Bere Alston lies on the Bere Peninsula between the rivers Tamar and Tavy. The peninsula is part of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village also provides access to walking routes in the heart of the Tamar Valley, which is designated as a National Landscape. Here, a riverside setting, routes through the surrounding area and a rich local history come together.
Walking routes between the Tamar and Tavy
The Tamar & Tavy Valley Circular Walk runs north of Bere Alston through quiet countryside between the two valleys. The Ward Mine & River Tamar Circular Walk first follows the banks of the River Tamar and then returns through quiet lanes and pastures. Both names refer to the landscape that shapes the route along the way.
For specific route-planning details, the Bere Alston Station to Tuckermarsh Quay & River Tamar Circular Walk is listed as a moderate route, 2½ miles (4.2 km) long, taking 1½ hours. The Tuckermarsh Quay & River Tamar Circular Walk passes through beech woodland along the Tamar. On the Bere Alston to Bere Ferrers Discovery Trail Walk, pastures, woodland and quiet lanes alternate; there are views along the Tamar.
For those interested in longer routes, there is the 31-mile, signposted Tamar Valley Discovery Trail. Devon’s Western Frontier is a circular walk starting from Bere Alston and follows part of this long-distance trail. The Bere Ferrers Station to Bere Alston Via Lockeridge Farm Walk heads upstream along the River Tamar and follows part of the Tamara Coast to Coast Way. Each description highlights a different aspect: a circular walk, a long-distance trail or a route along the river.
Churches and local history
Holy Trinity Church was built in the mid-19th century. A second church reflects an earlier period: the Independent Chapel on Fore Street was consecrated in 1811 and is now called Bere Alston United Church. It remains at its original location and is almost the same building. The local architecture also tells the story of the village: many of the workers’ housing terraces built in the 19th century have been preserved and shape Bere Alston’s character.
The village’s development is traced back to a Saxon farm and a hamlet that later came to be called “Frog Street”. Mining and horticulture are also part of local history. Ward Mine produced silver in the 13th century and, briefly, lead in the 19th century. After the mines closed around 1870, horticulture became an important local employer. This included particularly early spring flowers, strawberries and orchard fruit.
The arrival of the railway in 1890 also changed how local produce was transported: it was taken by train to distant markets. The Tamar Valley Line runs from Plymouth to Gunnislake and passes through Bere Alston. If you plan to include the train in your journey, check the current timetable.
Events and further discoveries
The Bere Alston Gardening Club’s annual Plant and Produce Show includes classes for flowers, vegetables, fruit, preserves and handicrafts. If you would like to plan your trip around the event, check the date in advance. Nearby, also on the Bere Peninsula, the Tamar Belle Railway Heritage Centre features exhibitions, a signal box and demonstrations of railway operations.
Bere Alston offers a range of starting points for choosing the focus of your trip: walking routes through the river landscape, historic churches, and traces of mining and horticulture. You can tailor your stay to whether you mainly want to walk or explore the village and its history.
Discover more destinations: Bigbury-on-Sea, Exebridge, Meshaw, Rackenford, Buckland Brewer, Holsworthy, Lynton, Lapford
For the main travel overview: Devon.
