Last Updated on 7th November 2026
Beautiful woodlands on the banks of the River Tamar along a trail that ventures into Devon and Cornwall. This walk takes in some seriously good scenery, especially during autumn and spring. It’s around 12.5 miles of superb countryside, quaint villages and hamlets, disused mines, and two historical bridges at Gunnislake and Horsebridge.
Download my traced Gunnislake to Horsebridge GPX file to load into a mapping app or device. See my article, Top Tips: Mapping & GPS for Hiking, for further information.
This walk could be shortened to around 8 miles for those who have two cars – park one at Luckett and then park the other at the start of the walk. Luckett could also be used as the starting point.
Another option is to catch the train to Gunnislake. It’s a branch line from St Budeaux station. There are buses too. The Number 12 to Callington (runs from Plymouth Royal Parade) and then the 79 or 79A to Gunnislake. Check out the schedules with GWR and Transport for Cornwall.
There are no facilities at the start. Gunnislake, over the bridge, may be an option, but I can’t see any public toilets on Google Maps. However, without being too crude, there’s lots of woodland.
There are a couple of pubs along the way, but plan ahead to make sure they are open, especially if relying on them for food. For self-catering, there are a couple of rustic bench/tables along the way, as well as plenty of tree stumps. I have a folding dry mat to sit on for such occasions.
The pathways at the start on the Devon side, along with some on the Cornwall side, are fairly supportive of rougher terrain wheelchairs, and people who have difficulty walking. I’m sure partially sighted/blind people would delight in the sounds and sensory features of the forest and the flow of the river and waterways.
The River Tamar
The River Tamar is the natural border of Devon and Cornwall. From its source in Woollley Wood, NE of Bude, and just 3.7 miles from the north Cornish coast, it flows 61 miles south into the Hamoaze and onto Plymouth Sound.
Its name is said to mean ‘great water’. And it truly is. Just sitting at the bank of the river, and not a soul about, I was mesmerised by the sounds of the flowing water, the birds, and the rustling leaves. Then there were the autumnal sights on a beautiful day at the start of November. Such a dazzling array of colour, and forest floors of leaves, fungi, and endless trees. I can’t wait to do this walk in the spring.
Start of the Walk
On the Devon side of New Bridge at Gunnislake, turn off north along the track, which opens out into a parking area after about 400m. The woodlands here are used by mountain bikers, and I reckon it’s also a family favourite at weekends. So get there early to get a spot. I arrived at 9.30 am on a Tuesday in November, and there was just one car. If it’s full, there is paid parking back over the bridge in Gunnislake.
From the car park, walk north along the trail, but wander over to the riverbank before you set off to grab a view of the Tamar. The trails on this walk are close to the river in places, but not all the way.
Off to Wheals Frementor, Anna Maria and Fanny
The trail circles the top of Blanchdown Farm, and there are a number of disused mine shafts fenced off for safety reasons.
The trail heads east and then around to the south. Look out for the disused mine stack. It’s difficult to spot amongst the trees. This could be part of the Wheal Frementor mine system.
A little further on, the trail veers east and then around to the north through Blanchdown Wood, with the Tamar way below. After about 800m, it veers west along a waterway sourced from natural springs. Continue upwards and look out for the signs for Wheal Anna Maria. Wheal Fanny is marked a little further up by a pool.
I ventured further up, following the Green Trail through the forest. It opens up to a parking area and a fenced-off horse trailer pound. It was then that I noticed the stack for Wheal Fanny. Maybe continuing the Green Trail would have got me closer, but I decided to head back down to get on with the walk.
Onto Scrubtor and Horsebridge
What I noticed about the trails is that many of the off-shoots are gated with a ‘private’ sign on them. I was following a downloaded, half-baked route from a GPS file, and was getting rather frustrated that my way was blocked at each turn. Ordnance Survey (OS) doesn’t help here because all the routes are marked the same, whether permissive or not – black dashed white paths. There are no public footpaths.
Walk back down the same trails. Walk past the right turn with the table benches by the Wheal Fanny pond, past the next right 200m further down and, after another 200m, take the right fork that heads down and around to the right. There are one or two signs to Scrubtor car park on the way. This path descends to a bridge over the waterway, then around to the north to Scrubtor car park.
