TORS OF DARTMOOR

Horsham Tor

East Dartmoor is a real treasure trove of hidden granite outcrops, many of which are huge and dominating, particularly between and around the villages of Lustleigh and Manaton. Due to their locations often hidden within dense woodlands, many of these grand rocks have never been recorded by name and have failed to get a mention in the Literature of the Dartmoor landscape, especially as they are well away from the more popular and accessible parts of the High and Central Moorland portions.

First found by Tim Jenkinson in April 2012 whilst exploring the area in pursuit of Water Rock and other outcrops, he inadvertently stumbled across this small copse that is now set on private land near to the hamlet of Horsham to the east of Manaton. Here he found a giant outcrop of rock, its broken but nonetheless compact appearance resembling a huge block that would have once towered over the dwellings below.

Several smaller outcrops are scattered through the trees here, some above and some below the main rockpile, suggesting that the tor was once even grander than it is today. Late 19th Century OS maps do show the extent of the rock outcrops but it is not a clear depiction. Unfortunately, shortly after his visit in 2012, and one assumes totally by coincidence, 'Private Land' signs emerged, so it is wise to check on permissible access at this time but it is still a memorable place to visit.

Despite its secluded location, the tor's lower rocks can be viewed in winter months from the public bridleway from Manaton below - known as Slinkers Lane - where it joins to a footpath running up from Horsham Steps on the River Bovey in Lustleigh Cleave. The rocks here are duly acknowledged a decade later by Max Piper in his account of the Lesser-Known Tors and Rocks of East Dartmoor where he writes: "This enormous outcrop is situated within a small private copse near Horsham to the east of Manaton" and concludes that "it is a truly lost tor."

Horsham Tor
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 7561 8152
Height:	250m
Parish:	Manaton
Tor Classification:	Valley Side
Access:	Private (but visible from public land)
Rock Type:	Granite
Credit:	Tim Jenkinson
Reference / Further Reading:	Jenkinson, T. (2012): East Dartmoor The Hidden Landscape: Rocks and Tors (published privately) National Library of Scotland: OS 25 Inch, 1892-1914 Piper, M. (2022): East Dartmoor's Lesser-Known Tors and Rocks