A new long distance path opened in July 2023 – it follows the Tamar from Plymouth to its source and then onto the Cornish-Devon north coast border. The route is 87 miles long and is divided into 7 stages using some existing paths on both the Cornish and Devon banks. One of the challenges for the designers of this path have been the limited crossing points in the lower reaches of the Tamar. At Calstock the main route crosses from Devon to Cornwall using the train! (But there are plans for this to be replaced by a foot ferry).
- Stage 1: Cremyll to Tamar Bridge (12.5 miles)
- Stage 2: Tamar Bridge to Bere Ferrers (9.8 miles)
- Stage 3a: Bere Ferrers to Bere Alston Station (7.5 miles)
- Stage 3b: Calstock station to Gunislake (4.3 miles)
- Stage 4: Gunnislake to Lifton (13.5 miles)
- Stage 5: Lifton to Bridgerule (17 miles)
- Stage 6: Bridgerule to Upper Tamar Lakes (13.7 miles)
- Stage 7: Upper Tamar Lakes to Morwenstow (11.6 miles)
For those wanting to follow the route in Cornwall and so perhaps the complete circuit of Cornwall, the Kylgh Kernow, there are four alternative routes that stay on the Cornish bank. The Cornish version of Stage 2, passes through Cargreen using existing lanes and paths and the new permissive path up near Vinegar Hill to avoid walking along the A388. For more detail see the Tamara website (www.tamarvalley.org.uk/tamara-coast-to-coast-way/) or routes on Ordnance Survey maps.
17th July 2023