I stopped for a coffee along this path in Grenoven Wood, a lovely forest glade with ample tree stumps to sit on and take in the sights and sounds of the woods. I was hoping to see a deer, but they can hear us coming a mile off. They also have their mates, the birds, who make high-pitched peeks or chink-chink calls to warn other birds of danger. Deer and other animals take heed of these warnings. After 5 minutes or so, the birds started chirping again to assure me that Iwas not completely alone.
Woodland Navigation
Take a moment to do a little woodland navigation. Look at the trees here, mostly fir trees, but the occasional deciduous specimen. The key is the moss, which doesn’t grow on firs.
If the sun is out, it helps a great deal. With no sun, the moss provides nature’s compass. The photo was taken near midday. I
t’s good to notice our surroundings; we can learn a great deal from nature.
The trail emerges into Scrubtor car park. Follow the road to the left, which heads south and then around to NW. As it veers east, after 200m, look out for the steel-gated footpath on the right. This heads up diagonally NW across a field to another steel gate in the corner. Walk through the next field along the hedge. It opens up to a bridle path that emerges onto the road.
Horsebridge
A little further on is Horsebridge. Look out for the footpath that heads down the hill, east to the river for about 200m. As it comes out onto another road, turn right for the bridge. I looked back at the footpath and noticed the beautiful coloured trees behind the houses.
This hamlet takes its name from the Horse Bridge (today also referred to as Horsebridge – one word). The bridge is a Grade I listed monument, being the oldest surviving bridge across the Tamar. It was built in 1437, reputedly by French Benedictine monks.
The bridge is remarkable in structure. There is one like it at Gunnislake, and I know of the one at Lostwithial, further into Cornwall over the River Fowey. It comprises triangular-shaped refuges, which allow pedestrians to step out of the way of traffic, as well as providing fantastic viewing points over this five-arched slate-and-dressed-granite-built bridge.
I have to admit, I knew nothing of this bridge, not even of its existence. How bad am I? Although, on seeing it as a suggested route on OS, I got quite excited about stomping through Devon and Cornwall via two bridges over the Tamar. I’m glad I visited and found out more about it after I got home.
I don’t think the Royal Inn was open on a Tuesday morning in November, but it looks like a lovely old building, a former nunnery back in the 15th century. Time it well to be rewarded with a delicious meal and tipple – so say the ratings. Maybe book ahead during the holiday months and weekends.
Head over the bridge and into Cornwall. The tree-lined banks of the river make for some great autumnal photos.
Off the Luckett
Once over the bridge and some 100m further on, there is a gated entry to a permissive footpath. It’s marked as a public bridleway on OS, but the sign on the gate states it’s private land, no horses or bikes and dogs on leads. Faced with this, I’m never sure what to believe, but it’s OK; humans on foot may pass. Sadly, humans in wheelchairs may not. The larger gate is chain-locked. Yet, the path is suited to wheelchairs and buggies. Every action has a consequence!
The path is wide and level, overlooking the water meadows and marshes along the Cornish side of the Tamar. It heads SW and passes through Lower Hampt, marked by a disused gate that has seen better days. A bit further on, there are two gates. Take the right-hand one to detour around the shed/store.
A little further, the path crosses another waterway, and veers east to come into Luckett.
Luckett is an ancient hamlet. Nearby, Kit Hill saw the battle of Hingston Down in 838 AD and played a strategic role back in the 8th and 9th centuries during conflicts with Wessex. In the 12th century, the Duchy of Cornwall managed the surrounding 250 hectares of land, named Kerrybullock, as a deer park. Henry VIII put a stop to it in the early 1500s, allowing Luckett to grow at the park’s north-eastern edge.
The village prospered from the mining industry in the area from the 1700s. Tin, copper, lead and arsenic were the main minerals until the mines closed in the 1870s. Although, a re-opening over both world wars saw the extraction of tungsten until their final closure in the 1950s.
Luckett also had a rail station, born out of the need to transport minerals and bricks. Upon the closure of the mines, it transported passengers to Stoke Climsland. Dear old Mr Beeching ordered its closure in 1962.
Today, Luckett is a charming, quaint village with amazing views over the wooded forest areas of West Devon, with a sprinkling of guest houses to stay for a holiday.
