TORS OF DARTMOOR
a database of both lesser- & well-known rocks and outcrops
Rough Tor (Burrator)Roughtor, Rowtor
 Mentioned in passing by Crossing (1912), this is an exceedingly disappointing rockpile that sits at the top of Roughtor Plantation. The short granite tor squats with its two tiny outcrops, one with a rock basin atop, which is perhaps the only redeeming feature.  Hemery (1983) provides dimensions for the basin, but we believe these to be an exaggeration (although pine needles can easily obscure the edges); "The summit rock has a well-formed basin, sixteen inches in diameter, five inches in depth, and with a distinct lip; two smaller basins in a lower rock show by their angle that the rock has tilted."  Rough Tor is mentioned again, this time in Ringwood's (2013) book on Dartmoor Tors. Not long after the tor was cleared of branches by volunteers with permission from South West Lakes Trust. Despite this, it remained an underwhelming place to reach, prompting Dartmoor Guide Paul Rendell to explore below. What he and later Keith Ryan discovered were a number of far more impressive outcrops on the slope beneath the hilltop. These were each assigned with various names in relation to their positions in the plantation, but are, in truth, all essentially outliers of the same tor.  The tor gives its name to Rowtor Mine, which is also known as Great Rough Tor Mine and Great Rotwer Mine. Rendell explains that it "was first mentioned in 1705 when John Elford from Longstone Manor had shares in the mine." The mine onced produced tin. Visitors are reminded that straying from the logging tracks should be taken with care because of the hazards.
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