Category: Transport

Car free, Care free days......

18/2/2018

Train on the scenic Liskeard - Looe branch line

Looe Valley branch line

Open top bus to Lands End

There is lots to do and see near to Cider Cottage, but a day visit to other Cornish delights is hard to resist.

For some day trips in Cornwall the car is the only option. But occasionally it’s great to give the driver a rest and get out and about on the train or bus, particularly the open toppers.

Fortunately Liskeard railway station is not far from Cider Cottage, and it has very reasonable parking charges. Most of our guests enjoy a trip on the very scenic Looe Valley branch line, which cannot be missed. But there are great connections from Liskeard for going further afield too.

A visit to St. Ives is quite easy by train and again very scenic. Parking in St. Ives is difficult and expensive, so a relaxing train trip takes all that hassle away. Penzance is another destination to consider where there is the option of a bus ride to Marazion to visit nearby St. Michael’s Mount, and the ever popular Mousehole, or maybe take a trip to Lands End on the open topper.

There is also the Cathedral City of Truro, with its connections to Falmouth. In the other direction, the picturesque Tamar Valley line is also easily reached by train from Liskeard.

All are excellent day trips by train and what a treat to avoid the roads. We have all the timetables and details in Cider Cottage to make a car free day easy to plan ahead. And of course we are on hand to offer advice and help if required, having travelled extensively ourselves by Public Transport in Cornwall.

Great scenic railways

St Michael's Mount

The Mousehole bus

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Walkers are Welcome

26/4/2014

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The Caradon Trail is well signed and easy to follow

A new trail has been developed for walkers and cyclists, linking the market town of Liskeard with the moorland area of Caradon Hill. The signposted on-road trail follows quiet Cornish lanes between deep hedgerows up onto Bodmin Moor with its rich heritage, spanning from Neolithic megaliths to the industrial mining landscape of the 19th century. From sweeping views over the high ground to wooded river valleys at the lower levels, this trail provides plenty of opportunity to enjoy the abundance of wildlife and experience the tranquility of this beautiful area.

Cider Cottage is located right on the Caradon Trail

Cider Cottage is one of the very few properties offering self catering accommodation right on the route of the Caradon Trail. This makes us an ideal base for exploring this enchanting part of South East Cornwall, without needing to take the car out. For this reason we are proud to display the Walkers are Welcome sign on our window. Cyclists are equally welcome and we offer secure storage for visitors' bikes and equipment. For more information on the Caradon Trail and other walks in and around Liskeard, do visit Liskeard.

Walkers are Welcome at Cider Cottage

Not only is the area great for daytime activities, but it takes on a new character after dark. Cornwall Council is currently applying to designate Bodmin Moor as a Dark Sky site, on account of its complete absence of streetlights and other light sources. If successful, Bodmin Moor will be one of only 5 Dark Sky sites in the UK and one of only 24 worldwide. Caradon Hill can be seen from Cider Cottage and this is already a brilliant spot for watching the sky at night, to identify planets, satellites and the occasional shooting star.

Electric car charging point at Cider Cottage

And it's not only walking and cycling that are catered for at Cider Cottage. We have recently installed a charging point for electric vehicles. This is another way in which we can reduce our carbon footprint. If visitors arrive in an electric car, we are happy to provide you with free charging, during your stay, from our charging point. What could be better than a week's free motoring?

So, as well as Walkers and Cyclists, owners of Electric Cars are Welcome too !

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A day on the Dart

22/5/2012

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Last weekend, we decided to cross the River Tamar for a day out in England - well Devon to be precise ! We spent a glorious day enjoying a Round Robin with the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company. You can start this adventure from Totnes, Dartmouth or Paignton. We chose to start at the ancient town of Totnes, which is less than an hour from Liskeard by either train or car.

We enjoyed 1 hour and a half on the sun deck of the Cardiff Castle as we sailed down the peaceful River Dart, with a lively commentary and picture postcard scenery. Arrival at Dartmouth coincided with the Dart Music Festival, where bands and groups were playing and singing at different points around the town. A lunch of crab sandwiches beckoned - delicious ! Having allowed a few hours to meander around this small but charming town, we headed over to Kingswear on the ferry to catch the steam train to Paignton. On this railway, it doesn't matter which side of the carriage you decide to sit. You will be rewarded with views of firstly the River Dart on the left hand side of the train and, once through the tunnel, of seaside views on the right hand side.

