TORS OF DARTMOOR
a database of both lesser- & well-known rocks and outcrops
Common Wood Tor To the south-east of Horndon on West Dartmoor lies Common Wood, which possibly takes its name from the fact that the land here is Common Land (under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985) with grazing rights. This might come as a surprise to some as most of this area is dominated and camouflaged by trees, but further up the hill, above the Hill Bridge Leat, an area of bracken moorland is managed by volunteers.  However, below the leat and the enjoyable path alongside, the ground abruptly steepens into a giant cliff, hidden from above, which culminates in several monolithic non-granite pillars that stud the hillside. These are collectively known as Common Wood Tor and thanks go to Jake Parrish for bringing this outcrop to our attention.  The intimidating rockpile stretches north-eastward for about 100 metres or so but the main section is closest to Horndon Bridge and the riverside path, from which it is quite easily visible. If you wish to get closer though, you must carefully cross a boggy stream and ascend part of the slope. This can be rough. It is a spectacle, a grand tor in its own right strangely omitted from the literature.  Common Wood was acquired by its present landowner, Kate Ashbrook, on 19th October 2011. Also known by her alias, CampaignerKate, Ashbrook is well-known as a passionate campaigner for public access, being the general secretary of the Open Spaces Society. Dartmoor Preservation Association (DPA) volunteers regularly carry out work in the wood, particularly the removal of gorse above the aforementioned leat to "make the land more accessible, for walkers, for grazing animals, and for butterflies" as Ashbrook puts it.
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