Horse Bridge:
A 15 minute walk takes you to the quiet hamlet of Horse bridge, with it’s 15th century Pub, The Royal Inn‚ offering excellent food and a friendly welcome. Then just a few more steps takes you to the oldest bridge over the Tamar which was built in 1437 and on into Cornwall. The Inn was once a Nunnery and the bridge was built by French Benedictine monks. As you enter the Inn look for the seal leaded into the granite step beneath your feet, reputed to have been given by Charles I‚ for services rendered.
Just across the valley is an Off Road driving centre, with enough mud, water, steep climbs and ruts to keep the even more experienced off-road happy. You can also have a go at Archery and Clay Pigeon Shooting whilst there. Please contact Shirley on 01579 370718 or email traxandtrails@lineone.net or visit their website – www.traxandtrails.co.uk
Milton Abbot:
Milton Abbot has a 15th century Church with a beautiful oak lychgate, a general store, pub and post office.
You can start the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail from Milton Abbot, where you can walk to Calstock in Cornwall and then take the Tamar Valley Railway over to Bere Alston in Devon.
Just up the road is Endsleigh Garden Nursery, set in an old walled garden, in woods above the River Tamar, where a wide selection of plants, trees and shrubs are grown and sold. Well worth a visit on your way home to pick up a few plants if you like gardening.
Here at Beera we have wonderful views down the Tamar and across the valley into Cornwall, if you like to draw or paint, why not bring your easel, pencils, paints and brushes with you and spend a day here painting.
Tavistock:
7 miles south east and situated on the edge of Dartmoor is a thriving market town rich in over 1000 years of history. It is an ancient stannary town and it has the ruins of a Benedictine abbey founded in 974 AD which is still visible in the town centre.
Trade has always been important to Tavistock and it is still a lovely market town to walk around and have a browse in some shops. There is a pannier market behind the town hall which sells locally made crafts and produce. The delicatessen Crebers is a must (a good place to buy gifts to take home), I don’t know how to describe Crebers, only that you have to go there to experience the old charm of how shops used to be back in the 1930’s, they sell wonderful cheese’s, chocolates, coffee ground to your taste and you can even buy ground spices by the oz! For those who love cheese, Country Cheeses is a another must. There is a good cycle shop for those who are bringing their bikes on holiday with them.
When you have had enough shopping stop and have a Devon cream tea in one of the many cafes and coffee shops.
Swimming – Meadowlands is a leisure pool and offers excellent swimming facilities for all abilities, car parking on site.
Local entertainment can be found in many of the local pubs but centres around ‘The Wharf’ which has a variety of drama, live music, ballet, opera, art and films.
Churches – Church of England 8am, 9.45 and 6pm, Roman Catholic 9.15am. Methodist church 9:15am and 10.45, for more info: www.tmc.me.uk
Eating out – there are numerous restaurants and pubs in and around Tavistock. The well renowned, Horn of Plenty restaurant, is about 10 minutes from here, approx £40- £60 per person but well worth it, there is also Browns in the centre of Tavistock which serves excellent food, slightly less money. There are of course traditional fish and chip shops, several Indian and Chinese take-aways / restaurants and even a Mexican restaurant.
Local Taxis
Abbey: 01822 617473
Jaycars: 07860 298808
TC: 07814 214656
Launceston:
8 miles north west lies what was once the ancient capital of Cornwall, Launceston. It has a 12th century castle, steam railway, 2 golf courses, a driving range, family fun park, numerous pubs and many shops. My husband and I have tested out Desizns restaurant, just for you, and found it to be most satisfactory and cannot wait to go back. The Harris Arms, 3 miles east of Launceston also has a very good reputation for its food for more details see www.theharrisarms.co.uk
And of course, not too far away, there are the bigger cities of Plymouth, Exeter and Truro.
