If it were not for the River Tamar, there would be no Tamar Protection Society. Obvious?  Perhaps not.  The Society was formed originally by a group of ecologically minded stalwarts determined that their valley should not be spoiled by the construction of an enormous power station on its banks.  The group, led by Oliver Prattent, the father of our current chair, Sarah Jane Page, were more than willing and capable to take on the government of the day and fight to protect the beauty of the valley for future generations.  You will by now know that these forward thinkers won the day and created a robust foundation for future members to build on.  So, the picturesque and tranquil valley, that was once the industrial heartland of Devon and Cornwall, remains unspoiled for the enjoyment of generations as yet unborn.

The river itself is the sum of several different and distinct parts.  At its source, barely 200 yards from the coast, it is a trickle.  It remains so for much of its length until the tidal reaches of Gunnislake from whereon down it increases in depth and girth until it meets the English Channel in Plymouth Sound.  On a leisurely trip from Gunnislake to Plymouth, the visitor will experience evidence of early copper mining at Morwellham Quay and Devon Great Consols.  Thence on to the major shipbuilding area around Calstock.  From then the journey passes by the lime kiln processing area of Weir Quay where now remains one of a handful of working boatyards on the river.  Travelling south the traveller will observe the steeply wooded hillsides, once the centre of fruit and flower growing trade made possible by the transport links provided by the waterway.  As more southing is made, the river becomes less picturesque but none the less historical.  Her Majesty's dockyard rests on the east bank, and any traveller sufficiently privileged to gain entry would find therein as much history and architecture as any other part of the river has to offer.  Finally the River becomes turbulent and somewhat unpredictable for the traveller as the approach is made to Devils Point on the east and Cremyll on the west banks and the tidal rips of the 'Seven Sisters' make their presence felt.

This is a very brief narrative of our River.  Perhaps it will serve to whet the visitor's appetite sufficiently to encourage further research from the wealth of fact available elsewhere.