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Cotehele
An atmospheric Tudor house with Medieval roots, a mill on a historic quay, a glorious garden with valley views and an expansive estate to explore.
St Dominick, near Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6TA
Important notice
The garland is now on display daily until Sun 7 Jan (closed 25-26 Dec)
Opening times for 2 December 2023
Asset Opening time House (Hall only) 10:30 - 16:00 Car parks Dawn - Dusk Estate and quay Dawn - Dusk Garden 10:00 - 16:00 Barn Restaurant 10:00 - 16:00 Shop and plant sales 10:00 - 16:00 Bull Pen Gallery 11:00 - 16:00 The Edgcumbe Tea-Room 11:00 - 15:30 Mill 11:00 - 15:30 MTWTFSS2728293012345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031ÂOpenÂPartially openÂClosedAdmission (from 30 Oct - 8 Mar)
Ticket type Gift aid Standard Adult £10.50 £9.50 Child £5.30 £4.75 Family £26.20 £23.75 Family (1 adult) £15.70 £14.25 Become a member and discover more than 500 places
Assistance dogs only
Assistance dogs only in house, garden and orchards
Plant shop
Book shop
Second-hand bookshop located in Retainers' Court by the house
Restaurant
Barn Restaurant serves hot and cold drinks, cakes and hot lunches
Cafe
The Edgcumbe at Cotehele Quay serves hot and cold drinks, light bites and cakes
Shop
Car park
Three car parks available at Cotehele. Use the upper car parks when visiting the house or the lower car park for visiting the quay and mill
Toilet
Toilets available by reception, at the quay and within the garden near the bookshop
Dogs
Dogs welcome on estate walks, within restaurant and The Edgcumbe. Assistance dogs only in house, garden and orchard
Disabled car park closer to the garden. Two accessible toilets, in farmyard and on quay. Shuttlebus operates between house, quay and mill, please check if operating on day of visit. No Changing Places facilities. Dogs on leads allowed on the estate paths, but not in the formal garden. Assistance dogs are welcome in the formal garden and orchards.
Accessible route and/or map
Garden partly accessible. Map of accessible route available from visitor reception
Powered mobility vehicle available
Powered mobility tramper available to hire. Booking essential, call 01579 351346 to book.
Accessible toilet
Adapted toilet next to visitor reception
Ramped access/slopes
Ramped access available to the shop, gallery and house
Designated parking
Accessible parking spaces available within the farm yard car park
Seating available
Induction loop
Fixed induction loops are available at visitor reception, restaurant, The Edgcumbe, shop, gallery and mill
Steps/uneven terrain
Large print (guide or menu)
Wheelchairs available
Two manual wheelchairs available to hire by calling 01579 351346
Narrow corridors
Narrow corridors and steep steps within the house. Please leave large backpacks in the lockers within Hall Court (free of charge)
By road
From Plymouth/Callington, follow the A388 towards St Mellion. At the Vernigo Roundabout (for the St Mellion Resort) take the exit towards St Dominick. Follow the brown signs through the villages of St Dominick and Bohetherick where you will then arrive at Cotehele Bridge. Cross the bridge and follow the road to arrive at the lower car park at Cotehele Quay or drive up through a white gate for the upper car park near the house and garden. From Tavistock, follow the A390 through the village of Gunnislake. Continue on the main road pass the Asda Express petrol station on your left hand side. Turn left after you see the brown sign at St Ann's Chapel and then continue to follow the brown signs. We recommend entering Cotehele via the A390 if you are in a large vehicle.
Parking: Blue badge parking available closer to the garden. Car parking is £1 for 1 hour, £3 for 3 hours or £5 for over 3 hours. National Trust members park for free - just scan your membership card for your free parking ticket. Machines accept coins only or you can pay via the PayByPhone app. There are no electric car charging facilities at Cotehele. The nearest charging facilities are at Tesco Callington (PL17 7RD) and New Road car park in Callington (PL17 7BE).
Sat Nav: Sat navs get very confused in the small lanes so we recommend you do not use it for the last part of your journey.
On foot
Cotehele is a lovely 1½-mile walk from Calstock along the River Tamar and up a steep hill through the woods. Follow the signs. Bring a torch for late afternoons in the winter months.
