1.4miles/
2kms

Tamar Trails – Chimney Rock Walk

About this route

Explore beech, oak and conifer woodland with sweeping views over the steep sides of the River Tamar. This is a narrow footpath, steep and challenging in places, passing near to a vertical drop. It can be muddy after wet weather and there are short sections of rocky, uneven ground.

Getting Around

This walk starts and finishes at the Tamar Trails Centre, located just off the A390 between Gunnislake and Tavistock. The grid reference for the car park is SX 438 728, alternatively type PL18 8JE into your sat nav.

Facilities
Tamar Trails Centre (car parking, cafe, toilets)
Terrain
Narrow footpath which is steep and challenging in places, passing near to a vertical drop. Warning - part of the mining heritage includes large contaminated arsenic spoil tips. Although arsenic is no longer mined here, the element can still poison anyone who touches or consumes it.
Accessibility
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OS Maps

Landranger (1:50,000): No.201 Plymouth and Launceston

Explorer (1:25,000): No.108 Lower Tamar Valley

For More Information

www.tamarvalley.org.uk

Interesting information

The walks are set in the heart of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and in today’s tranquility, it’s hard to imagine the noise from over 100 mines that operated at the height of its mining boom. Tin, copper, silver-lead and arsenic were all mined here. In places, engine houses and associated buildings are well preserved; elsewhere you’ll glimpse an occasional chimney or fragment of walling emerging through the trees. Bedford Leat – the remains of the leat can be seen on the left-hand side of the walk. Built in 1828, it served a 12 meter diameter wheel for pumping, hauling and crushing at Wheal Russell. Chimney Rock – commands wonderful views from its precarious position, perched on the hillside overlooking Gunnislake. Wheal Russell – the mine is a 19th century amalgamation of smaller 18th century mines, which between 1852 and 1891 produced copper, tin and arsenic.

Photo of a group of people in front of old mine workings at Devon Great Consuls
Devon Great Consuls by Juliette Bowers

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Photo of an arsenic mine tower with waste ground in front
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Aerial photo of Morwellham Quay

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Aerial photo of Morwellham Quay

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