Gunnislake

Often referred to as the first village in Cornwall, Gunnislake is a charming community that is set in the beautiful wooded valley of the River Tamar. In the 1520s, Sir Piers Edgcumbe of Cotehele House built the New Bridge, a striking 180 feet long, seven-arched granite structure which continues to serve as one of the major gateways into the county. In fact, this remained the lowest crossing of the river by road until the early 60s when the massive suspension bridge linking Plymouth with Saltash was opened. The river crossing at Gunnislake meant that the village was a place of strategic importance, a feature which made it the centre of bitter fighting during the Civil War.

Part of the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail between Plymouth and Launceston is the Gunnislake Village Trial, which consists of several walks between one and three miles long with easy-moderate walking (some hills). These walks take you past historic sites of interest with stunning views of the River Tamar and Valley. The trail takes in scenery painted by JMW Turner in 1815 such as his famous painting Crossing the Brook, a picture of New Bridge and the surrounding valley at Gunnislake.