Important Information
We hope you have a wonderful holiday staying in our cottages. If you scroll down the page, you will find information that may be useful, like local doctors, dentists, hospitals, churches, ATMs, taxis, post offices, car repair garages and vets. For mobility equipment hire, please see our Accessibility page. There is also some information about Kernock below. While we are very relaxed and there is no long list of rules, there are a few things you need to know, so please take the time to read this page. Thank you.
IMPORTANT – Kernock is not connected to mains sewerage. Owl and Tree Barns share a septic tank. It is very important for the correct functioning of the system that NO animal fats are put down the sink (please wait until it has congealed, and put the solid matter in the bin). We are also unable to use bleach, anti-bacterial detergents or any biological agents. We therefore provide you with environmentally suitable washing machine, dishwasher and cleaning agents and would be grateful if you would ONLY use these. If you would prefer to use your own, please make sure they are not anti-bacterial or biological, as these stop the septic tank from working properly, and can have unpleasant consequences! Please also DO NOT dispose of tampons, sanitary towels, nappies, condoms etc down the loo. We have provided covered bins in all bathrooms for this purpose. This will prevent any unpleasant back-ups in the system which could affect your enjoyment of your holiday. Thank you for your cooperation on this issue.
Health & Safety
You are very welcome to make use of the walkways, woods and open areas of the estate, however, please be aware of the hazards. All the fencing is topped with barbed wire for stock control, and not suitable for climbing on or over. If you go walking in the fields please make sure that you close gates after you – cattle wrestling may sound fun, but can create havoc and be a danger to animals, people and property. Kernock also seems to have a rabbit population greater than that of Watership Down… Please do take care when walking the grounds, as there are areas – particularly in the woods – where the paths are festooned with rabbit holes, which offers ample opportunity for ankle injuries. There are also a number of walls around the cottages which could present an attraction to an adventurous child. We have fenced and planted lots of prickly things around those which are a potential hazard as a deterrent, but please ensure the safety of your children by ensuring they do not have unsupervised access to potentially dangerous areas.
Bins
Bin liners and bin bags are provided for you. From personal experience, we have found it inadvisable to squash stuff down too much in the Brabantia bins – getting the liners out proves difficult! Please put any full bin liners, tied at the top, in the black dustbins outside. We will collect these and take them to the cage at the top of the drive on Monday evening (Tuesday morning being rubbish collection day for the area).
Taxis
There are a number of small taxi firms which operate locally – advance booking is definitely recommended! There is a Black Cab system in Plymouth itself and it is fairly easy to hail a cab or find one at one of the cab ranks. Saltash-based A.W. Cabs have the advantage of knowing exactly how to find us, as we use this one regularly – just say you are staying at the cottages at Kernock House in Pillaton. They also have a people carrier for larger groups, and can be contacted on (01752) 848400. Kit Hill Cars also has a people carrier, which takes up to seven passengers – 07920 473747. Two other Saltash-based firms – Double Two can be contacted on (01752) 848422 (ask for Lionel!) and Cottons on (01752) 848484. Our postcode for SatNav is PL12 6RY (but be aware that we share this with several neighbouring properties including Kernock Park Plants next door, and Kernock Lodge at the bottom of the lane).
Local Shopping
We are really lucky to have some fantastic small family businesses and farm produce in the area, so if you want to you can totally avoid the supermarket while you’re down here. At Carkeel (between us and the Tamar Bridge, SN PL12 6PH) there is a great little butcher – Tamar Valley Meats. A lot of the meat comes from their own farm. It is great quality meat (the burgers, for example, don’t shrivel up to the size of a 20p piece when you put them on the barbecue…), and very good value T 01752 847666. On the same site, but at the other end of the garden centre is Tamar View Fruiterers, a great family-owned farm shop which sells not only fruit & veg, but also local milk, cheese, bacon, sausages, and a wide selection of other food items, much of it local Cornish produce. W www.tamarviewfruiterers.co.uk T 01752 844700. For fresh eggs laid today, there are quite a few farm gate stands, who operate on an honesty box basis, and mostly charge about £1 for 1/2 dozen eggs. I use Keason Farm SN PL12 6QP. Shopping at places like this really helps support the local economy, and they’re great value – generally cheaper than the supermarket, so what’s not to like! Waitrose is our closest supermarket (3 miles), and is just before the Saltash roundabout on the A388 SN PL12 6LD. There is a Lidl on the other side of the Saltash roundabout (great for fresh baked goods, among others) SN PL12 6TW. There is a large Tesco in Callington SN PL17 7RD which also does fuel (though the fuel is often cheaper at the BP and Texaco garages on the Saltash roundabout). The nearest Sainsbury’s is 12 miles away at Marsh Mills in Plymouth SN PL3 6RL Waitrose delivers here (but not Ocado – you order direct with Waitrose), as do Tesco and Sainsbury’s.
WE ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR HOME AND OUR COTTAGES AND HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL STAY HERE. WE ARE ONSITE FULL TIME – IF WE CAN HELP WITH ANYTHING AT ALL, OR IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, PLEASE DO COME OVER TO THE HOUSE AND ASK, OR YOU CAN CALL US ANYTIME ON: (01579) 350435 or MOBILE 07900 492954.
