Image by Baz Richardson

Situated in East Cornwall on the banks of the River Tamar, Calstock is a small village dominated by a huge viaduct carrying the beautiful Tamar Valley branch line that runs from Plymouth to Gunnislake. Famed for is eclectic mix of festivals, performances by international musicians and art exhibitions the village is an oasis of calm, here you can hire canoes and meander down the river, but on the other hand tinged with a bit of bohemian revelry – there’s annual bike and rock festival. The area has been a perfect sheltered location for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers for centuries and as you drive around the narrow lanes you’ll find many roadside stalls selling surplus produce. In the village there’s a couple of art galleries featuring local artists, some great riverside walks and not far away is the National Trust’s Cotehele House, a Tudor mansion with extensive gardens. During the summer a traditional ferry makes the scenic trip from Calstock quay to the house and across the river to Devon.