The Dartmoor National Park is truly one of the most spectacular landscapes in the county and one thing that makes the moor so unique are the tors, hills and valleys. These natural features make the National Park such an ecologically diverse area and in the autumn, while the leaves are starting to fall from the trees and the greenery becomes a bit sparse, it is much easier to spot these granite outcrops and explore some of the region’s most famous tors.
To help you navigate the National Park, here are some of the most famous tors to visit and the stories behind them.
High Willhays
Not only is this the highest tor on Dartmoor but is also the highest point in southern England.
Haytor
Probably the best known of the tors, this is a great one to visit for views across the South Devon coast on a clear day and to see the ponies and other wildlife.
Brentor
A popular one for walkers, Brentor is recognisable because of its shape and because of the church and holy well that sit on it. Legend has it that the devil himself moved the church onto the tor and even confronted the Bishop of Exeter on opening day!
Leather Tor
This one is particularly striking and is a lovely spot for anyone wanting to go for a ramble. The circular walk around this particular tor is one of the most stunning walks on the National Park.
Bowerman’s Nose and Hounds Tor
This tor is famous because there is a local story about a man called Bowerman, a local hunter and his hounds (they can be seen at nearby Hounds Tor). It claims that Boweman lived on the moor and when chasing a hare, he and his dogs ran into some witches and disrupted their ceremony so as punishment, they turned him and his dogs into stone.
Want to learn more about Dartmoor, including walks, places to stay and things to do? Look below.
