Dartmoor & Exmoor
Longstone Downs
320M
1050FT
About Longstone Downs
Rising to 319 metres near the village of Foxhole, this modest Tump sits within the distinctive industrial landscape of the china clay country. Unlike the wilder moors elsewhere, the terrain reflects centuries of kaolin mining, offering a unique perspective on the 'Cornish Alps' and the vast excavations of the St Austell area.
Key Statistics
Rank
101st Highest in Region
Parent Range
England
Prominence
?
47m
Nearest Town
Foxhole
Geology
The ground beneath you is part of the St Austell Intrusion, a massive foundation of granite and fine-grained rock that cooled deep within the earth.
Classifications
Nearby Fells
Find It
OS Grid Reference
SW980554
Latitude
50.3638°N
Longitude
4.8416°W
Did You Know?
- •The name refers to a 'long stone' or menhir; these prehistoric standing stones are common across the Cornish uplands and often served as prominent landmarks for travellers navigating the high ground.
- •Situated in the heart of the St Austell clay country, the hill is surrounded by one of the most modified landscapes in Britain, where the skyline is defined by the conical white 'sky tips' of the kaolin industry.
- •The summit offers a starkly industrial panorama, looking down into the deep pits of Nanpean and Foxhole, with the higher ground of Hensbarrow Beacon marking the horizon to the northeast.
- •Climbing this hill provides a rare opportunity to overlook a landscape where the holes in the ground are frequently more impressive and larger than the hills themselves.