Dartmoor & Exmoor
Carne Beacon
104M
341FT
About Carne Beacon
Crowned by one of Britain’s largest Bronze Age burial mounds, this coastal height offers a significant historical presence. Located on the Roseland Peninsula, the summit rewards visitors with clear, far-reaching views across Gerrans Bay towards Nare Head and the distant profile of Dodman Point, standing as a prominent landmark for miles.
Key Statistics
Rank
569th Highest in Region
Parent Range
Dartmoor
Prominence
?
11m
Nearest Town
Veryan
Geology
The ground beneath you is formed from sandstone and hardened mud. Some layers are flaky and contain a diverse mix of trapped rock fragments.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Curgurrell Hill
Ardevora Veor
Trebollack Hill
Parnall's Hill
Tolverne Hill
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SW912386
Latitude
50.2105°N
Longitude
4.9278°W
Did You Know?
- •The name 'Carne' derives from the Cornish word karn, meaning a cairn or rock pile, while its 'Beacon' status stems from its historical use as a site for signal fires to warn of approaching invaders.
- •This 6-metre-high mound is a Scheduled Monument and one of the largest barrows in the country. A 19th-century excavation discovered a stone burial cist, confirming its construction during the early Bronze Age.
- •Folklore identifies the site as the resting place of King Gerennius of Dumnonia. He was allegedly buried here in the 6th century, carried up from the shore in a golden boat with silver oars.
- •The summit provides a panoramic view of the South West Coast Path, with the Gull Rock sea stack visible offshore and the high, dark cliffs of Dodman Point prominent to the east.
- •Despite the persistent legends of buried golden boats, the only treasure most walkers find at the summit is a slightly elevated heart rate and a very good view of the sea.