Photo: Ben Harris, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsOut of Plymouth beside the Tamar, over the 120-foot Calstock Viaduct and up a steep, reversing branch into the old mining country around Gunnislake.
The Gunnislake branch leaves Plymouth along the Tamar estuary through Devonport, Dockyard and St Budeaux, passing beneath Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge and the Tamar road bridge. It follows the River Tamar and then the Tavy, crossing the Tavy estuary on a long low viaduct, to Bere Ferrers and Bere Alston.
Bere Alston is where the line to Tavistock once continued; today trains reverse there and take the former Plymouth, Devonport and South Western Junction branch, climbing steeply along the Tamar to Calstock Viaduct, 12 concrete arches 120 feet above the river, and on to Gunnislake, the highest and last station, with buses to Tavistock and Callington.
Class 150 units work the line. Calstock, a former mining port, is a pleasant stop.
The Tamar estuary is on the left from St Budeaux to Bere Ferrers; the big viaducts are crossed, so they are 'on' the line.
Sides are given facing the direction of travel. Miles are approximate from the start of the journey.
Reinstatement from Bere Alston has been studied for years; there is no funded scheme yet.
Rarely; this is one of the quietest branches in Devon and Cornwall.
The Devon Day Ranger at £17, or Ride Cornwall for the Calstock and Gunnislake section.
Scenic lineBrunel's railway along the Exe estuary and the open sea at Dawlish and Teignmouth, the most photographed stretch of main line in Britain.
Scenic lineFour miles along the cliffs above Carbis Bay and Porthminster beach to St Ives, widely rated the most beautiful branch line in England.
Scenic lineA twisting single-track branch that reverses at Coombe Junction and follows the tidal East Looe river down a wooded valley to the fishing port of Looe.