Cotehele
St Dominick, near Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6TA
A Tudor manor high above the River Tamar, with terraced borders, a steep valley garden running down to the quay, and orchards full of West Country apple varieties.
Visit information checked 22 October 2026
Garden UK guide
Why visit Cotehele?
Cotehele's garden climbs and falls with the Tamar Valley. Around the rambling granite and slate manor, the East Terraces carry mixed borders with views towards Calstock, and the Upper Garden is set around a lily pond. From there a tunnel leads into the steeper Valley Garden, which drops away towards the river and feels quite different: sheltered, richly planted and full of old features.
In the Valley Garden look for the medieval dovecote and stewpond, a Victorian summerhouse and the 18th-century Prospect Tower. Paths continue down to Cotehele Quay on the River Tamar, where the preserved Tamar barge Shamrock, built in 1899, is moored. Along the Morden stream the estate mill has been restored to working order. The orchards are a highlight in their own right: a Mother Orchard was planted in 2008 with mainly West Country apple varieties, divided into eating, culinary and cider types.
Gardeners will find ideas in how the terraces use a sloping site, and in the orchard collection, a living record of local fruit varieties worth seeking out for your own garden. The house is one of the least altered Tudor houses in the country, and each year a great flower garland is hung in the great hall. The café is in the old barn in Base Court. Parts of the Valley Garden are steep and only part of the garden is step-free, so wear good shoes.
What to see
- The East Terraces, with mixed borders and views towards Calstock.
- The Upper Garden, laid out around a lily pond.
- The Valley Garden, with its medieval dovecote, stewpond and Victorian summerhouse.
- The Mother Orchard, planted in 2008 with West Country apple varieties.
- Cotehele Quay on the Tamar and the preserved Tamar barge Shamrock.
Cotehele through the year
- spring
- Blossom in the orchards and fresh growth in the Valley Garden make spring a lovely time to walk down to the quay.
- summer
- The borders on the East Terraces are at their fullest and the lily pond in the Upper Garden is at its best.
- autumn
- Apples ripen in the orchards, a good time to see the range of West Country varieties.
- winter
- Cotehele is known for its annual flower garland in the great hall; check the National Trust website for what is open in winter.
The story behind the garden
A William de Cotehele is recorded in 1270, and the estate came to the Edgcumbe family through William Edgcumbe's marriage to the heiress Hilaria in 1353. After Sir Richard Edgcumbe backed Henry Tudor at Bosworth in 1485, he and his son Sir Piers rebuilt the house, work that went on until the 1560s. When the family built Mount Edgcumbe House in the mid-16th century, Cotehele became a second home, which is why it survives so little changed.
From the 1740s old furniture and tapestries were sent to Cotehele, and it was presented as a romantic, antiquarian place to visit. It was the first property accepted by the Treasury in payment of death duty and is now cared for by the National Trust. The gardens and parkland are listed Grade II* on the national register, and in 2008 the Mother Orchard was planted.
Plan your visit
- Best for
- Visitors who want orchards, terraced planting and a historic house combined with riverside walks.
- Getting there
- Cotehele is near St Dominick in east Cornwall, above the River Tamar in the parish of Calstock, north of Saltash.
- Before you go
- The Valley Garden is steep and only part of the garden is step-free, so check the National Trust access information first. The National Trust website has current opening times and tickets.
Source: National Trust garden guide
Questions about visiting Cotehele
Is Cotehele National Trust?
Yes. The house, garden and wider estate at Cotehele are cared for by the National Trust. It was the first property ever accepted by the Treasury in payment of death duty, before passing into the Trust's care.
Is the garden at Cotehele steep?
Parts of it are. The East Terraces and Upper Garden are gentler, but the Valley Garden drops steeply towards the river and only part of the garden is step-free. Sturdy shoes help, especially if you walk down to the quay.
What can you see at Cotehele Quay?
The quay on the River Tamar is home to the preserved Tamar barge Shamrock, built in 1899, and an outpost of the National Maritime Museum. The restored estate mill is nearby on the Morden stream.
When is the best time to visit Cotehele?
Spring is lovely for orchard blossom and the Valley Garden, summer for the terrace borders, and autumn for the apple harvest in the orchards. The house and quay add interest whenever the estate is open.
Garden features
Location
St Dominick, near Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6TA
Nearby gardens
Gardens within 40 miles, sorted by distance.
Similar gardens
Gardens with similar features.