Blacka Tor (Challacombe)

Blackaton Tor, Black Tor

Either accessed from the road running between Challacombe Down and Hamel Down by passing through a succession of fields, or from the moor gate to the west by Blackdown Piper Farm, you will reach this short granite tor on top of the hill. It is a pleasing flattish outcrop with a magnificent vista, especially of Hamel Down and Soussons.

Earliest reference to the tor found is March 1906, an article titled 'South Devon Foxhounds' in 'The Field, The Country Gentleman's Newspaper'; "But the pack picked up the line and carried it slowly to Challacombe House, then swung to the right, and with a merry cry ran over the inclosures in Challacombe Farm nearly to Black Tor."

Hemery also mentions it in 'High Dartmoor', p.631; "This, although enclosed, nevertheless has a rocky, untamed summit known as 'Black Down' - and the rocks crowning form as Blacka Tor (approx. 1,190 feet). A disintegrated pile sprawled mostly on the west side of the down, it affords a fine view of the W. Webburn valley from Grendon, across the river is the west, to Headland, with its tributary Redwater Brook..." Blacka Tor also displays the intrusion of country rock, known as xenoliths, one of which is shown below.

Blacka Tor (Challacombe)
The map above is not a navigation tool and we recommend that the grid reference shown below is used in conjunction with an Ordnance Survey map and that training in its use with a compass is advised.
Grid Ref:	SX 6941 7847
Height:	381m
Parish:	Widecombe in the Moor
Tor Classification:	Summit
Access:	Public
Rock Type:	Granite
Credit:	The British Newspaper Archive Eric Hemery
Reference:	The British Newspaper Archive: The Field, The Country Gentleman's Newspaper (March 3rd 1906) Eric Hemery: High Dartmoor Tim Jenkinson: East Dartmoor The Hidden Landscape: Rocks and Tors

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