Saltash - Essa

Saltash (Essa) is a town in the south east of Cornwall, overlooking the River Tamar. The town is south southeast from Launceston along the A388 and then A38. It was an important ferrying point across the river and to and from St Germans Monastery and Trematon Castle. Saltash is the location of the Royal Albert Bridge which takes the rail line across the Tamar and the railway station is near to the town centre. Next to the Royal Albert Bridge is the Tamar Bridge which forms part of the A38. Sir Francis Drake's first wife, Mary Newman, had a cottage within the town and is on Culver Road. The area around the town, in particular Churchtown Farm, which is a nature reserve, is noted for it's scenery and walks. It is about one mile south of Saltash. Close by are the castles of Tremarton and Ince.

Trematon Castle is situated about one and a half miles from Trematon Village and overlooks Plymouth Sound. It dates from the Norman Conquest and is said to be built on the site of a Roman fort. It is not open to the public at this time. Ince Castle is not actually a castle but a manor house built in 1642 and later captured during the Civil War. It lies about three miles from Saltash and has now been rebuilt following a fire in 1988. It is privately owned with only occasional access to the public.