The Luxulyan Valley

Luxulyan Valley

The Luxulyan Valley that you see today - the couple of miles from Luxulyan to Pont's Mill - is essentially the creation of one of Cornwall's great industrialists, J. T. Treffry of Place in Fowey. Known as the King of Mid Cornwall, Treffry had his fingers deeply in most of Cornwall's industrial pies: copper, tin, lead, silver, china clay, granite, harbours and transport most particularly. He constructed a canal and horse-drawn tramway linking his two harbours, Par and Newquay, with his mines and quarries. This formed the basis of the modern Par to Newquay branch line. The most remarkable feature of Treffry's tramway was the viaduct he built, spanning the Luxulyan Valley. On its upper surface was the tramway, below was an aqueduct which still holds water. 650 feet long and 100 feet high, the viaduct was completed in 1844. The aqueduct powered the Carmears waterwheel which operated an inclined plane between there and the canal at Pont's Mill. It also supplied the Fowey Consols mine on the east side of the valley. The Par Canal, carrying tub boats to Treffry's Par Harbour, utilised the little river that runs down the Luxulyan Valley, with a new course cut for the river. This is a delightful valley, well worth walking in particularly when the beeches are at their best in spring and autumn. See box for suggested route.

Treffry's amazing viaduct and aqueduct

Park at Pont's Mill, signed from A390, E of Tywardreath H'way

There is ample industrial interest between Pont's Mill and the far end of the viaduct to make a very pleasant 3 mile walk. From Pont's Mill follow the main track along the valley floor, under Victorian railway bridges and past another of Treffry's works, the disused Central Cornwall Clay Dries. Much of the way the route is alongside a sparkling stream in beech woodland. Eventually you come to the viaduct and have to wind your way upwards to reach its south-eastern end. Walk across the viaduct before returning by a high level route on the east side of the valley to see the still impressive pit that housed the former Carmears Waterwheel that operated an inclined plane that you now follow most of the way back to Pont's Mill.

China Stone in the