Farm, river and silver mine
North Hooe Farm sits on its own surrounded by nature on the north flank of the Tamar oxbow facing Cornwall across the river.
It is a haven of tranquillity, a rural retreat where visitors can wind down and recharge their batteries. Spending time in nature apparently boosts the immune system and reduces stress but whatever your mood we hope you will find the peace and quiet relaxing.
" beautiful scenery on your doorstep "
What you may first notice is the quiet. You will hear birdsong, the occasional bleat of a sheep or hum of a distant tractor, clunk of passing gigs (racing rowing boats) but not much else. Our permanent residents - four Shetland and one Black Mountain x Herdwick ewes and friendly pigs Pepper and Perse only pipe up when they think food is appearing!
In every direction there are beautiful views to capture on film or canvas. The fields and woodland are full of wildlife - rabbits, badgers, stoats, squirrels and bats; you may catch a glimpse of roe deer in the wood.
Around the farm you can spot nuthatches, wagtails, finches, occasional reed bunting and groups of long-tailed tits. Pheasants abound, flying up from long grass beneath your feet with startling cries. Listen for greater spotted woodpeckers knocking on timber by day and Canada geese honking along the river in large formations at dusk and the hoot of owls by night.
From April returning swallows swoop above the yard collecting insects on the wing or ferrying mud to make their nests. Keep watching and you will see kestrels hovering, buzzards circling, the streak of a sparrow-hawk low to the ground or, with great luck, a rare barn owl hunting grid-wise over the longer grass at dusk.
If you tiptoe down the ferry track to the river strand you will surprise shelduck or perhaps some wading birds. You may spy a little egret or cormorant fishing on the opposite mudbanks.
You too can fish - from the foreshore, not legally from a boat - and may be lucky enough to catch some bass!
But you don't have to stay on land - from the strand you can set off in a kayak or on a paddleboard enjoying the rolling landscape as far as Cotehele or Calstock or alternatively paddle round the great oxbow to the sailing hamlet of Weir Quay. Who knows, you might catch a glimpse of the elusive resident seal performing his "up-periscope" manoeuvre to check on you.
On land, follow the old miners’ path beyond River’s Reach through the wood, easy walking along a level track. In spring it is a magical carpet of bluebells, primroses and later a mass of creamy wild garlic flowers.
At the end of the track you come across the imposing haunting ruins of the pumping engine that de-watered the silver/lead mine in the 19th century and those of the smithy nearby - silent reminders of a bygone industrial age. The dressing floors, spoil-heaps and quays stretching along the river have to the untrained eye been reclaimed by nature for the most part.
Go through the farm gate and climb up the end field and you have a spectacular view upriver over reedbeds to The National Trust's Cotehele Quay.
From this point you can join the public footpath winding upriver away from the farm towards Cotehele or return to base through the fields above the wood and down the top path with impressive views downriver towards Pentillie castle.
Come and enjoy this rural retreat before it gets booked up - book now.
