TORS OF DARTMOOR
a database of both lesser & well-known rocks and outcrops
Heltor RockHel Tor, Hel Tor Rock, Whitestone, Hell Tor  Along with Blackingstone Rock one mile to the south-west, Hel Tor is an outstanding landmark within the parish of Bridford. A giant outcrop with deep fissures and splits, a series of jagged seams run through the granite. There are some exceptional rock basins on its summit and the views from here are superb. Surrounded by Private Land but commonsense prevails and this outcrop sits within a small piece of Open Access, reached by a permitted footpath from the road southward.  Crossing says of this magnificent formation (p268); "About 1 m. N. of Bridford, and on a hill that sweeps abruptly down to the Teign, is Hel Tor, whence the climber to its breezy summit looks over a wide extent of East Devon, the panorama being as beautiful as it is varied."  There is a legend associated with how both this and Blackingstone Rock were formed, best told by Crossing; "...Like Hel Tor, it is seen for many miles round, but according to tradition there was a time when these tors were not to be seen at all. This tells us that on the hills on which they are placed King Arthur and the Evil One once took their stand and threw quoits at each other, an encounter in which the latter was defeated. As the quoits fell they became changed into rocks, and thus the masses that we now look upon were formed." 
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