Cotehele
Cornwall, England
Key facts
- Operator
- National Trust
- Condition
- Intact
- Access
- Staffed, ticketed
- Entry pass
- National Trust Explorer Pass
- Stays
- Overnight accommodation available
Pinpoint
Saltash PL12 6TA
Telephone 01579 351346
Possible Opening Hours*
*Opening times change. Always check the official website before you travel.
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Visitor essentials
- Parking
- Three pay-and-display car parks; non-members £1.50 for up to 1 hour, £3 for up to 4 hours, £6 for over 4 hours (cash or JustPark app); Blue Badge parking near the house; eight 11kW EV charging points in the main car park
- Access
- Garden partly accessible (accessible route map from reception); ramped access to shop, gallery and house; level access to cafe and shop via the rear; narrow corridors and steep steps in the house; Tramper and manual wheelchairs to hire; shuttlebus between house, quay and mill
- Facilities
- Barn Cafe, quay kiosk, shop, plant shop, Bull Pen Gallery, second-hand bookshop, Cotehele Mill, play areas, picnic areas, toilets with baby-changing
- Dogs
- Well-behaved dogs on a short fixed lead in some garden areas, the shop and cafe; on or under close control on estate walks; assistance dogs welcome in all areas including the house
- Safety
- Narrow corridors and steep steps in the house; uneven cobbles in Retainers' Court; steep hills on walks; the woodland route from Calstock is unlit (bring a torch in winter)
Cotehele is a medieval and Tudor granite house overlooking the River Tamar, kept largely unmodernised - there's no electricity in the historic rooms, and reviewers describe it as feeling like stepping back in time, with tapestries, huge log fires, and many original items still in place. The garden drops steeply down to the Tamar and its historic quay.
Worth the trip
The lack of electric lighting in the house, which reviewers say makes for a genuinely atmospheric interior lit by huge log fires.
Before you go
The walk down to the quay is steep, especially on the return, so consider driving down to the quay car park instead if steps and slopes are a concern.
Reviewers consistently describe Cotehele as an atmospheric, tapestry-filled house that feels frozen in an earlier age, with several praising the ancient working clock and the valley garden that drops down to the quay as particular highlights. The walk from the quay car park through woodland to the working mill is repeatedly called a worthwhile addition to the main house visit. Signage getting to the property is flagged by one reviewer as confusing the closer you get. The cafe and grounds are consistently praised, with the steep return walk from the quay noted as a reason some prefer to drive down instead.
Medieval and Tudor granite house overlooking the River Tamar, largely unmodernised
“Wow what a fantastic place the house you look around is amazing steeped in rich history and the gardens were just beautiful,on way out we stopped in the cafe for a drink and cake. We will definitely be comming back .”- Chris Williams, visitor review
Practical notes from visitors
Quoted from individual Google reviews, not verified with the operator - treat as a steer, not gospel, and check before you travel.
- Terrain & accessibility
- “Wow what a fantastic place the house you look around is amazing steeped in rich history and the gardens were just beautiful,on way out we stopped in the cafe for a drink and cake.” - Chris Williams
- Facilities
- “Good cafeteria, but sliced cheese rather than grated would have been preferred for the savoury scone!” - Matthew Boult
Common questions about Cotehele
Where is Cotehele?
Cotehele is in Cornwall, England, at Saltash PL12 6TA.
Do you need a ticket to visit Cotehele?
Yes - Cotehele is a staffed, ticketed attraction run by National Trust. Ticket prices and opening hours change through the year, so check the official site before travelling.
Can you stay overnight at Cotehele?
Yes - Cotehele offers bookable accommodation, so you can spend the night in the stately home itself or within its grounds. See the Stately Homes You Can Sleep In guide for the full list and how each stay works.
What is the highlight of visiting Cotehele?
The lack of electric lighting in the house, which reviewers say makes for a genuinely atmospheric interior lit by huge log fires.
Is Cotehele a ruin or still intact?
Cotehele is largely intact - Medieval and Tudor granite house overlooking the River Tamar, largely unmodernised.
