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ROUGH TOR - 15/09/06

Rough Tor on the northern edge of Bodmin Moor is the second location featured from our two weeks spent in Cornwall. This walk started from the National Trust car park at the foot of the Tor which can be found along a short road signposted from the A39 road close to Camelford Town. The car park was free of charge but there were no additional facilities for visitors.

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The summit of Rough Tor is the second highest hill in Cornwall at a height of around 400 metres, there is a memorial plaque for those that died in the second world war at the top which reads, 'Rough Tor on which this memorial is places has been given to the nation in memory of those who lost their lives while serving in the 45th (Wessex) Division in the North-West European Campaign 1944, 45'. The photo on the right shows some of the many semi-wild moorland ponies that can be seen grazing on the 85,000 acres that make up Bodmin Moor, the Rough Tor area is in the care of the National Trust.
A short circular walk to the summit and back from the car park that sits at the bottom of the tor is around 3 miles or 5 kilometres in length and although not particularly steep it is a steady climb uphill and it is uneven walking underfoot in parts. The weather on our visit was ideal for the short walk to the summit although it is recommended to take warm waterproof clothing as the weather on the moor can change in moments, with mists quickly descending especially in the winter months. For those that wish to enjoy a longer route the walk to the summit of Rough Tor can be lengthened by visiting the highest point in Cornwall - Brown Willy, at a height of 420 metres.
The climb is well worth the effort when the great views are revealed from this dramatic granite tor across the surrounding moors as well as views towards the remains of a old china clay pit, (right photo). The china clay deposits in Cornwall, the largest in the world have been worked since being discovered  at Tregonning Hill in 1746 by William Cookworthy. If you enjoyed this walk also see this page from Bodmin Moor which features a different area of the moor and a walk starting from Minions Village with more examples of Cornwall's industrial past.