Cornish branches

[Max]

I should have a few hours to explore some of the branches tomorrow - which are the best in terms of scenery and places of interest? I have done St Ives before.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Falmouth Branch is ok IIRC you can get a nice view of perranwell. Might be a bit far, but the Gunnislake line is the best after the st ives line, nice ride along water as well as the Calstock viaduct, just a generally good line. All can be done on a ride cornwall ranger

 

[ainsworth74]

Looe is my personal favourite and I highly recommend you do that one the scenery is fantastic and it has a real traditional branch line feel. Not sure if there's anything interesting in Looe itself so you might be best just doing an out an and back trip.

 

[fgwrich]

If your up at that end of county, the Tamar Valley Line (Gunnislake) is a pretty attractive line, with a contrast in scenery - From the Urban conurbation of Plymouth, to the lower areas of the River Tamar, to the steep hillsides of the Tamar Valley up towards Gunnislake.

But each branch is worth doing, Looe Branch for the scenic Looe Valley and the beautiful town of Looe itself, The Maritime Line (Falmouth) also has some scenic sections - especially around Penryn, and Falmouth is deffinatly a town worth visiting. And The Atlantic Line, whilst fairly lengthy and a 153 off season, is still another good line with varied scenery - especially through the Luxulyan valley, and the Cornish Mainlines a nice line to do really.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The Looe line is a cracker for scenery, following the river for the final few miles down into Looe (it's a pleasant town as well). You also get the odd operational set-up at Liskeard (being at right angles to the main line, curving under it), as well as the rare Coombe Jn Halt station call. Even failing that, you reverse at the junction some chains short of the station, a unique operation to the UK network IIRC.

Although only half in Cornwall, IMO the Gunnislake line is the most scenic in the Westcountry, skirting under the main line just before the Royal Albert bridge, following the Tamar Valley, over the viaduct at Calstock and through the wooded hills into Gunnislake.

 

[Goatboy]

Looe is my personal favourite and I highly recommend you do that one the scenery is fantastic and it has a real traditional branch line feel. Not sure if there's anything interesting in Looe itself so you might be best just doing an out an and back trip.

Looe is a lovely place for an hour to wander around.

 

[fgwrich]

Thanks to First Great Western & The Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, the Looe Valley Line also now features some nice BR Western Region style Chocolate & Cream signage aswell.

 

[yorksrob]

I particularly like the Looe Branch. You have the idiosyncracies at the Liskeard end and Looe itself is charming, even though the esturine scenery of the branch is pretty rather than spectacular.

The Falmouth branch has some great viaducts and I found Falmouth harbour area itself really good for food and drink. Pendennis Castle is very interesting and within walking distance of harbour station.

I've only done Newquay once and found it wasn't so well suited for a daytrip with the family. The branch itself is interesting enough though not spectacular. If I ever have a stag do I'll give it another try.

I've also done Gunnislake once. It was raining so we didn't get off anywhere so I'm not sure what it's like for pubs etc. The trip over the viaduct is spectacular though and the branch is quite an interesting mixture of former mainline and branch.

 

[ainsworth74]

Looe is a lovely place for an hour to wander around.

Ah well next time I'm down I'll have a wander. I was track bashing on my one and only visit so I didn't bother

 

[Goatboy]

There is usually just enough time to get a nice look round before you arrive back at the station for the DMU you got off to arrive back from Liskeard again

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Is there still that shop on Looe station that sells vintage tickets for the branch (as gifts, not actual valid tickets )? I think it's open summer only but it was a nice little gift to remember the journey by (IIRC it was something like £5 for a series of Edmondson tickets over the line).

 

[Bedpan]

Couldn't disagree with anything anybody has said already but I as far as the Tamar Valley line is concerned its interesting for being part of the old LSWR main line as between Plymouth and Bere Alston. Also when you get onto the Gunnislake Branch proper, Calstock is quite a nice place to stop off on the way back from Gunnislake. There's about the right length of time available for looking round the village, going for a walk along the river, having a drink at the (nice) village pub and watching the train going back over the viaduct on the next trip to Gunnislake before meandering back to the station to return to Plymouth.

