Walking · Tamar Valley

The Tamara Coast to Coast Way

An 87-mile path from Cremyll to Morwenstow, following the River Tamar along the Devon–Cornwall border. Stage 2 finishes in this village. Stage 3a starts here.

Trains & buses Official trail

In the village

Why walkers stop in Bere Ferrers

The Tamara Coast to Coast Way opened in July 2023. It is waymarked with a white bee on a green arrow. Tamara is the old name for the river goddess of the Tamar. Join the South West Coast Path at either end and you have the 387-mile Circuit of Cornwall — Kylgh Kernow.

The BFS Club sits a short walk from the station and the church. If we are open, walkers are welcome to pop in for a drink. Check opening hours before you count on us as a stop.

Stage 2 arrives here

Tamar Bridge → Bere Ferrers · 9.8 miles

From the east side of the Tamar Bridge the path works north through the edge of Plymouth, Budshead Wood and Blaxton Wood, then along the Tavy to the lane into the village. Allow four to four-and-a-half hours. Moderate walking, with some road sections.

Stage 3a leaves here

Bere Ferrers → Bere Alston station · 7.5 miles

Upriver on the west side of the peninsula: pasture, woodland and quiet lanes, with a steep pull over South Hooe. Finish at Bere Alston station and take the Tamar Valley Line across the river to Calstock — you cannot walk the viaduct.

If you only have an afternoon

Local walks from the village

These are circulars and station-to-station routes published by Tamar Valley National Landscape and Great Scenic Railways. They use the same lanes and foreshore as the Tamara Way, without committing you to a full stage. Station parking is for rail users; park on Fore Street if you arrive by car. Check the tides before Lopwell Dam.

Gnatham & the Tavy

3 miles · easy · 1½ hrs

Village, creek and the west bank of the estuary. Add two miles if you walk out to Lopwell Dam. The dam walkway is closed about two hours either side of high tide. Walk notes.

Riverside circular

3 miles · moderate · 1½ hrs

The railway leaflet from the station: fields, Hensbury Lane and back along the Tavy. Stiles and mud after rain. Finish at the Plough if it is open. PDF.

Thorn Point

About 3 miles · easy–moderate

Discovery Trail and quiet road from the station. Used by the free Thursday Tamar & Bere wellbeing walks. National Landscape walks.

Lockeridge to Bere Alston

6½ miles · strenuous · 3½ hrs

Upriver on the west of the peninsula — the same line as Tamara Stage 3a. Train back from Bere Alston. Walk notes.

Peninsula loop

8–9½ miles · moderate

Tavy to Tamar: Weir Quay, Hole’s Hole, optional Lopwell. Mix of Discovery Trail and lanes. Train home from either station. Route story.

From Bere Alston

2½–5½ miles

One stop up the line: Tuckermarsh Quay (2½ miles), Ward Mine, or the Tamar & Tavy valleys circular (5½ miles). Visit Tamar Valley has the PDFs.

Map: OS Explorer 108. Dogs on leads where there is livestock. The Discovery Trail runs 31 miles from Tamerton Foliot to Lifton; the peninsula is the local stretch.

The whole way

Seven stages, south coast to north

Stage	From	To	Miles
1	Cremyll	Tamar Bridge	12.5
2	Tamar Bridge	Bere Ferrers	9.8
3a	Bere Ferrers	Bere Alston station	7.5
3b	Calstock station	Gunnislake	4.3
4	Gunnislake	Lifton	13.5
5	Lifton	Bridgerule	17
6	Bridgerule	Upper Tamar Lakes	13.7
7	Upper Tamar Lakes	Morwenstow	11.6

Distances from Tamar Valley National Landscape. Stage 5 is the long day. Most people take a week for the full route.

Getting here

Train first, then walk

Tamar Valley Line

Plymouth · Bere Ferrers · Bere Alston · Calstock · Gunnislake

The branch is part of the trail plan, not a sideline. Use it to start Stage 2 or 3a, or to skip the river crossing between Bere Alston and Calstock. Live times are on our trains and buses page.

Shorter loops from the station

If you do not want the full stage

Tamar Valley National Landscape publishes circulars from Bere Ferrers Station, including a 3-mile walk to Gnatham on the Tavy (extend to Lopwell Dam) and a 6½-mile walk toward Bere Alston via Lockeridge.

Maps & guidebook

Official maps and GPX sit on the National Landscape page. The guidebook is The Tamara Coast to Coast Way by Steve Church.

What to expect

Mixed paths, tracks and lanes. Mud after rain. Few toilets on the village stages. Follow the Countryside Code. The bee waymark is the one to trust when the lane forks.

The club

We are not an official trail service. If the door is open, come in. Contact us if you are bringing a walking group and want to know whether we can put the kettle on.

Tamar Valley National Landscape Visit Tamar Valley Visit Cornwall stages

Trail facts from Tamar Valley National Landscape and Visit Cornwall. The BFS Club does not manage the path. Check the official site for diversions, ferry trials and the latest GPX before you set out.