natural wonder
Vixen Tor
One of Dartmoor's tallest tors at around 30 m, on private land near Merrivale and long the subject of an access dispute.
11 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Gunnislake
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Gunnislake
Gunnislake works well as a base: 10 minutes from Bere Alston, 11km from Vixen Tor.
Gunnislake is in England, United Kingdom, with about 4,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Bere Alston, about 5 km away.
Gunnislake (Cornish: Dowrgonna) is a large village in east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the Tamar Valley approximately ten miles (16 km) north of Plymouth The first woman cabinet minister in the British Empire, Mary Ellen Smith, was born here in 1863.
Gunnislake is in the civil parish ofRead more
Calstock and is close to Cornwall's border with Devon which follows the course of the River Tamar. It has an electoral ward in its own name which includes much of Calstock and the surrounding area. The population at the 2011 census was 4,574. According to an OCSI report, of the total population, 562 (18.2%) are children, making up a larger proportion of the population than across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (17.3%). 685 (22.2%) are people of pensionable age, making up a smaller proportion of the population than across Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (24.3%).
The village has a history of mining although this industry is no longer active in the area. During the mining boom in Victorian times more than 7000 people were employed in the mines of the Tamar Valley. During this period Gunnislake was held in equal standing amongst the richest mining areas in Europe.
Where to Stay in Gunnislake
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Gunnislake?
Within an hour or so of Gunnislake: Vixen Tor (11 km), Burrator Reservoir (13 km), The Hurlers (17 km), National Marine Aquarium (18 km).
Are there any good drives near Gunnislake?
The nearest famous roads are B3212 across Dartmoor, Atlantic Highway (A39) and A39 Atlantic Highway (Barnstaple to Bude).
Where is Gunnislake?
Gunnislake is in England, United Kingdom, about 5 km from Bere Alston.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 4,044
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 50.5244, -4.2133
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Gunnislake
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
Burrator Reservoir
A wooded reservoir on the south-western edge of Dartmoor, encircled by a narrow lane popular with cyclists.
13 km · about 25 min drive
ancient ruins
The Hurlers
Three Bronze Age stone circles in a line on Bodmin Moor near Minions, beside the natural stack of the Cheesewring.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
National Marine Aquarium
The UK's largest aquarium in Plymouth dedicated to ocean conservation with Atlantic Ocean and deep reef exhibits.
18 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Wistman's Wood
Stunted, moss-drowned oaks growing between granite boulders form one of Britain's last high-altitude temperate rainforests, long linked with Druid legend. A 20-minute walk from the Two Bridges car park on Dartmoor.
19 km · about 20 min drive
national park
Dartmoor National Park
Wild and ancient moorland dotted with granite tors, Bronze Age settlements and roaming Dartmoor ponies across 368 square miles of Devon.
21 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
B3212 across Dartmoor
The open moorland crossing from Moretonhampstead to Yelverton past Postbridge and Princetown, with ponies on the road.
21 km · about 25 min drive
waterfall
Golitha Falls, Bodmin Moor
A series of cascades through ancient oak woodland on the River Fowey, a National Nature Reserve.
21 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Gunnislake
- 21 kmB3212 across DartmoorThe open moorland crossing from Moretonhampstead to Yelverton past Postbridge and Princetown, with ponies on the road.
- 23 kmRame HeadA conical headland on Cornwall's south-east tip crowned by a 14th-century chapel, with views across Plymouth Sound.
- 23 kmPostbridge Clapper BridgeA 13th-century granite slab bridge over the East Dart, the best-preserved clapper bridge on Dartmoor.
- 24 kmDartmeetThe confluence of the East and West Dart rivers, a popular riverside spot beside a steep-sided moorland road.
- 29 kmBrown WillyThe highest point in Cornwall at 420 m, a long granite-topped ridge in the middle of Bodmin Moor.
- 42 kmAtlantic Highway (A39)Spectacular coastal road running through north Devon and Cornwall past dramatic cliffs, surfing beaches and picturesque harbour villages.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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