Rock, Cornwall
Coordinates: 50°32′37″N 4°55′06″W / 50.5437°N 4.9182°W
| Rock | |
| Cornish: Karrek | |
 Rock Sailing Club and the estuary looking west |
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 Rock
Rock shown within Cornwall |
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| OS grid reference | SW933757 |
|---|---|
| Civil parish | St Minver Lowlands |
| Unitary authority | Cornwall |
| Ceremonial county | Cornwall |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WADEBRIDGE |
| Postcode district | PL27 |
| Dialling code | 01208 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Cornwall |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | North Cornwall |
| List of places: UK • England • Cornwall | |
Rock (Cornish: Tor, Karrek) is a coastal village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite Padstow on the northeast bank of the River Camel estuary. The village is in the civil parish of St Minver Lowlands[1] approximately four miles (6.5 km) northwest of Wadebridge.[2][3]
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[edit] Geography
The main residential area is set back from the coast along the road from Pityme and St Minver. To the northeast, Rock is contiguous with the settlements of Splatt and Pityme. However, Rock is best known for its estuary frontage. To the northwest, the road runs beside the estuary as a cul de sac giving access to the ferry boarding point and an intertidal beach backed by sand dunes which at low water extends for two miles past Brea Hill to Daymer Bay.[2][3] To the south is the small coastal settlement of Porthilly with St Michael's Church situated on the bank of Porthilly Cove.
Rock Dunes, the sand dunes to the west of the village on the banks of the River Camel, are a designated as a Sites of Special Scientific Interest for their flora and geological aspects. These include various vegetation found in these embryo dunes as well as various types of slate.[4]
[edit] Etymology
The original name recorded in the 14th century was Blaketore, Black Tor. This had become Black Rock by the 18th century and was subsequently shortened to Rock.[5] The name of the ferry that operates between Rock and Padstow recalls the original place name.
[edit] Tourism
Rock is popular with holidaymakers and is a well-established centre for water sports including dinghy racing, waterskiing, windsurfing, and sailing. Rock Sailing Club's headquarters in a converted warehouse on a wharf is a local landmark.
The Black Tor Ferry operates across the river to the town of Padstow, and this is a major source of tourist traffic through Rock. The early 21st century has seen extensive building work and increased prosperity for Rock, there a large number of holiday homes, as well as a number of retail outlets. Rock is also home to Sharp's Brewery, an independent real ale brewery established in the mid 1990s.
Rock has been referred to as 'Britain's Saint-Tropez'[6] and the 'Kensington of Cornwall'[7] due to its popularity with affluent holidaymakers (including Prince Harry, the actor Hugh Grant, the Rothschilds, the Sainsburys, and the Freuds).
Affluent visitors such as Mohamed Al-Fayed and Jay Kay of Jamiroquai often arrive by helicopter.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ Cornwall Council online mapping; Retrieved June 2010
- ^ a b Ordnance Survey: Landranger map sheet 200 Newquay & Bodmin ISBN 978-0-319-22938-5
- ^ a b Ordnance Survey: Explorer map (scale 1:25000); Sheet 106 Newquay & Padstow ISBN 978-0-319-24016-8
- ^ "Rock Dunes". Natural England. 5 November 1986. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1004316.pdf. Retrieved 25 October 2011.
- ^ Weatherhill, Craig (1995). Cornish Place Names and Language. Wilmslow: Sigma Leisure. ISBN 1 85058 462 1.
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv_and_radio/story/0,,2010986,00.html The Guardian, Gareth McClean's 'Watch This'
- ^ The Daily Telegraph (London). http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/ukcorrespondents/hometruths/oct/polzeath.htm.[dead link]
- ^ McGhie, Caroline (2007-06-23). "Rock on". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml?xml=/property/2007/06/23/prock123.xml. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
[edit] External links
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