THE new summer season on the River Tamar opened last week, with a springtime trip aboard the 'Gloria,' a wooden ex-Admiralty harbour launch.

The operators of the Calstock ferry are this summer providing cruises on the 'Gloria' from Cotehele Quay to Weir Head, below Gunnislake, the furthest navigable point on the river.

In the wheelhouse for the first trip last Friday was marine engineer Joshua Preston and providing the commentary was well-known Calstock ferryman Alex Friendship.

The boat cruised past Tuckermarsh Quay, the overgrown Rumleigh Brickworks, Gawton Mine and the ghostly ruins of the village of Newquay below Morwellham.

Passengers could also view the last Goss-built ketch, 'The Garlandstone,' sat in the strangely quiet dock of the almost deserted visitor centre at Morwellham.

And visitors who wondered why the stack above the arsenic flue at Gawton was so bent were given an explanation by ferryman Alex: 'One theory is that the workman who built it were drunk.'

Those wishing to take a trip from Cotehele to Weir Head can ring the Tamar Valley AONB for details of cruises on 01811 835030 or email [email protected]">[email protected]