Local Activities & Links
The Heritage Apartments are only five minutes drive from
the Mount Batten Centre located two miles away, where you
can arrange almost any water sport including diving. From
here it only takes 4 minutes by water taxi to the Barbican
in Plymouth, where boat trips around the Sound and up the
River Tamar to the Naval Dockyards can be arranged. Within
one mile is the Staddon Heights golf club with panoramic views
of Plymouth Sound, open to non-residents. The nearest riding
stables are at Wembury, five miles away and there are beautiful
trails along the coastal path for leisurely walks.
Plymouth City Centre by road is only six miles away; here
you will find a wide variety of excellent tourist attractions
including the Plymouth Pavilions with a fabulous leisure pool
and ice rink and The Theatre Royal where regularly London
West End Shows start their life. If you are feeling adventurous,
try the dry ski slope or toboggan run, open all year round.
The historical site of the Hoe should not be missed where
Sir Francis Drake played his famous game of ‘Bowls’
whilst the Spanish Armada approached, nor should the Barbican
where you will find an assortment of cobbled streets with
small rustic shops and fashionable restaurants and bars. Arrive
here early in the morning and see the fishing fleet come in,
and purchase fresh fish from the quay-side
Take the water taxi to the Barbican from the Mount Batten
Centre – save the hassle of finding car parks –
from here it’s only a short stroll to the National Marine
Aquarium, Plymouth Gin Factory which arranges regular factory
tours, or Plymouth Dome situated just below the Hoe.
Places to visit:
In Plymouth:
In the surrounding Area:
Note: Bovisand Lodge Estate is not responsible
for linked sites.
Historical facts
Bovisand Lodge was built as a home and headquarters to Joseph
Whidbey, the Superintendent Engineer of the Plymouth Breakwater.
In 1690 the Admiralty decided to make Plymouth its major base
in the South West and from then on the shipping increased
but unfortunately so did the shipwrecks due to the weather
conditions, In 1804, on one day alone ten ships were wrecked
in the Cattewater.
By 1806 the war against France was placing Britain in a
precarious position and only the Royal Navy stood between
the French and potential defeat. It was realised that only
a breakwater could turn Plymouth Sound into a safe haven for
the fleet from the prevailing weather. Finally the decision
was taken to build the Breakwater, which became known as The
Great National Undertaking. John Rennie was appointed as the
designer (his most popular work was the building of London
Bridge) and he appointed his old friend Joseph Whidbey as
his main engineer.
The free standing Breakwater, the first of its kind took
over four million tons of rock and thirty years in the making.
It was one of the greatest engineering feats of its time and
even today Plymouth has to thank these great men in securing
the prosperity of the city by protecting the national fleet.
Whidbey himself was able to watch the development of the
breakwater from Bovisand Lodge and in the mornings he could
gallop down to Bovisand harbour and be taken out to his work
by boat.
Map/Directions
Leave the A38 dual carriageway at Marsh Mills Junction.
Take A374 – Plymouth City Centre.
Exit A379 Kingsbridge.
Over long bridge then TAKE Plymstock EXIT.
Continue along Pomphlett Road, to traffic lights at crossroads.
TURN RIGHT INTO DEAN CROSS ROAD.
Through traffic lights signposted TURNCHAPEL & HOOE.
Continue along this road not turning left or right for about
1.5miles then BEAR LEFT INTO JENNYCLIFFE LANE.
Through one way system then up hill to Staddon Heights (pylons
on hill), PAST GOLF COURSE.
Second turning on right down hill signposted FORT BOVISAND.
At car park do a complete U-turn and take lower road to ‘Bovisand
Lodge Estate’.
Visit bovisand.com
|
