National Trust - Cotehele — Attraction in Calstock

Stunning house and we noticed that some of the staff are friendly and nice. Unfortunately we didn't meet them. Instead our experience was more akin to the NT with the stuffy attitude of decades ago that we thought they'd shaken off. On arrival our reception wasn't even luke warm. Our membership cards were demanded by quite a stern lady who then just reeled off a very long list of restrictions for dogs and their owners which took the shine off our visit before it even began. She then pointed us to the written list of restrictions that takes up a whole fold of the leaflet reinforcing the rules so by the time we left reception we felt that we weren't trusted as responsible dog owners, that us and our dogs were being tolerated for the sake of visitor numbers and that someone, somewhere would be quietly seething about whatever policy change permitted us to be there at all. In short, dogs are hardly allowed anywhere but don't worry, you WILL be told where. Apparently they can go in the cafe and the shop but we didn't didn't feel welcome enough for that. We took them down to the quay instead in case The Edgecumbe would allow them in but it was shut. It says there are dog waste bins but we couldn't find them and there were signs on the general waste bins asking dog owners NOT to use them for dog waste. Based on our experience: Don't go with dogs. Don't go at busy times because the access lane is too small. The final 3/4 mile took 20 minutes as we had to keep reversing for people who couldn't/wouldn't. Park at the bottom of the hill if it's hot and humid then drive back up to the car park at the top. If we weren't members of the NT we wouldn't go at all. It's a real shame because other NT houses work so hard to be welcoming and genuinely want everyone to have a good time. Cotehele seems begrudging. Many more visits like this and we'll be saving the membership fee. I've given two stars. One is for the house and the other is for the handful of nice, smiley staff who do exist but weren't part of our experience...

A stunning property in a gorgeous location. Spent nearly 6 hours exploring the gardens & wider estate, no time left to go inside the beautiful stone house, originating from the 15th century. In the fields around the house there were still bluebells, & other wildflowers in bloom, although they would have been spectacular a few weeks ago. There is a lovely older orchard, surrounding a former pond, leading to the enormous 'mother orchard' growing dessert, cooking & cider apples, with a cider press waiting for its next batch. After strolling through a number of smaller gardens you emerge at the 'main formal area' lovely plantings despite effects of lockdown & furloug, with a beautiful central pool with its own island. Moving past the house, Victoria Terrace garden, you catch the first sight of the fabulous Valley garden. Water everywhere, amazingly lush plantings of shurbs & trees, some very special. ... decent paths although damp in places. Walk down hill & pass through a wooden gate to a wooded lane taking you to the historic Quay, with its own 19th century barge moored. Beautifully serene views along the river Tamar & an opportunity for refressment. Walk along the river takes you to the working flour mill, water wheen fed by a leat extracting water from the nearby fast moving stream. .... free cakes to taste if your lucky. Then a faikry steep climb up takes you back to the car park. Cotehele, definately my new NT favourite .. its my 50th membership year, so I've been to a few properties, just love the peace, solace beauty & variety of Cotehele. ... credit to the staff & volunteers who help maintain &...

Mild warmth in a sunny setting, starts a shortened visit to Cothele Quay in excellent spirit.

I had decided to show my membership card to the car parking machine to prove my participation in & the value I find in this place& to try to ensure Cothele gets an equitable share of NT funding, not easy to achieve when the parking machine is covered and therefore not in service. Possibly due in part to ongoing construction works in various areas & the coverage of Shannon currently under yet another replanking due to the ravages of the climate and the murky waters of the Tamar river navigation.

Also twas an ambition to partake of a "Cornish Clotted Cream Tea" in the stylish eatery.

Caitlin who served me wore a turquoise NT top and winning smile in equal parts. Service was a relaxed yet amenable affair. Caitlin, her manager & others repeatedly (& needlessly) apologizing for the time taken to provide warm scones served with blue serviettes, miniature strawberry jam pot & Rodda's clotted cream portion. "What heaven tastes like!" Especially when conjoined with a choice of pot of National Trust tea or simple filtered coffee which are included in the most reasonable cost for a small taste of paradise eh?

Please note the photographs I am showing are those taken by me on previous visits. Due to privacy concerns I have doctored certain images with no great care as they are included here only to give an impression of the scope of the attraction & not the previous participants who were the attraction to...