and alleyway, the town has more shops and places of interest on offer than you might first realise…

For food and drink, we recommend :

The Cornish Arms | PL19 8AN
- www.thecornisharmstavistock.co.uk
Church Lane | PL19 8AA
- www.churchlanetavistock.co.uk

The historic Pannier Market is in the centre of the town, it’s a large undercover market set in a beautiful building with a variety of different stallholders that change across the days and weeks of the year, additionally the Butchers Hall just across from the market regularly has complimentary fairs, sales and exhibitions

There are plenty of independent and interesting shops around the market too and on the outside main entrance to the market there are usually stalls selling a variety of produce, clothes, plants etc.

The Town Hall opens up occasionally to hold antique and craft markets too so… if browsing around markets antiques, food, art and all sorts is thing, you’ll love this area of town

Eversfield Organic Farm shop – www.eversfieldorganic.co.uk we highly recommend this wonderful shop for groceries, it has an excellent selection of the very best organic quality food and drink

Plymouth, The Barbican

17 miles

Plymouth is a city shaped by the fortunes of sea, trade and war, nowhere more so than in the historic Barbican. Plymouth’s delightful old port, it’s full of narrow cobbled streets (boasting the most in the UK), Elizabethan warehouses, specialist shops, art galleries, cafes, bars and restaurants

The distinctive single-storey glazed building on the waterfront was formerly the old fish market (now re-located to the facing quay on the other side of the harbour) and it has been imaginatively converted into a high quality retail visitor attraction. From the cobbled area outside, if you resume walking along the ancient quays which would have been where the Pilgrims and many of Plymouth’s merchants, mariners, privateers and buccaneers would have passed, over the centuries… This is the place to discover where Sir Francis Drake sailed from and where the Pilgrim Fathers departed to settle the New World (The Mayflower Steps)

Plymouth, The Hoe

18 miles

A breath-taking panorama, no trip to Plymouth is complete without a visit to Plymouth Hoe! With unbeatable views across Plymouth Sound, it’s the perfect place to spend a sunny day, enjoying a picnic on the grass or taking a dip in the art deco Tinside Lido | plymouthactive.co.uk

Standing tall on the luscious green-lawned expanse of the Hoe is the iconic Smeaton’s Tower lighthouse. Gaze down at the shoreline and you’ll see the glorious Tinside Lido, open to the public for bathing during the summer months

It is here where Sir Francis Drake, intrepid explorer and local hero, is immortalised in a statue, situated just a few metres from the green where he finished his game of bowls before heading out to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588

At the eastern end of the Hoe you’ll find The Royal Citadel, the most impressive 17th century fortress in Britain and for many years England’s most important defence against attack from the sea. The Citadel has been in constant military occupation since it was built and today it is home to some of Plymouth’s modern heroes – the troops of 29 Commando Royal Artillery

Plymouth Hoe is also host to some fantastic annual events including the Plymouth Armed Forces Day | www.plymoutharmedforcesday.co.uk held in June each year and the British Firework Championships | www.britishfireworks.co.uk held in August each year

Royal William Yard, Plymouth

18 miles
PL1 3RP
01752 600533
www.royalwilliamyard.com

Royal William Yard blends Plymouth’s historic naval past withaward-winning design. Home to a stunning collection of Grade I listed buildings, the yard has been reanimated to offer something new to experience on every visit, making it one of the best places to eat, shop, relax and play in the heart of the South West.

It’s a much-loved, destination, with a mix of bustling restaurants, bars and shops, water sports and even a marina, sitting alongside a lively artistic community, with a packed calendar of events, and so much to see and do.

Surrounded by water, Royal William Yard offers breath-taking views over Plymouth Sound and across to Cornwall – a vibrant hub for locals and tourists alike.

Highly recommended – visit the website for up and coming events and to plan you visit.

