Weather: grey and rather overcast.

Time: about an hour

Start at Calstock where there is parking available- or come on the train!

Walk through Calstock towards Cotehele and along the road adjoining the river. As the river turns to the left the road turns gently to the right and find a tree festooned with bird feeders which are always busy in the garden of what I think was an old hotel. Beyond on the right there is the shortest railway in the world leading to a garage...The road peters out  and becomes a track, the left hand one signposted to Cotehel. This walk takes up the very lovely Danescombe Valley past the old mine and with lots of paddleable access to the stream for small wellingtons.Walk steadily upwards thorugh the woods and turn right at the lane. there is now a small section of steepish lane walking. Take the next footpath on the right and drop back into Calstock onto the road you first walked along.

birds: the beginnings of spring birdsong.

Flowers: not much yet but there is every sign that the Danescombe valley will be glorious once spring does arrive