Coming into Luckett, turn left, over the waterway bridge, and left again, east, down the lane. There is a car park here, which could be an option to shorten the walk for people with two cars, or maybe start the walk from here.
Moving on to Latchley and Chilsworthy
The route takes us back to the banks of the River Tamar amongst the trees of Greenscombe Wood. My GPX file shows I did a little detour on the way, to get closer to the river. What a lovely spot for lunch. There is a rocky stretch of the river, troubling the flow of the water and producing a wonderful sound. The water calms further down. It’s such a relaxing place to sit and take it all in.
According to OS Maps, there is a ford a little further along the river. I didn’t investigate it, but I can’t see an obvious crossing from Google’s satellite images.
Latchley
The track moves away from the river once more, on course for Latchley. Settlement here was first recorded in 1318, and its name means ‘a clearing’. The village became more prosperous due to the mining boom in the latter half of the 19th century. St Michael and All Angels Church was built near the end of the 19th century but, sadly, succumbed to woodworm damage. It closed and was converted around 40 years ago into the private dwelling you see today, which I think looks rather impressive.
Moving on, the road turns southwards up a straight, steep, too-steep incline. Having walked 9 miles or so, this is a bit of a challenge, but hey ho, here we go.
Chilsworthy
The road leads up to Chilsworthy. This hamlet also grew from the mining boom in the late 19th century. The name is Old English, Ceol’s Worthing, meaning Ceol’s (the person) farmstead. And there was me thinking its name must be from the drop in temperature at the top of that hill.
There used to be a rail station here, but Mr Beecham closed that one too. The station served the pub, the White Hart Inn, which, thankfully, is not closed. It did feature on the BBC series, Saving Britain’s Pubs. And I’m glad it was saved! There are amazing views over the Tamar Valley out the back, and they get great reviews for their food and drink. Again, plan ahead to make sure it’s open.
What I thought was strange, coming into the village, were the houses that have their gable-end facing the amazing Valley views, but no windows to look out and enjoy them. Surely, even a mining family would have liked a view if there is one to be had – for free?
Gunnislake and Back to the Start
Just before the pub, take a left turn, and keep left, to head back down a steep sloped track. It starts narrow and very rocky underfoot, but soon gets better as a made-up path. At one stretch, I thought I was walking on a low wall that forms long, narrow steps. Covered in leaves, it’s a bit slippery. The path emerges onto the road down to Bitthams Farm, veering around to SE for about 200m. Look out for the footpath heading east and, once again, back down to the River Tamar.
After following the river for a short while, the path heads SE, joining a road into Gunnislake, with New Bridge on the left.
Gunnislake has Roman and Anglo-Saxon roots. The 838 AD Battle of Hingston Down, just above the village, is where King Egbert of Wessex defeated an alliance of Cornish Britons and Danish Vikings.
Gunnis is the local mining term for a mine adit and is thought to be where the name of the village is derived when it was renamed in the 1800s. It was originally known as Williamstown after local Squire Williams.
Gunnislake is the largest village in the area. It grew and prospered from the local mining industry. Some 7,000 people were employed in one way or another when mining was at its peak in the 1860s. Nowadays, the mining landscape around the village is protected as a Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.
Thankfully, Gunnislake has a railway station, a branch line into the Tamar Valley from St Budeaux station. However, Mr Beecham saw to the closure of the original further line to Callington. He really was a man with no foresight.
There are a few cafes, along with the Cornish Inn (not sure if they do food and there is no website), in central Gunnislake. Again, check their opening times if the plan is to end the walk with a meal or refreshments.
Head over to New Bridge (can also be Newbridge – one word), which is of the same design as Horsebridge and was built in the 1520s. Comprising six arches and five triangular pedestrian refuges on either side of the road, it too is a Grade I listed building. It was commissioned by Piers Edgecumbe, the local landowner at that time, but was largely rebuilt during the 1770s. I love these old bridges; I’m filled with such a sense of vicarious nostalgia. There’s only so much time one can spend plodding across a bridge, taking snaps from every angle, before that feeling of ‘you’re being watched’. So, back to the car park to end this gorgeous day’s walk.
I hope this article persuades you to get out there and try this trail, if only a part of it, to enjoy what this area has to offer. Write a comment below to share your experiences of this area.
