Exploring the Cotehele estate

Cotehele Mill 

From Cotehele Quay you can walk about half a mile along Morden Stream to find Cotehele Mill. The path goes through the woodland, where the leaves turn and fall with the seasons, and where the ground is mostly level and wide enough for pushchairs, wheelchairs and the whole family. 

For a quiet stroll, take the turning from the mill up towards the weir where you can listen to the water flowing.  

Spotting bats  

The UK is reportedly home to 17 species of bat and eight of those have been found in recent surveys on the Cotehele estate. They tend to roost in hollowed trees, the eaves of holiday cottages and limekilns on Cotehele Quay. Colonies of lesser horeshoe bats also roost in some of the house’s chimneys. 

Other species that have been recorded at Cotehele include pipistelle, noctule, natter’s and daubenton’s. Daubenton’s are also known as ‘water bats’ and can be seen catching insects from the water’s surface. 

Bats throughout the seasons 

Bats hibernate over the winter, which helps them save energy at a time when it’s cold and there’s less food available. Spring, however, is a busy time for the small flying mammals. They come out of hibernation around March and April, both hungry and active.  

They busy themselves hunting for insects and, by May, the females are roosting in maternity colonies, preparing to have their pups.  

Where and when to spot bats 

Spring is the best time to spot bats, particularly while they’re out hunting in the early evening. As the days get longer into the summer they’ll emerge later at night.  

The best place to spot bats is down on Cotehele Quay in the evening, where you can watch them swooping overhead and feeding on the river. Each species can be identified from their unique high frequency, which they emit while flying. A bat detector can help you know which bat is which from the sound it makes.

Explore Cotehele Quay 

The Cotehele Quay on the banks of the River Tamar was once a busy working quay where goods were shipped to and from Plymouth. Today it's a historic site for all to enjoy.

A starting point for adventure

It’s also a starting point to explore the many miles of footpaths around the wider Cotehele estate and where the Victorian Tamar sailing barge, Shamrock, can be seen. 

As well as footpaths and the historic sailing barge, Cotehele Quay also has the Tamar river, which offers its own exciting activities. 

Water sports at Cotehele Quay 

Canoe, kayak and paddleboard owners can launch from the slipways on Cotehele Quay. For small vessels, such as canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, we ask for a donation of £2 per vessel is payable for use of the slipway. This can be paid by coins at the car park machine. 

Be sure to park at the quay car park, use the pay and display machine, and carry the equipment from there. If the quay is busy and there's nowhere to park in the quay car park please turn around and try again at a quieter time.  

Cotehele’s woodland 

The Cotehele estate includes 111 hectares (274 acres) of mixed woodland, which is home to oak, ash, sweet chestnut, sycamore and beech trees, with an understory of hazel and holly.  

Cotehele’s woodland grows on the steep sloped valley sides along the River Tamar and are extremely varied in character. There are ancient woodland sites, like Bohetherick, to old mining and gardening areas that have only been reverted to woodland in the last six or seven decades, like the Danescombe Valley.