 

[richw]

As a local my preferred lines are:
St ives
Looe
Falmouth
Gunnislake
Newquay.
Locals avoid Newquay especially in summer as it gets overrun with yobs on drinking holidays.

 

[CC 72100]

Locals avoid Newquay especially in summer as it gets overrun with yobs on drinking holidays.

I didn't find it too bad in early May, on an early Saturday morning HST. However, I am well aware that this was in no way peak travelling time, and can imagine how bad it can get!

 

[Cliveblackpool]

IMO the Newquay line is worth a mention! Just needs a lot more time than the other branches.
Par still has a signal box. Leaving Par the line turns a fairly tight 180' around to St Blazey, with its yard, sheds, sidings and signal box on left (platforms were right after the SB), then follows the small river to Pontsmill to the wooded Luxulyan Valley. Several small viaducts, and if you crik your neck on the RHS you can see the Treffry Aquaduct/ Viaduct above!
Goonbarrow Junction you have a good view of a China Clay dries. There are a few interesting views as it crosses the old A30, bit slow with all the open level crossings! Nice view from the Trenance Viaduct just before Newquay.
Newquay has lots of shops and spectacular beaches! Follow the old tramway opp the station.
If you have time at Par visit the Round House/ Turntable. (Turn immediatly right outside the station building, follow the path which follows the main line, right under the bridge, right after the level crossing, and I think first right into an industrial estate with old railway sheds. Walk down to the end. Allow 30+ minutes.

 

[Requeststop]

As a local my preferred lines are:
St ives
Looe
Falmouth
Gunnislake
Newquay.
Locals avoid Newquay especially in summer as it gets overrun with yobs on drinking holidays.

As another (ex) local, but my heart is always there, I'd agree, though I avoided the Newquay line as the service is poor especially with connections to and from the West.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

As another (ex) local, but my heart is always there, I'd agree, though I avoided the Newquay line as the service is poor especially with connections to and from the West.

Train service is poor now, and for most of the year run with one dmu so timings are not good.
I think Newquay is best out of season!! There are always a few 'die hard' surfers in Winter these days!! Beautiful coastline and beaches. Nice for a bracing walk! Spectacular in a storm!! (Nice to have a car as a refuge from the cold & hot soup!!) Headland Hotel do storm watching Sunday lunches.
Non tourist shops are still open.

 

[6Gman]

Train service is poor now, and for most of the year run with one dmu so timings are not good.
I think Newquay is best out of season!! There are always a few 'die hard' surfers in Winter these days!! Beautiful coastline and beaches. Nice for a bracing walk! Spectacular in a storm!! (Nice to have a car as a refuge from the cold & hot soup!!) Headland Hotel do storm watching Sunday lunches.
Non tourist shops are still open.

And last time we were in Newquay we had a spectacular show of dolphins off the headland.

Which was nice.

 

[Drsatan]

Having done the Newquay branch, as other posters have said, depending on connection times you may have to wait for a long while at Par station, which doesn't have a cafe (or even a vending machine) or any sort of amenities. The village is also a long walk from the station (and I don't think there's anything to see in the village either!)

However, if you really want to visit Newquay, catch the Western Greyhound 527 bus which departs from Trinity street in St Austell every hour.

I'd also recommend the Falmouth branch because there's a lot to see there. If you get off at Falmouth docks you can either walk to Pendennis castle or to the docks themselves. Since Falmouth's a deep water harbour quite a variety of ships can be left there - the last time I visited I saw a Norfolkline ferry and a RFA landing ship.

 

[ainsworth74]

Having done the Newquay branch, as other posters have said, depending on connection times you may have to wait for a long while at Par station, which doesn't have a cafe (or even a vending machine) or any sort of amenities. The village is also a long walk from the station (and I don't think there's anything to see in the village either!)

There is a pub one minute (less even) from the station and it's very nice place to wait for an hour or so (I got a bad connection and had a while to wait). One warning though they have a minimum transaction on cards and the nearest cash machine is a about a twenty minute round trip on foot so make sure you have some cash!

 

[Requeststop]

And last time we were in Newquay we had a spectacular show of dolphins off the headland.

Which was nice.

