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.