Dartmoor & Exmoor
Garrow Tor
331M
1087FT
About Garrow Tor
Rising above the De Lank River near Camelford, this rugged granite outcrop offers a quieter alternative to its famous neighbour, Brown Willy. The summit is characterized by scattered boulders and ancient settlement remains, providing clear views across the marshy valley towards the distinctive double-peaked profile of Rough Tor to the north.
Key Statistics
Rank
91st Highest in Region
Parent Range
England
Prominence
?
57m
Nearest Town
Camelford
Geology
You are walking on the Bodmin Intrusion, a solid base of granite that formed deep underground when molten rock cooled and hardened.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SX144785
Latitude
50.5767°N
Longitude
4.6227°W
Did You Know?
- •The name likely derives from the Cornish word 'garow', meaning 'rough' or 'harsh', a fitting description for the wind-swept granite slopes and the challenging terrain surrounding the tor.
- •Below the summit lies the ruined Garrow Farm, where author Elizabeth West lived in the 1970s, chronicling her self-sufficient life in the remote moorland cottage in her book 'Hovel in the Hills'.
- •The slopes feature one of the best-preserved medieval settlements in the region, with over twenty longhouse remains nestled among earlier Bronze Age hut circles and field systems.
- •From the top, you gain a perfect profile view of Brown Willy, Cornwall’s highest point, which sits just over a mile to the east across the valley.
- •Despite its modest elevation, the local sheep are generally more impressed by the tor's shelter than its height, often occupying the best spots among the granite clitter long before walkers arrive.