Dog friendly

Looe

19 miles

Looe is made up of East Looe and West Looe, located either side of the river. The two Looe’s are joined together by a bridge across the Looe River, and have subtly different characters

East Looe is home to the harbour and main shopping centre while West Looe is quieter but also has shops, restaurants and hotels

Looe has been a holiday resort for over 200 years. In 1879, the arrival of the railway sealed the deal: Looe was officially a holiday destination, but even before this Looe was an early adopter of wheeled bathing machines next to the Banjo Pier

On paper, Looe is similar to Fowey: a steep valley leading down to a river, along the same stretch of coast… However, that’s where the similarity ends. Fowey is all about yachts, literature and boutique hotels, while Looe is unashamedly B&Bs, buckets & spades, and fish & chips

There’s room for both, of course, and Looe still packs in plenty of seaside charm.

Looe’s old town and harbour are particularly appealing, as is the distinctive pier, which was built in the late 19th century to ease river silting. The local seafood is superb, and there are plenty of beaches in and around Looe.

A Brief History of Looe
In medieval times, East Looe and West Looe were considered separate towns

The current seven-arch bridge was built in 1853, and replaced a 15th-century structure. There are still a number of medieval buildings in Looe, including St Nicholas’ Church, which managed to survive Looe’s dramatic pirate attacks. Most of the town was razed in 1625 when a band of Barbary Pirates, who had been terrorising the coast (including kidnapping fishermen) for years, attacked the port. Looe recovered, going on to become a hub for Cornwall’s famous smugglers, a trade that carried on for much of the 18th and 19th centuries

Looe continued to grow and became a (legitimate) harbour town, fishing and processing centre, as well as a commercial port for tin, arsenic and granite exports. In the 1820s the port was linked to Liskeard by a canal with the railway coming some years later. The unusual “Banjo Pier”, with its rounded end, was built to prevent the river mouth from silting up, allowing all the traffic to sail freely in and out of the busy harbour

Today’s Looe is both a working fishing harbour and one of Cornwall’s most popular visitor destinations. It’s increasingly relied on tourism for its income since its large pilchard canning factory closed in the sixties

Looe Island
In 1965 Babs and Evelyn Atkins bought Looe Island (also known as St George’s Island), which lies about a mile off the coast near Looe. The beautiful island covers an area of 22.5 acres and is just one mile in circumference. Its highest point is 150 feet above sea level. The partly wooded island has magnificent views as far as Prawle Point in Devon to the north and the Lizard Peninsula to the south

Looe Island has such an exceptionally mild climate that daffodils bloom at Christmas, and it’s a natural sanctuary for birds. A few stones remain of a Benedictine chapel built here in 1139. The island is accessible by boat and rarely, when there is an unusually low tide, by foot across the rocky sea bed. However, it is unwise to cross this way without a local guide as the tide rushes in very quickly

Looe Island is open to pre-booked day visitors in the season. Landing fees and other income from tourism are used to conserve the island’s natural beauty and to provide facilities for visitors. To maintain its status as a wildlife sanctuary, four-pawed friends can’t come to Looe Island with you, and fishing is also forbidden

It’s a tranquil place to visit, there are no roads, no shops and no cars. Bathing is safe when the weather is good and the island has two beaches, a natural rock swimming pool, coves and caves. Look out for the resident population of grey seals, who like to lie on the rocks off the island’s shore. Inland, you can enjoy a (short) woodland walk.

Best Beaches in Looe
This stretch of coast is blessed with some of Cornwall’s best beaches, and Looe is a great place for a traditional seaside holiday. Try these fantastic beaches in and around Looe

Town Beach, East Looe
This busy family beach is right by the town, sheltered by the Banjo Pier and backing onto a walkway that runs the length of the beach. Top tip: this path takes you to second beach, which tends to be quieter. The beach is pretty safe for swimming (just stay close to the shore, and definitely at the beach side of the river mouth)

Plaidy Beach
Walk over the hill from Looe to enjoy this quiet sand and shingle beach. It’s good for swimming and snorkelling (just be aware that there’s no lifeguard cover at Plaidy), and there are rock pools at low water

