National Trust - Cotehele
WHERE
Saltash
What it’s like
A Tudor house with steep steps and narrow corridors, gardens to wander, and a pond dipping platform down at the quay.
There's a proper house to poke around here, though it's an old one, so expect narrow corridors and steep steps rather than wide gallery floors. Ramped access gets you into the shop, gallery and house itself, and there are two manual wheelchairs to hire if you call ahead to book one. The garden areas are the easier win with younger kids, especially with a picnic in tow, since picnics are welcome across the site.
Down at Cotehele Quay there's a pond dipping platform, which is the sort of thing that'll occupy a six-year-old for far longer than you'd planned. Near the main car park at Cherry Orchard there's a play area too, so you've got somewhere to let the little ones loose while anyone older explores the house. Worth knowing the café at the quay is currently closed for building works, so the Barn Café is your best bet for lunch, cake or a hot drink.
Parking is pay and display and stings a bit if you're stopping all day: £1.50 for up to an hour, £3 for up to four, £6 beyond that. National Trust members park free and get in without paying admission. Dogs on a short lead are welcome in some garden areas, the shop and the café, which is more generous than most heritage sites manage.
If you fancy arriving by train, the Tamar Valley line runs from Plymouth to Calstock, though it's a steep mile and a half walk from the station, or a Gunnislake stop leaves you two miles out. There's also a ferry from Calstock Quay if you'd rather not walk it.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Families with older kids who can manage steps and steep paths
- Parking
- Pay and display: £1.50 for up to 1 hour, £3 for up to 4 hours, £6 for over 4 hours
- Food
- Barn Café serves lunches, light bites, cakes and hot/cold drinks
- Picnics
- Welcome across the site
- Pushchairs
- Pushchair access not explicitly stated
- Wheelchairs
- Two manual wheelchairs available to hire
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs on short fixed lead welcome in some garden areas, shop and café
- Getting there by bus or train
- Calstock Train Station 1.5 miles away (Tamar Valley Trainline GWR D5 from Plymouth), plus ferry option
- The Cotehele Quay café is shut for building works, so head to the Barn Café instead
- Book a wheelchair ahead of time on 01579 351346, they don't just have spares lying around
- The house has narrow corridors and steep steps, so it's not a quick buggy dash through
- Bring your National Trust card if you're a member, it covers both entry and parking
Plan your visit
Is the house buggy or wheelchair friendly?
There's ramped access into the shop, gallery and house, but inside you'll find narrow corridors and steep steps. Two manual wheelchairs are available to hire if you call ahead to book one.
Do we need to pay for parking?
Yes, it's pay and display: £1.50 up to an hour, £3 up to four hours, £6 beyond that. National Trust members park free.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The Barn Café does lunches, light bites, cakes and hot and cold drinks, plus a seasonal ice cream kiosk. The café at Cotehele Quay is currently closed for building works.
What will kids actually do here?
There's pond dipping at Cotehele Quay and a play area at Cherry Orchard near the main car park, alongside the gardens and house to explore.
Are dogs allowed?
Well-behaved dogs on a short fixed lead can go in some garden areas, the shop and the café. Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere.
Can we get there without a car?
The Tamar Valley Trainline from Plymouth stops at Calstock, about a mile and a half away up a steep hill, or Gunnislake, about two miles away. There's also a ferry from Calstock Quay.
Are there Changing Places facilities?
There aren't any on site. The nearest is at Abbey Rise Day Centre in Tavistock.
Is entry free?
National Trust members get in free with their card. Non-members pay an admission charge.
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