Tavistock

Tavistock is a town in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor. It was the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake. The name comes from the River Tavy, which runs through the town.

Tavistock Parish Church

Get in

By car

Tavistock is on the A386 from Plymouth to Okehampton, the B3357 from Princetown and the A390 into Cornwall.

By bus

Tavistock is also served by various DevonBus ([phone]) routes:

• 79: from Callington via Gunnislake
• 83/84: from Plymouth via Yelverton
• 85/86: linking Plymouth and Barnstaple via Tavistock
• 98: from Yelverton via Princetown
• 185: Bere Ferrers/Bere Alston to Yelverton via Tavistock
• 186: from Okehampton via Launceston

By train

Regular trains run to Plymouth from London and Elsewhere (a change in Bristol may be needed). The nearest station is 🌍 Gunnislake station, which is on the Tamar Valley branch line from Plymouth. It is around 4.5 miles (6 km) from Tavistock, with direct buses between them.

Get around

Tavistock is a great centre for a holiday, particularly if you have a car.

A few bus services run through the town from the main station to housing areas and along Plymouth Road and Whitchurch Road, but the town centre is very small so can be walked easily.

See

The Viaduct from Banawell Street

Specific sights are not part of the town's appeal, it's just a thoroughly pleasant market town with good shops in a fine position.

• The Pannier Market In the centre of the town, full of interesting stalls during the daytime.
• The Viaduct Above the town, is also the start of a pleasant walk along the old railway line.
• 🌍 Morwellham Quay. 4 mi (6.4 km) to the west of Tavistock is a living history site featuring a mine, craft centre, port, brewery and railway. Adults £10.95; over 60, disabled and carers £9.95; children 3-16 years £8.95; children under 3 years old free; family (2 adults, 2 children) £34.95. (updated Sep 2017)
• 🌍 Lydford Gorge, Lydford, EX20 4BH (10 miles south of Tavistock), ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. A 1.5 mile (2.4 km) long gorge. Owned and maintained by the National Trust 

Do

There aren't a lot of activities in Tavistock, as it is a small town.

• 🌍 Tavistock Wharf, 3 Canal Rd, PL19 8AR, ☎ [phone]. M-Sa: 10AM-4:30PM, Su: Closed. Holds fairly regular music events and shows films – based near Plymouth Road. (updated Jan 2018)
• 🌍 Meadowlands Swimming Pool, The Wharf, PL19 8SP, ☎ [phone]. A swimming pool, based in the same area too. (updated Jan 2018)

Goosey Fair takes place every second Wednesday of October and takes over the town with fairground rides, stalls and various events.

Buy

• Pannier Market. The town's market offers local goods and there is a weekly farmer's market along with various other events offering local produce. Country Cheeses, in the Pannier Market, is highly recommended for stocking up on local cheeses. (updated Mar 2019)

Eat

There are small restaurants and takeaways in Tavistock.

Pasties are for sale in various places and are better than those in Cornwall, according to some, though don't say that within earshot of a Cornishman!

Drink

• 🌍 The Cornish Arms, 15 West St, PL19 8AN, ☎ [phone]. M-Th: 11AM-11PM, F-Sa: 11AM-midnight, Su: noon-10:30PM. A friendly pub near the centre of the town. (updated Jan 2018)
• 🌍 Jack Chams, 17-18 West St, PL19 8AN, ☎ [phone]. M-Th: 1PM-1AM, F: 1PM-1:20AM, Sa: noon-2:20AM, Su: noon-1AM. A rather more trendy venue, located a few doors up the street from the Cornish. Bar upstairs, with a small dancefloor downstairs and a heated outdoor area. (updated Jan 2018)
• 🌍 Trout and Tipple, Parkwood Rd, PL19 0JS, ☎ [phone]. M: Closed; Tu-Th: noon-3PM, 6PM-11PM; F-Sa: noon-11PM; Su: noon-10:30PM. A CAMRA award-winning pub on the outskirts of town, but with a nice local feel to it. (updated Jan 2018)

Sleep

Various Bed and Breakfasts are situated along Plymouth Road.

• 🌍 The Bedford Hotel, 1 Plymouth Rd, PL19 8BB, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Pet-friendly hotel with free Wi-Fi and a gym. From £70 per night (includes breakfast). 
• Browns, 80 West Street. 
• The Horn of Plenty, Gulworthy. 
• Moorland Links Hotel, Yelverton, Near Plymouth, PL20 6DA, ☎ [phone]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. A well-located hotel for Dartmoor holidays situated as it is on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. Set in 9 acres of beautiful grounds with views across the Tamar Valley. From £40. 

Connect

Go next

Tavistock is a good base for exploring Dartmoor National Park and the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as it borders both.

The road to Princetown provides great Moorland scenery all the way and passes the Dartmoor Inn at Merrivale.

A number of villages listed under Dartmoor are within easy access.

Brentor is a small village near Tavistock with a picturesque church on the top of a hill.