Last time I was in Newquay, I watched a very large catch of crab being landed, and a couple of very large seals swimming in the harbour. Unfortunately, I was driven by car to Newquay on that occaision. It has been a very long time since I have ridden the Par-Newquay line.
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Having done the Newquay branch, as other posters have said, depending on connection times you may have to wait for a long while at Par station, which doesn't have a cafe (or even a vending machine) or any sort of amenities. The village is also a long walk from the station (and I don't think there's anything to see in the village either!)

However, if you really want to visit Newquay, catch the Western Greyhound 527 bus which departs from Trinity street in St Austell every hour.

I'd also recommend the Falmouth branch because there's a lot to see there. If you get off at Falmouth docks you can either walk to Pendennis castle or to the docks themselves. Since Falmouth's a deep water harbour quite a variety of ships can be left there - the last time I visited I saw a Norfolkline ferry and a RFA landing ship.

Another recommendation for Falmouth is the National Maritime Museum, and many many great pubs and cafe's and restaurants in Fore street and the harbour area. The Falmouth Branch is a superb ride with great views in both directions and on both sides. If you like there is a great ferry from Truro/Malpas to Falmouth and back if you'd like a rail journey down and river ride back or vice versa.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

As another (ex) local, but my heart is always there, I'd agree, though I avoided the Newquay line as the service is poor especially with connections to and from the West.

On several occasions in the past I had to take a train to Bodmin Parkway, and then take a train West from there. I assume it is still allowed?

Par - Best route for accessing the shops is walk on the path parallel with the down line.
If you have time to kill at Par (and you can pass the pub!!) there is the huge Duck pond behind the station - cross the road bridge.

Every time I went to Falmouth I had to visit Trago Mills (Nr town Stn end) http://www.trago.co.uk/our-stores-1-w.asp
Pendennis Castle (English Heritage) is definately worth a visit - Falmouth Docks Station.
Events most weekends in Season.

 

[Max]

Thanks for all of your thoughts guys, I ended up taking a trip down to Looe (sadly not via Coombe Jct Halt!). It was a lovely and very interesting little line, the sections passing under the GWML viaduct and along the river on the approach to Looe were particularly memorable. Looe itself was a great little town and quite pleasant for a stroll along the coastal path on a mild February afternoon.

Tomorrow I hope to fit in a trip to Gunnislake!

 

[yorksrob]

All this talk of Cornish branches is making me look forward to my hols which sadly aren't until September

 

[Birdbrain]

Glad you had fun. I havn't been to Looe for years and I must go again soon!. But I was down there last weekend and did the St Ives line which was fairly heavily loaded. Also went down to Falmouth which is always busy recently because of the University.

 

[ainsworth74]

All the Cornish branches are thriving, a real success story for the rural railway.

 

[richw]

Having done the Newquay branch, as other posters have said, depending on connection times you may have to wait for a long while at Par station, which doesn't have a cafe (or even a vending machine) or any sort of amenities. The village is also a long walk from the station (and I don't think there's anything to see in the village either!)

However, if you really want to visit Newquay, catch the Western Greyhound 527 bus which departs from Trinity street in St Austell every hour.

I'd also recommend the Falmouth branch because there's a lot to see there. If you get off at Falmouth docks you can either walk to Pendennis castle or to the docks themselves. Since Falmouth's a deep water harbour quite a variety of ships can be left there - the last time I visited I saw a Norfolkline ferry and a RFA landing ship.

Par Village has a fish and chip shop, a pub and a Spar shop. All are within 5 min walk of the station, however if you walk round the road can easily be 20mins.
Falmouth has an RFA ship in 80% of the time at least, as they have a major contract with the RFA, and is used as a home port for one of the RFA ships.

 

[CC 72100]

All the Cornish branches are thriving, a real success story for the rural railway.

And in Devon, from what I gather the Avocet and Tarka lines have been going from strength to strength in recent years too.

 

[Goatboy]

All the Cornish branches are thriving, a real success story for the rural railway.

This is partly because of the fare structure. The Cornish fare structure is absolutely excellent. The train in Cornwall offers excellent value for money and is a genuine alternative to using the car. So much so the only time i ever use my car in Cornwall is if the destination isn't rail served.

 

[Birdbrain]

Indeed, Ride Cornwall with a railcard is great value for a day out, as are the specific line rangers.