Dartmoor & Exmoor
Longaford Tor
507M
1662FT
About Longaford Tor
Rising prominently above the ancient dwarf oaks of Wistman’s Wood, this conical granite tor is one of Central Dartmoor’s most distinctive landmarks. The ascent from Postbridge is straightforward, rewarded by an elegant summit ridge that offers a panoramic perspective of the West Dart Valley and the sprawling plateau of the northern fen.
Key Statistics
Rank
22nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
Dartmoor
Prominence
?
22m
Nearest Town
West Devon
Geology
The ground beneath you is solid granite, created when molten rock cooled deep underground. This formation is part of the vast Dartmoor Intrusion.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SX615779
Latitude
50.5844°N
Longitude
3.9577°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is believed to derive from 'Long Ford', referring to a historic crossing point over the West Dart River located in the valley directly below the tor's western flank.
- •It serves as a perfect vantage point for looking down into Wistman’s Wood, a protected fragment of ancient high-altitude oak woodland where stunted trees are encrusted in rare lichens and mosses.
- •The summit provides a clear line of sight to the 3.5-metre-high standing stone of Beardown Man, which sits isolated on the high moorland to the northwest across the Cowsic valley.
- •The tor is a key waypoint on the popular ridge walk connecting Littaford Tors to the south with Higher White Tor to the north, forming a natural balcony overlooking the heart of the moor.
- •The tor’s elegant, pointed profile is a welcome rarity on Dartmoor, providing a brief moment of Alpine ambition before the surrounding bog reminds you exactly which county you are in.