PLEASE NOTE, THIS CACHE IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE CAR PARK AT
LOPWELL DAM N50'27.838' W004'09.105'(0.25 miles from cache) AT LOW
TIDE. You can check the tide times by clicking here
. Tide Times for
this cache You can locate this cache through pathways from the
West but parking is difficult due to the narrow country lanes. My
suggested parking is at the dam but check for the LOW tide time
first. The cache is a clip & lock box inside a camo bag.
Lopwell lies beside the Tavy Estuary, which forms part of the
Tamar estuaries system. The Tamar estuaries are one of Britains
finest examples of a 'ria' (a drowned river valley). The rich
wildlife in & around the estuary ranges from ancient woodlands
& saltmarsh to rare insect life. Internationally-important
populations of birds use the estuary over the winter or when
passing through on migration.
Lopwell was a traditional river quay serving nearby mines &
farmland & used by the monks of Buckland Abbey. Silver &
lead were once exported & coal & lime imported. From the
mid 19th to the mid 20th century pleasure steamers from Plymouth
also used to call in here.
Plymouth City Council built the dam in 1953, incorporating a
fish pass to allow migration up river to spawning grounds. The old
pumphouse beside the car park was replaced by a new underground
pumphouse in 1981. This is now covered by a butterfly meadow, open
to the public.