TORS OF DARTMOOR

a database of both lesser- & well-known rocks and outcrops

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Leeden Tor

Leedon Tor

This is a large summit avenue tor sitting to the west of the B3312 road on Walkhampton Common. There are several places from which to approach this tor but the best is a small car park to the south first passing over Leeden (Leedon) Hill to the southern outcrops. The views are concentrated towards many tors, but Sharpitor and Leather Tor are the most prominent features with Little Sharpitor in front of the former being hardly noticeable.

Eric Hemery tells us of the granite stacks located on this hill; "Consisting of several ruinous piles, it forms a remarkable example of the grotesque in granite. The summit rock of the northernmost pile, now tilted by base erosion, bears signs of early basin formation, a process halted when the rock tilted to its present angle." The southernmost and most impressive stack of the tor boasts five rock basins, two of which have joined together to form a peanut-shaped cavity as seen in a photo in 'Dartmoor Tors Compendium'. However, the basins are very difficult to view unless you ascend the highest outcrop. This, on the other hand, is dangerous and we would not recommend it.

Although the area is marked as 'Leeden Tor' on modern OS maps and in modern books, William Crossing and Eric Hemery are adamant that the spelling is 'Leedon Tor'. There is also an isolated outcrop some 150 metres to the south-west known as 'Little Leeden Tor' which is documented elsewhere on this database.

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Leeden 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 5632 7177
Height:
389m
Parish:
Walkhampton
Tor Classification:
Summit Avenue
Access:
Public
Rock Type:
Granite
Credit:
Ordnance Survey
Eric Hemery
William Crossing
Reference / Further Reading:
Ordnance Survey Maps
Eric Hemery: High Dartmoor
Josephine Collingwood: Dartmoor Tors Compendium

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