Dartmoor & Exmoor
Beardown Tors
513M
1683FT
About Beardown Tors
Situated above the West Dart River, these sprawling granite outcrops offer a quieter alternative to the popular nearby summits. The terrain is typical Dartmoor peat and tufted grass, leading to several distinct rocky piles. It is an excellent vantage point for surveying the ancient, stunted oaks of Wistman’s Wood directly below.
Key Statistics
Rank
20th Highest in Region
Parent Range
England
Prominence
?
32m
Nearest Town
Princetown
Geology
These tors are carved from solid granite, formed when a massive pool of molten rock cooled and hardened deep beneath the Dartmoor hills.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SX602773
Latitude
50.5787°N
Longitude
3.9759°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is likely derived from the Old English 'bearu', meaning a grove or wooded area, a direct reference to the prehistoric oak woodland of Wistman's Wood which clings to the valley side immediately below the tors.
- •The tors consist of three main granite outcrops—North, Middle, and South—stretching along the ridgeline. The vista from the summit provides an exceptional perspective of the West Dart’s winding course and the neighbouring heights of Longaford Tor and Rough Tor.
- •About a kilometre to the northwest stands the Beardown Man, one of Dartmoor’s most impressive prehistoric standing stones. Reaching over three metres in height, this Bronze Age menhir is a significant landmark in an otherwise featureless stretch of moorland.
- •The hill serves as a fine training ground for those wishing to practice 'peat-hag hopping,' a local sport where the prize is usually a boot full of cold water and a bruised ego.