The Tamar River

I grew up right next to this river and have only just learn this story. Thanks Alison!

Long before Athelstan, many thousands of years ago, their lived a nymph whose name was Tamara.  She lived with her parents in the north of Cornwall above Bude. Tamara was a lively girl, and very popular.  She had at least two admirers, giants named Torridge and Tavy, who were both very much in love with her.  Like all young girls, Tamara was a bit of a trial to her parents, always wanting to be out when they wanted her to be in, and her father disapproved of her gallivanting about.  However, she continued to go out a lot and her father, who was a magician, was so enraged at her disobedience that he turned her into a spring so that she would be on the move all the time.

Cornwall is on the left and Devon on the right so you are now looking north and the Tavy is on the right.

The happy Tamara headed off on a journey southwards towards the sea. The two giants, Tavy and Torridge, were distraught at losing their friend. Tavy went to his father who was also a magician and he turned him into a river to follow her.  Torridge also went to a magician and asked to be turned into a river but didn't specify why, or where he wanted to go. Unfortunately despite a vain search at the beginning of his journey, he turned the wrong way and now flows northwards to the sea at Bideford (Devon).  Tavy, however, joined his Tamara just north of Plymouth, and as you cross the Tamar bridges, you can see where the two lovers meet.