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Dartmoor Tors

great_staple_tor.jpgDartmoor is the highest and most extensive upland area in southern England. It is centred on, and underlain by, a granite massif rising out of the sedimentary rocks which underlie most of the rest of Devon. The Dartmoor upland supports a central moorland core of semi-natural heath, bog and grassland habitats which is surrounded by lower enclosed farmland. The area is extremely rich in archaeological remains, dating from prehistoric times to the Modern period. The range of wildlife habitats and archaeological features, as well as other landscape elements, such as the network of walls, banks and hedges enclosing the lower farmland, combine to produce the unique landscape of Dartmoor.

Dartmoor is known for its tors – large hills, topped with outcrops of bedrock, which in granite country such as this are usually rounded boulder-like formations. There are over 160 tors on Dartmoor. They are the focus of an annual event known as the Ten Tors Challenge, when over a thousand people, aged between 14 and 21, walk for distances of 35, 45 or 55 miles (56, 72 or 89 km) over ten tors on many differing routes. While many of the hills of Dartmoor have the word "Tor" in them quite a number do not, however this does not appear to relate to whether there is an outcrop of rock on their summit.

The highest points on Dartmoor are High Willhays (grid reference SX580895) at 621 m (2,040 ft) and Yes Tor (grid reference SX581901) 619 m (2,030 ft) on the northern moor. Ryder's Hill (grid reference SX690660), 515 m (1,690 ft), Snowdon 495 m (1,620 ft), and an unnamed point at (grid reference SX603645),493 m (1,620 ft) are the highest points on the southern moor. Probably the best known tor on Dartmoor is Haytor.