By train
Take the Tamar Valley Line from Plymouth to Calstock station. From there it's a lovely 1½-mile walk, signposted from the station, along the River Tamar and up a steep hill through the woods. Follow the signs. Bring a torch for late afternoons in the winter months. Note: due to continuing industrial action we advise checking in advance if services are operating. Visit gwr.com for updates.
By bus
The closest bus stop is in the village of Calstock. Take the Transport for Cornwall bus service number 79/79A service from Callington/Tavistock and stop at the bus stop on Calstock Quay. Visit transportforcornwall.co.uk for more details and timetables. Once at Calstock, follow the directions by foot.
By ferry
Plymouth Boat Trips host cruises a few times a month along the River Tamar on route to Calstock and offers passengers the opportunity to stop off at Cotehele Quay. Visit plymouthboattrips.co.uk for more details and timetables.
Planning your visit
Article
Christmas at CoteheleÂ
Celebrate Christmas with a festive day out to Cotehele. Step into the Great Hall to see the spectacular 60-foot garland, see Cotehele Mill decorated for a family Christmas and head out on a frosty walk around the estate
Events at CoteheleÂ
See our upcoming events happening at Cotehele, including seasonal trails, exhibitions, activities and more
Article
Visiting Cotehele with your dogÂ
Dogs are welcome to join you at Cotehele. There are miles of paths and loads of space where they can stretch their legs and bowls of clean water once they’re thirsty. Cotehele is a two pawprint rated place.
Article
The Tramper at CoteheleÂ
All-terrain Tramper hire at Cotehele, in partnership with Countryside Mobility, allows visitors to explore the garden and estate with ease. Advance booking essential.
PDF
Highlights
Garland
Step into the hall to see the 60ft garland made with 30,000 dried flowers
Garden
Unique, varied and bursting with colour all year round, 14 acres of gardens and 12 acres of orchard to explore.
Quay
Once a busy working quay, Cotehele Quay is a gateway to the wider estate and our newly restored intertidal habitats.
Estate
Spans 1,300 acres and miles of footpaths. Discover woodland and fields, industrial ruins, flora, fauna and working farms.
Mill
A Victorian watermill and traditional workshops nestled in a wooded valley, beside the Morden Stream.
Eating
Visit the Barn Restaurant for drinks, snacks and meals, or stop at the Edgcumbe for a pasty, cream tea and a cuppa.
Shopping
A trip to Cotehele isn’t complete without visiting the Bull Pen Gallery, shop, plant centre and bookshop.
Spotlight events
Article
Christmas at CoteheleÂ
Celebrate Christmas with a festive day out to Cotehele. Step into the Great Hall to see the spectacular 60-foot garland, see Cotehele Mill decorated for a family Christmas and head out on a frosty walk around the estate
Things to see and do
Article
Family-friendly things to do at CoteheleÂ
Discover all the things to do on a family day out to Cotehele. Explore the garden and orchards and head out on an adventure around the estate. Find out what family-friendly events are coming up and how best to plan your day out at Cotehele with children in mind.
Article
Visiting Cotehele's gardenÂ
Take a stroll around the 5.5 hectares of Cotehele's garden where you’ll discover terraced herbaceous borders, a lily pond as well as a medieval stewpond and dovecote.
Article
Exploring the Cotehele estateÂ
There's lots to discover at the Cotehele estate. Miles of pathways lead you through ancient woodland, past a historic chapel, and to an important Victorian quay.
Eating and shopping
Article
Eating and shopping at CoteheleÂ
Tuck into a cream tea at one of Cotehele’s cafés, find an eco-friendly gift or plant at the shop, and discover local artists at The Bull Pen Gallery.
Top trails
Trail
Cotehele circular walkÂ
Explore the National Trust's Cotehele Estate on a circular walk and discover hidden places along the route that are a haven for wildlife in Cornwall.
Trail
Cotehele and Bohetherick Woodland WalkÂ
A 2.3-mile circular walk from the Cotehele estate in Cornwall through Bohetherick Woods and along the River Tamar.
Trail
Danescombe Valley walk at CoteheleÂ
Starting at Cotehele Quay, this trail through the Danescombe Valley passes a number of relics from the area's rich mining history.
