Cotehele

About Cotehele

Cotehele stands high above the River Tamar near St Dominick, on the Cornwall side of the Tamar Valley. The Edgcumbe family acquired the house through marriage in 1353, and Sir Richard Edgcumbe rebuilt it after 1485, with work continuing into the 1560s. It was the family's ancestral home for centuries and is now cared for by the National Trust.

The garden around the house covers around 5.5 hectares. It combines formally planted terraces with the Valley Garden, which leads down towards the river, and there is something in flower or fruit in most seasons.

What to see

• Terraces: terraced herbaceous borders and a lily pond.
• Valley Garden: a medieval stewpond and dovecote, leading down towards the river.
• Upper Garden: a more tranquil part of the garden.
• Orchards: two orchards planted with local apples and cherries, plus the Mother Orchard of over 250 apple trees, planted in 2008.
• Prospect Tower: an 18th century tower in the grounds.
• The quay and mill: the restored Tamar barge Shamrock at Cotehele Quay, and a working Victorian watermill in the Morden valley.

Planning your visit

There are three pay and display car parks: the upper ones for the house and garden, the lower one for the quay and mill. Eight EV chargers are in the main car park. The Barn Café is by the house; the Edgcumbe café at the quay is closed for building works until further notice, with a kiosk open at weekends and in half term. The garden is partly accessible, with a map of an accessible route at reception, and a shuttle bus sometimes runs between house, quay and mill.