More than 150 people braved the damp weather to celebrate the opening of the first phase of the Tamar Trails Network last week.
Waymarkers on trails
New Tamar Trails
Around 25km of new trails have been created as part of the multi-million pound Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project. As one of the landmark achievements of this ambitious project, the Trails have opened up parts of the Tamar Valley that were previously not accessible to the public.
“The Mining Heritage Project has been a real working partnership, steered by the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with the support of many external consultants, staff, contractors and our accountable funding body, West Devon Borough Council,” says Cllr. Neil Burden, Chairman of Tamar Valley AONB Partnership. “The opening of the trails is a great achievement, and testament to the hard work of everyone involved over the last three years.”
Neil Burden, Cllr. Alison Clish-Green, Mayor of West Devon and Cllr. Debo Sellis from Devon County Council cut the ribbon to officially open the first phase of the Trails Network, which starts at the newly created Bedford Sawmills car park, on the A390 between Gunnislake and Tavistock.
The crowd also got the opportunity to see one of the first local businesses to have sprung up around the trails network: Tree Surfers – a canopy complex of walkways and zip wires that allows visitors to enjoy the views from the tree-tops.
Mayor of West Devon, Cllr. Alison Clish-Green says: “This is a very rural and beautiful area. It’s hard, especially at the moment in a recession, to find ways to create new employment. The signs are that the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project will help keep this area alive.
“This project is about celebrating the mining heritage of the Tamar Valley, and telling stories about people who lived, worked and died here during this episode in the valley’s history. It’s hard to imagine just how industrial this landscape would have been, now that it is covered by trees.”
The Project has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Government Office for the South West, South West Regional Development Agency,
The Tamar Trails
Rural Renaissance, Tamar Valley AONB, Devon County Council, South West Water and West Devon Borough Council.
Cllr. Debo Sellis from Devon County Council says: “As well as achievements in access and recreation, the project has seen much conservation work within it, including refurbishment of key archaeological features like the calciners and chimneys of Devon Great Consols to habitat restoration for rare species like the greater horseshoe bat and heath fritillary butterfly.”
Linking the ‘mines to the quays’, the trails take visitors on a journey back in time, while enjoying some of the most precious habitats in the country. From the stark lunar setting of Devon Great Consols – once the biggest copper mine in Europe – to stunning views across the valley, framed by coniferous and broad-leaf woodland, there is something for everyone. The trails can be used for a variety of activities from walking to cycling to horse-riding. Information boards and new waymarkers guide the way for various users.
“Community groups from all areas of the Tamar Valley have come together during the creation of these trails, helping the project team to shape, form and improve the network before the official opening. U3A groups, walking and riding groups, schools and history societies have all had a valuable input into the process,” says Tim Selman, Tamar Valley AONB Manager. “The launch marks a milestone moment for the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project. As a tangible and exciting part of the whole scheme, we hope that people will come from near and far to use the Tamar Trails time and again.”
Trails guides and maps are available to download for free from the Tamar Valley AONB website now: www.tamarvalley.org.uk. Full trail guides will be produced and available for sale after the completion of the second, and final, phase of work.
This summer visitors will be able to enjoy a car-free day-out by train and bus, using a new pilot bus service from Callington, St. Ann’s Chapel and Gunnislake. The service will allow visitors to alight at the start of the Tamar Trails and Morwellham Quay. More details can be found on Morwellham Quay’s website: www.morwellham-quay.co.uk.
April 10, 2011 at 9:36 pm
hi! i enjoy using your trails for my running and training, i often bring my running buddies from launceston road runners here. i use the trails once or twice a week regardless of the time of year and weather conditions.
the trails offer me some very challenging sections, and a lot of easier terrain as well. as i only live in callington the journey to the tamar trails only takes 10 mins by car. and it really is worth the short journey to run the trails and take in the stunning scenery and views. it also offers a safe and traffic free enviroment to do my running, with the added bonus of not breathing in all that road airborne pollution.
many thanks to all the people that had the vision and dedication to make the tamar trails possible.
john brown
April 11, 2011 at 10:06 am
Thank you very much for taking time to review the trails for us. Sound like you really get the most out of them and appreciate the work and effort that has made them possible.
Once again thanks for your post.