We had time for a stroll down to Paignton Harbour before catching the bus back to Totnes to conclude a very enjoyable day out on four different forms of transport. And, to round off the experience, we are delighted to report that visitors to Cider Cottage are entitled to a 10% reduction on the price of a Round Robin ticket. Terriffic!

Agatha Christie's holiday home at Greenway House overlooks the River Dart.

The steam train runs alongside the river to its terminus at Kingswear.

From the top deck of the bus you can catch glimpses of Dartmoor in the distance.

If you're lucky, you might be able to catch the open top bus.

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Our milestone

2/5/2012

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A wonderful hot summer's day in Cornwall again today. So, I was out in the garden attempting to build a dry stone wall. Unfortunately, compared with the Cornish 'stone hedges' that have been built by generations past and have stood the test of time, my efforts just seem to look like a pile of rocks, balanced precariously in a higgledy piggledy fashion. Much more practice needed !

But while I was outdoors, I could see some activity on the other side of our woods. In the road was a gentleman painting our local milestone. Seeking a break from the walling, I went to be nosey and have a chat. Was he from Cornwall Council? No, he was Ian Thompson from the Milestone Society. This brave fellow has taken it upon himself to repaint all 600 ancient milestones in the county, since the local authority has decided it doesn't wish to be responsible for their upkeep any more. Cornwall is particularly well endowed with milestones, being rich in granite. Indeed, along the A38 between Liskeard and Bodmin, there are many two-sided stones to be spotted, featuring a large L on one face and a big B on the other, followed by the mileage to each town. But 'our' local milestone is much grander, even though our lane doesn't go anywhere particular. He told me that it used to be the main route to St Cleer, but the 2 mile stone is no longer in existence.

He felt that our milestone dated from the 1850s when the turnpike trusts were being wound up. This is the same period when the current Woodhill Manor was being built. And, of course, the route from Caradon Hill to Liskeard and Looe will have been busy with the granite from the quarries and tin from the mines. The copper bonanza had yet to occur, but that's a story for another day.

Peter

For the website of the Milestone Society, click the picture.

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Steaming through Cornwall

28/4/2012

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I have just been out to photograph a train. Not just any old train. This was the Great Britain railtour. It started last Saturday (a week ago), steaming from London to Edinburgh. It then proceeded behind a variety of different steam engines to the west coast of Scotland (Mallaig and Kyle of Lochalsh), before returning down the country via the Settle & Carlisle line, Preston, the Welsh Marches to Bristol. Today's leg was from Bristol to Penzance. The weary passengers, who have paid royally for their experience, will finally get back to London tomorrow, on Day 9.

Today's train was a rarity. A double headed steam train on the main line through Cornwall, with neither of the engines being a native Great Western engine. Southern Railway Pacific engine 'Tangmere' was leading Britannia class Pacific 'Oliver Cromwell', although the steam from Tangmere is obscuring much of the second loco in my photo. The train came within a mile and a half of Cider Cottage, although my picture was a little further up the line at St Germans viaduct, with Polbathic Lake in the foreground.

Peter

The Great Britain railtour crossing St Germans viaduct, Cornwall

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New Author

In Feb 2021 Keith and Karen Burden took ownership of Cider Cottage whilst Lynn and Peter the previous owners moved closer to the sea to explore and enjoy more of a coastal life.
Karen and Keith want to keep up the very high standards set by the previous owners and very much look forward to welcoming guests again as soon as Government restrictions are lifted and it is safe to do so.
Lynn and Peter Murnaghan moved from Winchester, Hampshire to Woodhill Manor in Summer 2011. We then spent a good deal of time and energy renovating Cider Cottage to create a fabulous self-catering holiday venue for discerning guests.

© cidercottage.com 2021

Car free, Care free days......

Walkers are Welcome

A day on the Dart

Our milestone

Steaming through Cornwall

New Author

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