Cotehele Quay is part of the National Trust’s Cotehele Estate, and is on the west side of the River Tamar in the south-east of Cornwall. The other side of the river is in Devon. Once it was a major highway with ships taking goods to and from Plymouth. Tin and copper ore and farm produce would go south to Plymouth, while coal, limestone and fertiliser would be unloaded here. The limestone would be converted into lime for improving the soil of farmers’ fields in lime kilns on the side of the quay. Nowadays the river is used mainly by small pleasure craft while the quay itself attracts numerous visitors. Among the old buildings are a former warehouse that has been converted into a museum and a Georgian inn that is now a National Trust teashop. We often come here for a coffee.
