TORS OF DARTMOOR
a database of both lesser- & well-known rocks and outcrops
Great Stone
 The Tithe Map for the Parish of Christow reveals a plot of land north-west of Bowden Farm called 'Great Stone', but this emergent outcrop originally came to our attention, via Facebook, by Peter and Karin Brooks who photographed it in 2016. It was also likened to a 'tomb' by Lucy Bruckner, and whilst the boulder resting on its lower eastern edge does give it the appearance of a door ajar, with a crypt within, in truth there is no cavern, just a small space when an ash was able to find shelter in its infancy before it tackled the elements as it matured. Unfortunately, as of June 2023, the ash has since died.  Moss skirts the outcrop's northern edges while thin patches of lichen, with a green oxidised copper hue, have slowly formed across its top and southern facing parts, finding anchor on the rough granite's xenoliths and feldspar megacrysts.  Its lowly stature is compensated by the lack of any other rock formation around. Walking in the area it is evident how close to the surface the granite bedrock is, but examples of an outcrop are few, with Clampitt Rocks South, about half a kilometre away to the west, being the nearest.  These photos were taken when there was a public bridleway passing beneath the Stone through the field. However, since July 2026 the public bridleway has been diverted by legal order, moving the route to the east. This new route affords fine views of the Stone, but it means that access to it is no longer possible.
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