Millendreath
This small sandy cove is owned by a holiday park, but is still open to the public (giving day visitors the advantage of access to toilets and a cafe). Look across to Looe Island as you enjoy a swim

Hannafore Beach
Hannafore Beach has a pleasant seafront and great views across to the island. The sand and shingle beach has some of the best rock pools around, and it’s also a good place to bring your dog

Seaton & Downderry
These shingly beaches run into each other. There’s a pub at the Downderry end (and it’s also worth remembering that there’s a naturist area to the east). Seaton Beach is popular with families, and allows dogs all year

Lantic Bay
Way off the beaten track, Lantic Bay is a beautiful National Trust-managed beach. Relax with a picnic on the shingly shore, before heading off along the coast path to enjoy the stunning views

Parking: there are a choice of several car parks in Looe, mainly pay an display and you need to be patient to find a space in high season
Dog friendly town predominantly

Kingsand and Cawsand

21 miles
PL10 1NA

The small twin villages overlook Plymouth Sound, they have lovely small shingly beaches and are both charming and uniquely beautiful

You can visit by car (be aware of very narrow streets) but there’s plenty of parking in the town car parks and it’s a lovely spot to visit with fabulous views and great pubs, eateries and shops

Or, for a different experience, you can also travel here by boat from Plymouth: www.plymouthboattrips.co.uk

Car parking – the main large car parks are Kingsand and Central
Dog friendly

Boscastle

29 Miles
PL35

Boscastle is more than just a harbour village. Explore upstream to reach the Valency Valley with woodland walks. Rugged Cornish cliffs line the route to Willapark and Forrabury Stitches. Venture further north to find geological formations at Crackington haven and the steep-sided Dizzard Wood.

Harbour and quayside

The Elizabethan quay sits in a natural amphitheatre of steep cliffs and is home to stone cottages, shops and tea-rooms. The cliffs rise up around the river as it leads out to sea. Wander down to the harbour passing lime kilns and the blacksmith’s forge.

Blow hole walk further to Penally Point to see Boscastle’s blow-hole which is often called the Devil’s Bellows. It can be seen thumping and snorting about an hour either side of low tide, blowing a horizontal waterspout halfway across the harbour entrance if the conditions are right.

Dog friendly

Charlestown

30 miles

Located about a mile outside the town of St Austell is an amazingly pristine, unspoiled example of a late Georgian working port. It was constructed between 1791 and 1801 by Charles Rashleigh, entrepreneur and member of the local landowning family, in response to the growth of the growth of the local mining industry. Originally built to export copper and import coal, it was soon being used for the export of china clay. It is from its creator that the the port gets its name.

Charlestown was formerly known as West Polmear with a population of 9 and a small fishing fleet that used the beach as a harbour. The project began with the construction of the pier to provide shelter for the fishing fleet and then the creation of a basin, cut out of the bedrock to allow the sailing ships in. The roads were widened and paved to allow for the wagons, which carried the cargo to and from the harbour.

Upon completion, Charlestown was a model Georgian “new town”. By the 19th Century various associated businesses were established in sheds and warehouses around the harbour such as pilchard curing, shipbuilding, brick making and lime burning, and the population exploded to close on 3,000.
Many attractive period properties sprung up in the village, ranging from elegant Georgian houses to squat fisherman’s cottages.

To this day the port remains unspoiled and retains much of its Georgian character. This unique combination has lead to Charlestown being a popular location for films and TV locations including Poldark, Hornblower, Mansfield Park and to some extent this has probably helped subsidise its existence and prevent development.

As well as being a harbour location Charlestown capitalises on it’s past by harbouring a fleet of square riggers ships. There are usually at least one of these magnificent ships in the harbour and they really do transport you into a bygone era.

Also worthy of mention is theShipwreck museum located in one of the old China Clay buildings, the centre contains a number of exhibits relating to Charlestown’s maritime past along with more general shipwreck salvage from Cornwall’s coast.

Dog Friendly