Cotehele and Burcombe Valley Walk
Discover wildlife-rich woods, meadows and orchards as you explore a lesser known corner of the Cotehele estate, the Burcombe Valley, land recently taken back under direct management by the National Trust. Discover more about the work being done to aid biodiversity, creating and improving habitats for birds and wildlife.
Near to
CoteheleStart point
Cotehele Quay car park, grid ref: SX42411Trail information
*Hilly route over rough ground. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Challenging route over uneven paths, with some steep sections and several stiles. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs on leads welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.
Total stages: 18
Total stages: 18
Start point
Cotehele Quay car park, grid ref: SX42411
Stage 1
Start your walk at the Edgcumbe tea room. Walk along the historic quay, past the Discovery Centre and join the road. Follow the road as it takes you beside reedbeds and over a stone bridge above the Morden stream.
Stage 2
When you reach the junction, turn left and follow the road sign to St Dominick, taking extra care on the road. After about 20m, take the public footpath on your left, this leads you down to Dung Quay. Take in the view across the reedbeds to Cotehele Quay and then follow the path around the lime kilns and back up to the road. Cross over the road and enter the woods opposite, joining the St Dominica Trail.
Stage 3
Continue along the woodland ride for a few minutes until you come to a junction with a sharp left-hand fork. Take this turning and leave the St Dominica Trail for a gradual uphill path. Continue along this path until you reach a wooden fence and gate. Walk through the gate to emerge from Bohetherick Wood into a meadow with fabulous views across the Tamar.
Stage 4
Follow the path along the top of the meadow. In summer, the grass is alive with meadow brown butterflies and bees. The hedge on your right is a wonderful nectar source for insects and contains a mixture of trees, such as, hazel, dog rose and sycamore.
Stage 5
After about 20m, you will come to a metal gate which opens onto a shady path that leads back to the lane. You will emerge beside a grand, Victorian cottage called Bohetherick Lodge, a Grade II-listed building. Turn right and taking care on the lane, continue uphill into the village of Bohetherick.
Stage 6
Take the first left you come to in the village and walk down the narrow lane into West Bohetherick. Continue along this lane past the row of cottages as it dips gently downhill and views across the Tamar Valley open up on your left. Stay on this lane for another 500m until it ends at a junction. Ignoring both turnings, cross the road and walk through the gate opposite, joining the St Dominica Trail's alternative route.
Stage 7
Continue along the path, keeping the hedge and polytunnels to your left. Follow the hedge all the way to the end of the field where a stile will take you into another field. Once again, keep the hedge to your left and head down the hill towards a large white cottage with two chimneys.
Stage 8
As you approach the bottom of the hill, look for the gap in the hedges where another stile will take you onto a narrow path between hazel trees. Follow this path over a small stream down to the lane. Take care as the ground here is uneven and can become muddy and slippery in wet weather.
Stage 9
Turn left and walk briefly along the lane until you reach the waymarker signalling a path through a wooden gate on your right. Follow this path uphill through the woodland ride, past orchards on your left and open meadows to your right. Listen out for the gurgling stream which this path follows.
Stage 10
Eventually this path leads to a wooden footbridge over the stream. Cross the bridge, turn left and follow the path until you come to a kissing gate. Head through the kissing gate and then take the narrow track to your right, walking uphill between the two hedges.
Stage 11
Follow this path until it ends at the top of the hill beside a large oak tree. Take a moment to catch your breath and soak in the views across the Burcombe Valley. On a clear day you can just about make out the Tamar Bridge to the east. Rejoin the lane and turn left, continuing along the St Dominica Trail into the village of Burraton.
Stage 12
Follow the lane through the village until you come to a crossroads. Cross the road and walk up the lane directly opposite. This takes you uphill past a large grey house on your right and then a row of bungalows on your left. When you reach the next junction, turn right and walk down the lane, keeping the fields on your right and a row of houses on your left.
Stage 13
After about 50 metres, you will reach an oak tree and a fingerpost in the middle of a junction. This is Hunter's Oak. Ignore the signs to Bohetherick and Cotehele and instead take the narrow lane down the hill to your left.
Stage 14
Follow this lane until another track emerges on your right beside a group of large oak trees. Take this path and follow it further downhill where it narrows and eventually re-enters Bohetherick Woods. Take care as this path is uneven and can become slippery in wet weather.
Stage 15
Follow this path until it splits. Take the left fork, leaving the St Dominica Trail for a steep path down to Cotehele Mill. Take care as this uneven path can be slippery at times.
Stage 16
This path emerges just above the Mill where you may wish to pause, look around the buildings and learn about the history of milling at Cotehele and in the Morden Valley. Access the Mill by turning right at the road and taking the first left you come to.
Stage 17
From the Mill, walk across the meadow opposite and cross the bridge over the stream. Turn right and take the woodland path back to Cotehele Quay, keeping the stream to your right.
Stage 18
After about 600 metres you will emerge beside the stone bridge that you crossed at the beginning of the walk. Continue down the road, following the sign to Cotehele Quay where your walk ends.
End point
Cotehele Quay car park, grid ref: SX42411
Trail map
Cotehele to Burcombe Valley walk, Cornwall | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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