Trail
Cotehele and Burcombe Valley WalkÂ
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.
Outdoor activities
Article
Getting onto the River Tamar from Cotehele QuayÂ
Not only is Cotehele Quay a starting point to explore the many miles of footpaths around the Cotehele estate, the quay also provides an opportunity to get out onto the river for further adventures. Here you’ll find information on launch points, guidance for safe paddling and other opportunities to head out onto the water.
Places to stay
Dairy CottageÂ
A quiet and luxurious cottage, with access to Cotehele's house and garden.
Hall CourtÂ
An apartment in Cothele’s atmospheric Tudor house, with stacks of historic charm and all-hours access to the gardens, river and estate.
Elbow CottageÂ
A pretty former gamekeeper’s cottage perched next to woodland on the Cotehele estate.
Malt HouseÂ
A unique house on the Cotehele estate with a tower room and stylish interiors.
Danescombe CottageÂ
A traditional whitewashed cottage in a tranquil corner on the Cotehele Estate.
Engine CottageÂ
A holiday cottage with a history, this cosy retreat is tucked into the valley on the Cotehele estate.
Cotehele Quay Lodge CottageÂ
This snug gate lodge, perched near the Tamar River on the Cotehele estate, will be especially cosy in the evenings when the stove is lit and the shutters closed for the night.
Upcoming events
Event
Woodland winter lightsÂ
Walk from Cotehele Quay to Cotehele Mill and enjoy a twinkling display of festoon lighting between the trees this winter. Daily between 10am-5pm.
Event
Christmas at Cotehele: Christmas Garland within the Great HallÂ
Celebrate the festive season with a trip to Cotehele to see the annual Christmas Garland within the Great Hall
About Cotehele
Cotehele was the ancestral home to the Edgcumbe family for centuries. The Tudor house, perched high above the River Tamar, is decorated with tapestries, arms and armour, pewter, brass and old oak furniture. The interior tour has changed little over the years, although the furnishings were titivated as Cotehele continued to inspire its adoring owners.
Outside, explore the formally planted terraces, or lose yourself in the Valley Garden, which includes a medieval stewpond and dovecote and leads down to the river. Seek tranquillity in the Upper Garden or visit the two orchards planted with local apples and cherries.
From early spring flowers to herbaceous borders in high season, to the orchards in the autumn and snow drops in winter, you’ll find horticultural activity all year round.
In the 19th century local industries boomed and Cotehele Quay bustled with vessels loading and unloading cargo. Paddle steamers came upriver to see the Tamar Valley’s famous blossoming orchards and small boats carried market-gardening produce back down the river for sale at Devonport Market.
The restored sailing barge 'Shamrock' is moored at the quay where you’ll also be able to treat yourself to a Cornish 'jam-first' cream tea in the Edgcumbe. The Discovery Centre here tells the story of the Tamar Valley, offering a gateway to the wider estate and is just a short walk through the Morden valley to our sister property Cotehele Mill.
History
Article
The history of CoteheleÂ
Uncover centuries of Cotehele’s history, from a medieval home, developed after the Battle of Bosworth to a family estate given to the National Trust after the Second World War.
Art and collections
Cotehele's objects and collectionsÂ
Explore the objects and works of art we care for at Cotehele on the National Trust Collections website.
Our work
Article
Our work on Cotehele's estateÂ
The team at Cotehele work hard to protect the wildlife that call the estate home, including dormice and bats, as well as maintaining their habitats to encourage population growth.
Article
Caring for Cotehele's orchardsÂ
Cotehele relies on its dedicated gardeners and volunteers to care for the estate’s orchards, protecting them for the future and allowing resident wildlife to thrive.
Project
Project
Creating wetlands at CoteheleÂ
Learn about how we're creating wetlands at Cotehele, Cornwall, which is helping control flood waters while providing a wildlife-rich environment.
Project
Project
Morden weir project at Cotehele MillÂ
Rain and flooding destroyed the weir near Cotehele Mill causing the mill and hydropower plant to stop working. Find out how a project is getting the mill back up and running.
Support us
Article
Volunteering opportunities at CoteheleÂ
Cotehele has a team of more than 260 volunteers, who work in variety of roles across the estate, house and garden, and are always looking for more people to get involved.