With pottery studios, ceramic murals and art galleries, the Tamar Valley has a rich artistic culture to explore by train. A great place to start is Fierek Pottery – just a short walk from Gunnislake station.
Rob and Rosie Fierek live and work from their studio in Albaston. Their outside stall (pictured below) is open every day, and if you’d like to have a look around their gallery, just give them a call in advance (01822 833350).
Rosie is well-known in the area for her large ceramic murals and her community-based projects. Her husband, Rob Fierek, has been making pots in the Tamar Valley for over four decades.
Starting your journey in Plymouth, hop on the scenic Tamar Valley Line and pass over the 120ft Calstock Viaduct before arriving at Gunnislake station (get train times).
From here, it’s just a 12-minute walk to Fierek Pottery Studio in Albaston.
If you’d like to also explore nearby Calstock, you can either hop back on the train and ride one stop (with an Off-Peak Day Return ticket you can hop on and hop off, as long as you continue in the same direction of travel when you re-board), or you can set off on a scenic 3-mile walk through the Danescombe Valley.
Fierek Pottery Studio is just a moment’s detour from a lovely walk between Gunnislake and Calstock stations, taking you through the scenic Danescombe Valley (watch the video on Facebook) with its fascinating industrial and archaeological heritage.
Download your free walking directions and map for this 3-mile walk.
Arriving into Calstock, there are a pair of fantastic galleries to visit: Salmagundi and Limekiln, located just a one-minute walk from each other.
At Limekiln you can expect to find contemporary artwork, modern ceramics and handmade jewellery from the Tamar Valley. Salmagundi (pictured below) sells a wide selection of hand-built ceramics by Sarah McCormack, along with hand-woven textiles, raku, cards and much more from talented makers in Calstock and the surrounding area.
Opening times:
Limekiln – 11:00 to 17:00 Tuesday to Saturday
Salmagundi – 12:00 – 17:00 Friday and Saturday / 12:00 – 16:00 Sunday
There are some great options for food and drink in Calstock. Make a stop at the Tamar Inn for a delicious pub lunch, then pop over the road to Valenti’s ice cream parlour with its excellent view of the viaduct from their outdoor seating. Lishe Coffee Shop is another great option if you’d like a hot drink or a homemade cake before catching the train home from Calstock station.
Opening times:
The Tamar Inn – 12:00 – 11:30 Monday to Sunday
Valenti’s (summer opening hours) – 11:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday / 11:00 to 17:30 Saturday and Sunday
Lishe Coffee Shop – 9:30 to 16:00 Tuesday to Sunday
An adult Off-Peak Day Return ticket between Plymouth and Gunnislake is £7.90.
Save a third off the above adult fare for you and a friend (with kids travelling for just £1) with a Devon & Cornwall Railcard – just £12 a year for local residents. Now available to buy online.
Look up train times and buy rail tickets on the GWR website or app.