Thursday 11 July, marks the first anniversary of the opening of the Tamara Coast to Coast Way, the 87-mile walking route which stretches between the South and North coast in the South-West.

The Tamara Coast to Coast Way is a Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme Project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. In its first year, hundreds of people have walked the route, and some have run the 87-miles for charity. School groups, interest groups, friends and families have braved all-weathers on the 7-day walking route. Orders of the Coast to Coast Way Guidebook have been received from as far afield as Australia, America, Canada, Germany and Norway and local tourism businesses have also seen an increase in walkers in the Tamar Valley.

This summer, another Tamara Scheme project will get underway. The trial re-instatement of the Calstock Ferry, which will operate for two seasons between Ferry Farm on the Devon side of the Tamar and Calstock on the Cornish side to see if it is financially viable. This will enable people to walk the Tamara Coast to Coast Way without needing to backtrack and take the train from Bere Ferrers to Calstock.

The Tamara Coast to Coast Way, broadly follows the River Tamar from sea to source, before continuing on to the North Coast. It begins at Cremyll, overlooking Plymouth Sound and finishes at Marsland Mouth near Morwenstow. Linking the two coasts also created a 387-mile circular walking route around the border of Cornwall, Kylgh Kernow, Cornish for Circuit of Cornwall.

William Darwall, Manager of the Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme said:

“We are delighted by the huge enthusiasm for walking the Tamara Coast to Coast Way with more than 3,000 copies of the guidebook sold since our opening in July 2023. People have walked individual stages, all 7 stages in one shot, and some have even run the full route in one go! A hardy few have also run the entire Circuit of Cornwall! It is so good to see people getting out there to enjoy this fantastic part of the Devon/Cornwall landscape which is often overlooked. Keep walking folks!”

Sarah Bartlett, Visit Tamar Valley’s Marketing Manager said:

“It’s wonderful that the route has sparked significant interest in visiting the Tamar Valley and we’ve worked hard to promote it to walkers throughout the UK and beyond. Feedback from Visit Tamar Valley members shows that places to stay, rest and refuel have welcomed plenty of walkers during the first half of this year. Furthermore, we believe the Tamara Coast to Coast Way will continue to boost not only summer visits but also bookings during the off-peak spring and autumn seasons, benefiting tourism right across the Tamar Valley area.”

The Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme aims to create a brighter future for the Tamar Valley and its communities by working with farmers, landowners and communities to manage and enhance landscapes, improve access, provide training opportunities and improve people’s health and wellbeing through new events and activities. With match-funding from partners, £3.2 million will be invested across the Tamar Valley until 2025.

For information about the Tamara Coast to Coast Way, to purchase a Guidebook and for details about the Circuit of Cornwall visit: www.tamarvalley-nl.org.uk. The Tamara Coast to Coast Way Facebook group is also a good resource and a place for fellow walkers to share their pictures and stories: www.facebook.com/groups/tamaracoasttocoastway