Buttervilla

Enjoy this area of great scenic beauty with its picturesque villages and towns and the 'South West Coast Path', Britain's longest National Trail, with the wonderful coastal scenery, wildlife and heritage. Cornwall is in the privileged position of having two coastlines: the Atlantic coast famous for its surfing beaches and huge expanses of golden sand, and the English Channel coast which is more gentle with hidden coves and tranquil creeks.

Flight to Bristol, Exeter or Bournemouth. You will stay at 'Buttervilla' (a Soil Association fully certified organic farm) - a recently refurbished farmhouse equipped with all the modern conveniences, situated within fifteen acres of rolling countryside in an area of exceptional beauty. The three spacious double en suite rooms are comfortably furnished in a contemporary style and you can enjoy an eco friendly solar heated power shower. Each room is fitted with all the modern conveniences you would expect, including digital TV channels, free wireless broadband internet access and tea & coffee making facilities with organic teas and ground coffee. In season your hosts Gill and Robert provide fresh produce from their own extensive kitchen garden, grown using organic methods for maximum quality, purity and a great taste. They provide a hearty farmhouse breakfast and also offer an evening meal with home grown, locally sourced, and wherever possible organically grown ingredients.

East and West Looe are joined by a Victorian seven-arched bridge. Copper mining in the 19th century on Bodmin Moor and the shipping of the ore for smelting through Looe played a major part in the development of the town as it is today. The area is a long established holiday resort and fishing port with a bustling quayside, a unique Banjo Pier, museum and the South East Cornwall Discovery Centre. Take a boat trip to Looe Island during the summer, or a shark angling trip on a charter boat, or maybe even a visit to the Woolly Monkey Sanctuary at nearby Murrayton.

 

For the more energetic walk the South West Coastal Path to Polperro (approximately 5 miles). Polperro is a 13th century fishing village, with narrow winding streets and cottages perched on steep slopes, overlooking a tiny harbour with beautiful views and wonderful cliff path walks. Polperro originally belonged to the ancient Raphael Manor mentioned in the Domesday Book. Fishing has been the principal occupation of its inhabitants for centuries, and pilchards were often caught in abundance to be sold far and wide.

The South West Coast Path, Britain's longest national trail will take you around the entire coast of the region. This circular walk from Bodinnick to Polruan and Fowey, is one of the most famous and historic walks in the county offering breath-taking river and harbour views (6 miles-moderate/difficult). You will start from Bodinnick-pass the farm at Hall Barton and the walls of a 14th century chapel; Point Hill, a typical wooded Cornish creek; the parish church of Lanteglos-by-Fowey, where Daphne du Maurier was married in 1932. The path will take you to Poluran where are views out to sea and up to river towards Bodinnick. Fowey lies on the other side of the river. The ferry across to Fowey operates a regular service and takes you either to Whitehouse Point or Town Quay. Town Quay is a good place to sit and watch the world go by. The ferry takes you back to Bodinnick where you started your walk.

Explore the Great Scenic Railways of Devon and Cornwall. You have the choice of 6 stunningly beautiful lines.

 

'The Looe Valley Line' (Liskeard to Looe): This branch line winds its way for just over 8 miles through unspoilt countryside, hugging the steep-sided valley of the East Looe River.

 

'The Maritime Line' (Truro, Perranwell, Penryn, Penmere, Falmouth): Travel by train to discover the natural beauty and many attractions along this historic railway line.

 

'The Atlantic Coast Line': Travel from the English Channel Coast to the Atlantic along this branch line, through the beautiful wooded Luxulyan Valley, and on across the National Nature Reserve Goss Moor.

 

'The St Ives Bay Line': Visit both the north and south coasts of Cornwall in just 20 minutes, enjoying spectacular views along the way.

 

'The Tamar Valley Line' (Gunnislake to Plymouth): One of England's loveliest country branch lines, skirting the edge of the magnificent River Tamar and its estuary before crossing the splendid Calstock viaduct joining Devon and Cornwall.

 

'The Tarka Line' (Exeter, Crediton, Eggesford, Barnstaple): Travel on the Tarka Line to 'Deepest Devon' and Tarka Country. Explore attractive towns and villages, coastline and countryside, and enjoy views of the fine Devonshire Dales landscape.

Begin your day in Pentewan with a relaxing walk around the fabulous LostGardens of Heligan - Heligan offers 200 acres for exploration, which include extensive productive gardens and pleasure grounds, a lush 22 acre "sub-tropical" jungle, a pioneering wildlife conservation project, wetlands and ancient woodlands.

 

Continue on your journey to an historic harbour village situated in the north west corner of St Austell bay on the south coast of Cornwall, 2 miles from St. Austell town centre. Largely escaping 'development' Charlestown remains one of the finest and most fascinating places on the Cornish coast. The harbour was built in 1798 by Charles Rashleigh to export the production of china clay mined in the area, and is now the home for a famous collection of old ships which, along with the harbour itself, are used in major film productions.

Start this day with a walk through the historic grounds and gardens of Mount Edgcumbe, famous since the 18th Century for its landscape and gardens. Individual trees and plantations are placed to enhance a magnificent setting above Plymouth Sound and the River Tamar. Passing into the grounds, features you can look out for include the amphitheatre, Milton's Temple, the Folly and the deer park. Within the woodland cloaking Redding Point, the Path passes Lady Emma's Cottage and the Arch. Fort Picklecombe was designed with the more practical purpose of defending Plymouth Sound. The Path will leads you into the attractive twin villages of Kinsand and Cawsand, famous as an old smuggling retreat at the mouth of the River Tamar.

 

These two villages, for complex historical reasons, are often classed as the same village. They remain mainly unspoilt, with enormous sea walls, a pebble beach and roads just about wide enough for one car. Cawsand Bay is popular for swimming, windsurfing and water skiing.

 

This walk can be extended by combing it with the Cawsand to Whitsand walk.

Drive to Bristol, Exeter or Bournemouth airport.