Cornwall National Landscape

03 – The Camel Estuary

The key landscape characteristic of this section of Cornwall National Landscape is defined by its distinct, gentle, undulating land sloping down into the broad Camel valley. The Camel Estuary is approximately one kilometre wide between Padstow and Rock and stretches inland for around seven kilometres where it narrows significantly at Wadebridge but remains tidal for several kilometres beyond.

Current Section: 03

Welcome to Section 03

Section Statistics

Area (ha): 2,468
% of total AONB area: 2.6%

This AONB section includes the Camel Estuary and runs west from Wadebridge to Padstow and the adjacent land. It is bounded by the A389 and A39 to the south and west, and the B3314 to the northeast and extends almost as far north as the edge of Rock, Splatt and Tredrizzick.

Download this section from the management plan

Character areas

03 Camel Estuary

Character areas

CA19: Trevose Head and Coastal Plateau
CA33: Camel and Allen Valleys
CA34: Camel Estuary
Areas covering the coast

MCA 45: Port Gaverne Bay to St Ives Bay

Character areas
AONB Section	Cornwall's Landscape Character areas	Marine Character Areas covering the coast/adjacent waters
03 Camel Estuary	CA19: Trevose Head and Coastal Plateau CA33: Camel and Allen Valleys CA34: Camel Estuary	MCA 45: Port Gaverne Bay to St Ives Bay

Special Qualities of the Camel Estuary

The Key Landscape Characteristic of this section of the AONB is defined by its distinct, gentle, undulating land sloping down into the broad Camel valley.

Creating a Sense of Place

Statement of Significance

The Camel Estuary is approximately one kilometre wide between Padstow and Rock and stretches inland for around seven kilometres where it narrows significantly at Wadebridge but remains tidal for several kilometres beyond.

Away from the tourist ‘hot spots’ the Camel Estuary forms a tranquil and intimate landscape with creeks and tributary valleys where many small woodlands colonise the gentle slopes. Common species found here include willow, poplar, oak and hawthorn intermixed with gorse. In contrast, the more open areas are exposed to the coastal winds so woodland and hedgerows become much less common. At its widest point, the Camel Estuary provides extensive views towards the sea and a feeling of expansiveness where, on clear days land and sky combine.

On the south side of the estuary the disused railway has provided a perfect setting for the Camel Trail, a popular cycle and multiuse route which runs 18 miles from Padstow to Bodmin Moor and sees over 500,000 users per year, appreciating this scenic and tranquil landscape.

Land Use

The Camel Estuary is primarily a mixed agricultural landscape and whilst there is a pattern of small irregular enclosures of medieval origin, larger fields tend to be found north of Cant Hill and at Trewornan on the River Amble. The long history of human habitation is indicated by this area having one of the highest densities of recorded crop mark sites in Cornwall, many being Romano-British rounds (settlements).

Overall, this is a sparsely populated landscape consisting of farmsteads and hamlets in typical medieval style where grey slate is the dominant building material.

Significant Landowners

The 18-mile long multi-use Camel Trail is managed and maintained by Cornwall Council.

Key species of interest for this section;

Golder Plover
Lapwing
Wigeon
Otter

Biodiversity & Geodiversity

The slate bedrock is exposed in low cliffs along the shore of the estuary. At low tide, mud and sandbanks become clearly visible. Within the more sheltered side waters such as Little Petherick and Pinkson Creeks and at the convergence of the Rivers Amble and Camel, the mud flats are colonised with reeds and salt marsh vegetation, providing a perfect habitat for a variety of wildlife such as over-wintering wildfowl and waders. On the north side of the estuary, the distinctive landmark of Cant Hill is easily recognisable as the land rises sharply into a prominent rounded and steep sided hill, formed as a result of the underlying igneous rock.

Cornish Hedge

Cornish hedges enclose many of the fields, built of local slate and on exposed sections the hedges reveal the characteristic herringbone pattern.

Corporate Social Responsibility Hub

Partnerships and Neighbourhood Plans

St Minver Neighbourhood Development Plan
St Kew Parish Plan
Padstow Neighbourhood Development Plan is pre-submission
Wadebridge Neighbourhood Development Plan is pre-submission
The Camel Estuary Management Plan was published by the Padstow Harbour Commissioners on behalf of the users of the estuary.

Landscape Condition

Development pressure from Padstow, Rock, Wadebridge and Splatt (all outside the AONB) has the potential to impact upon the AONB and its setting.
The Council for the Protection of Rural England’s (CPRE) tranquillity, intrusion and night blight mapping shows the most ‘disturbed’ (least tranquil) section of the AONB is the Camel Estuary. This is due to the proximity of major roads including the A389, B3314 and the A39 (Atlantic Highway), which lies partially within the AONB along with the more urban settlements of Padstow, Rock and Wadebridge.

Erosion of the character of the estuary through development along the rising ground of both sides of the estuary.
Some historic Cornish hedges have been replaced by wire fencing although some of this is from the division of former downland and loss of woodland.

Policies & Objectives

The policies and objectives below are applicable to this Local Section – they should, however, be read in conjunction with the Cornwall AONB Strategy Aims, Policies and Objectives which are applicable to the whole designation.