Beth & Hugh Bailey
Health and Emergencies
(hopefully you will have no need for any of the following services during your stay, but provide details below just in case)
Doctors Surgery
Callington Health Centre
Haye Road, Callington
T 01579 382666 SN PL17 7JJ W www.tamarvalleyhealth.org.uk/
Dentist
C.R. Mercer
The Archway Dental Centre
5-6 Well Street, Callington
T 01579 383300 SN PL17 7AU
Dentist
Miles Bray
St Mellion Dental Clinic
Briston Orchard, St Mellion
T 01579 350831 SN PL12 6RQ W www.stmelliondentalclinic.co.uk
Hospital
Derriford Hospital, Plymouth (large teaching hospital with full A&E department)
T Switchboard 08451 558155 SN PL6 8DH
Hospital
Liskeard Community Hospital (10 miles away)
Minor Injuries clinic 8 am to 10 pm daily (they do have an X-ray department). Generally much shorter waiting times than Derriford, so would be my go-to option rather than Derriford A&E for non-life-threatening situations during opening hours.
T 01579 373500 SN PL14 3XD
W http://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/hospitals/liskeard/
Osteopath
Saltash Osteopathy Clinic
The Lodge, Brooks Hill, Saltash
T 01752 848543 or 07904 376964 SN PL12 6BP W www.saltashosteopath.co.uk
Vet
Calweton Veterinary Group in Callington. The address is 79 Tavistock Rd, Callington and they have a 24-hour helpline:
T 01579 383231 SN PL17 7RD W www.calwetonvets.com
Chemists
Saltash:
Saltash Pharmacy
6 Regal House, Fore Street, Saltash
T 01752 848958 SN PL12 6JR
Lloyds Pharmacy
19 Fore Street, Saltash
T 01752 842606 SN PL12 6AF
Superdrug
Regal House, Fore Street, Saltash
T 01752 845616 SN PL12 6JR
Callington:
Lloyds Pharmacy
17-18 Fore Street, Callington
T 01579 383106 SN PL17 7AE
Police
Central Control – 0990 777444
Callington – 01579 382203
Saltash – 01752 853223
Other Useful Places
Banks and ATMs
Saltash has branches of NatWest (ATM), HSBC (ATM), Barclays (ATM) and Lloyds (ATM), all of which are on Fore Street (Postcode for Sat Nav is PL12 6AJ)
Callington has branches of NatWest (ATM), Barclays (ATM) and Lloyds (ATM), all on Fore Street (Postcode for SatNav is PL17 7AH).
There is also an ATM at the garage in Hatt, but this is chargeable. Waitrose and Lidl in Saltash both do Cashback.
Churches/Places of Worship
Church of England – Pillaton has a lovely church, but Sunday services alternate between Pillaton, St Mellion, Landulph and St Dominic’s churches. See http://pillaton.org.uk/notices.html for details of services on specific dates. The SatNav postcodes for the churches are as follows:
Pillaton – PL12 6QS St Mellion – PL12 6RG Landulph – PL12 6NG St Dominic – PL12 6TH
Roman Catholic – Our Lady of Victories, Lower Coronation Terrace, Callington PL17 7BY. Sunday Mass 6pm in summer and 5 pm in Winter.
Baptist – Saltash Baptist Church, Culver Road, Saltash PL12 4DR www.saltashbaptist.co.uk
Synagogue – Plymouth boasts the oldest Ashkenazi synagogue in the English speaking world. They welcome all Jewish worshippers, regardless of orthodoxy. SN PL1 2AD W www.plymouthsynagogue.com/
Mosque – Plymouth & Cornwall Islamic Centre, 112 North Road East, Plymouth, PL4 6AW
Other Faiths – For details of places of worship for Baha’i, Humanist, Buddhist and Sikh, please see http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/otherfaiths
Dog Groomers
There are several dog groomers in the area, some of whom will even come to you:
Tamar View Dog Groomers – Tamar View Nurseries, Carkeel, Saltash. Cornwall PL12 6PH
T 01752 840988 W www.tamarviewdoggroomers.co.uk
Doggystyle Mobile Grooming – Loveton, Vollards Lane, Hatt, Saltash. Cornwall. PL12 6RD
T 0333 666 1966 W www.doggystylemobilegrooming.co.uk/index.html
Dog Walkers and Doggy Day Care
Central Bark offers dog walking, boarding and doggie daycare services throughout the Plymouth, Saltash and East Cornwall areas.
T 07522 404955 W www.central-bark.co.uk/dog-walking-care
Wild About Walkies services include dog walking, dog-sitting, and pet taxi.
T 07890 161738 W www.wildaboutwalkies.co.uk/
Post Offices:
Hatt Service Station Post Office
T 08457 223344 SN PL12 6PW
Saltash Post Office
36-38 Fore Street, Saltash
T 01752 842704 SN PL12 6JL
Callington Post Office
42 Fore Street, Callington
T 01579 370201 SN PL17 7AQ
Car refuelling (including gas and electric charging point)
Hatt Service Station (1.5 miles away) is the closest (but not usually the cheapest!) T 01752 840420, SN PL12 6PW
Waitrose Saltash (3 miles) SN PL12 6LD has 2 types of electric car charging points:
2 x 3kW 13A 3-Square pin
2 x 7kW 32A Type 2 Mennekes
BP Saltash (3 miles) SN PL12 6LF – all fuel grades, but no LPG autogas
Car repairs
The service station at Hatt also provides a repairs service T 01752 840420, SN PL12 6PW. For garages specialising in specific makes of car, please consult the telephone directory (we have these if you need them – please ask us).