A circular walk from Cotehele Quay

A post-Boxing Day walk to blow away the cobwebs and work off some of the mild excesses of the Festive Season.

Our route started and ended on the quay at Cotehele. 4.5 miles and a pretty strenuous 4.5 miles at that. The first two miles were uphill and the rest down. Lots to see on the way around and interesting in its way: but it's not one we'll do again as the vistas are not expansive. Actually, we might do it again when the bluebells are in full bloom.

Just a Robin and, judging by the way it was acting, I'd say it was a very frisky Robin. Spring is already in the air, or so it would appear.

Looking into the sun and the viaduct at Calstock. It's a view I never tire of.

Danescombe Sawmill was opened in 1878 and used a 43 foot waterwheel to drive the sawing machinery. Power from the waterwheel was also used to haul carts up the tramway, which is now the track. These were loaded with timber grown on Cotehele Estate land that was landed on the quay at the bottom of the track. Using just the power from the waterwheel, the mill could saw 2000ft of timber in an hour. Even the sharpening of the saw was mechanised using water power. Despite its efficiency, the mill was relatively short-lived; by 1905 it was disused and had lost its iron roof, which was presumably sold as scrap. Its demise is thought to have been brought about by the closure of the nearby mines as much of the sawn timber was used in the mines.

Mispickel - the old name for arsenopyrite and also the name of the nearby property. Originally two cottages associated with the nearby mines, it is probably unique in that it comes with its own adit to a silver mine and a family of gnomes.

A damp woodland path, slowly working its way up the Danescombe Valley. Quiet now but, in days gone by, a bustling place with mills and mines along its length.

Trees are gradually encroaching on the ruins of the 18th-century paper mill at the top of the Danescombe Valley. It was powered by an overshot water-wheel. It made coarse brown paper and millboard (cardboard), used for wrapping and packing produce from the Tamar Valley’s then extensive apple and cherry orchards and soft fruit gardens; documented in 1788, when it was insured for £600, the mill was still working in 1851 “with one vat and a beating engine”, though production ceased in 1857. Rags and hemp would have been transported upriver from Plymouth on sailing barges. These materials, supplemented with local wood shavings and reeds, were then unloaded into horse-drawn carts, and hauled the final mile along the lane inland towards the mill. After soaking in the vat and pounding by the stamps, resultant mashed-up pulp was spread on to frames, pressed and dried into sheets.

All of these men are also mentioned, with more details, on the Calstock War Memorial in Albaston (http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Cornwall/Albaston.html). Given the location of the plaque, I've assumed that they had connections with the chapel. Six lives lost from such a small community.

A plaque on the outside wall of the Methodist Church/Chapel in the hamlet of Lower Metherell. It was built around 1820 and has been converted into a dwelling relatively recently. Back to the plaque: the congregation obviously thought highly of Henry P White. I particularly liked the fact that he was 'leader of singing'. A term rather more inclusive than 'choirmaster'.

The weir on the Morden Strean where the water that drives the overshot wheel at Cotehele Mill is taken off - to the left. The late afternoon temperatures were dropping and a haze was forming over the water.

Almost back at the quay and walking into the haze, ethereal and mystical, forming over the Tamar. Luckily it was not dense enough to prevent us making our way to the quayside café for tea and fruit scones.