Langaton Farm Canal Walk
The Nature Trail takes you through various
habitats including meadowland, woodland, hedges and a pond. The
trail also includes a stretch of the disused Bude Canal (Launceston
line) and alongside the River Tamar. We aim to show in just
a small way that conservation and modern farming methods can exist
in harmony.
The Trail
The trail starts at the farmhouse and continues over the cattle grid,
taking the second gate on your left. Continue
over this pasture field keeping to the left hand hedge. This
field is much wetter at the bottom and provides an ideal habitat
for many plants including Horsetails and Flag Iris.
The trail continues over the stile and onto the towpath
of the disused Bude Canal (Launceston line).
Before entering the wooded area turn
right to the pond which was excavated in 1987. Here you can
see Pondskaters and the colourful Dragonflies and Damselflies. Why
not stop for a while on the seat in the peace of the countryside.
Proceed back to the towpath and look
out for hazelnuts strewn along the path that have been carefully
opening by the gnawing teeth of the squirrel. Note
the abundance of ferns and mosses in the drying area of the canal
bottom and the plants that are collonising the fallen trees across
the canal.
Here,
whilst enjoying the peace of Cornwall, it is nearly possible to touch
the "foreign" land of Devon across the water which for centuries has
divided Cornwall from Devon. Here the River Tamar is about 15
miles from its source at Woolley Burrows near Morwenstowe and flows
onto its mouth at Plymouth.
Look out for signs/tracks of badgers,
foxes and deer. Nettles,
meadowsweet and hogweed abound. The blackthorn
trees here are covered with lichens and dog roses. These very
hairy lichens will only be found growing where the air is very clean
as they are extremely sensitive to the gas, sulphur dioxide.
Return along the path. On a sunny
day the hedgerows support a multitude of butterflies including
the red admiral, the tortoiseshell, the speckled wood and the meadow
brown.
The Canal
Work officially started on 23rd July 1819, and the Launceston line,
of which this is part, was opened a year later. Since it was
all cut by hand it was indeed a remarkable feat. To the hoards
of men returning from the Napoleonic wars however, it offered the
hope of employment and a livelihood for their families. The
total length of the canal from Bude to Holsworthy and Launceston
was 35.5 miles and cost £120,000.
Its main function was to carry sand from
Bude beach to farms inland where it could be used to improve the
soil. Unfortunately
beset by problems of economic costs, wrangling of land owners and the
difficulty of preventing the water excaping, it was never a great success
and with the coming of the railway it officially closed on 14th November
1891, 72 years after its opening.
Any questions or more information on the farm and canal,
please ask at the farmhouse.
Holiday accommodation
on a traditional working farm.
