Images (33)
Miscellaneous (1)

Images

Image of Corndon Tor (Barrow / Cairn Cemetery) by GLADMAN

(SX68587422)

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 17, 2020

The cairn below the tor cairn (SX68587422) utilises existing outcrops in a similar manner to (the admittedly peerless) Beinn na Caillich (the Broadford version) upon Skye.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 17, 2020

Looking from the cairn at SX68577472 to its near northern neighbour..

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 17, 2020

(SX68587422) Looking toward the summit ‘tor cairn’....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 17, 2020

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 17, 2020

I understand the cairns upon Corndon Tor received the expert attention of a combination of the Dartmoor National Park Authority, the Dartmoor Preservation Association and English Heritage sometime between 2005 – 2010. This is one of the magnificent northern pair.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 17, 2020

Upon SX68677475. The sheer circumference of this monument is exceptional.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 17, 2020

Corndon Tor from the summit cairn of Yar Tor... note the twin massive northern cairns (upper centre left) quite a trot away from the wondrous summit monuments.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

The ‘tor cairn’.... little wonder the locals thought this place was special back in the day.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

Summit cairn across the tor cairn..

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

To be honest, it’s only when one gets up close that it becomes clear this isn’t all-natural....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

Upon the tor.... note the tor cairn below. Occasionally the sun doesn’t just shine upon the righteous.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

Tor cairn at SX68597414. I don’t have the words to do justice to the enigmatic beauty of what is, after all, merely a ‘rocky outcrop’.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

Tor cairn...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

The tor cairn at SX68597414...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

The massive summit cairn looking across the tor cairn... there is a pair of very substantial cairns on the near horizon, some way to the north.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

With three magnificent round cairns here, rather ironic, perhaps, that it is the ‘tor cairn’ which is, arguably, the most enigmatic.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Nov 16, 2020

SX68577472. Pastscape quote 120ft diameter by c12ft high. Not sure what the dimensions are now.... ‘massive’ will do.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

The surmounting ‘mini stone piles’ appear to be a local tradition....

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

The massive summit cairn at SX68587422 with the tor (girdled by its own cairn) seen top right. Note how the builders utilised the existing crags as a retaining ‘kerb’ to left (also seen at Skye’s wondrous Beinn na Caillich).

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

Retrospective looking south from the massive cairn at SX68577472 to the summit cairns.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

SX68577472 – the rucksack/jacket far left give an indication of scale...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

The eastern of the northern pair at SX68677475

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

There are cairns... and then there are those upon Corndon Tor.... superb.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

The excellent vista looking approx SE from SX68677475.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

The massive northern pair of cairns can be seen beyond...

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

The summit cairn (SX68587422)

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

The massive cairn at SX68677475

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

(SX68587422) Looking north across the cist..... to a further pair of magnificent upland cairns some 500 odd yards distant.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2016

Presumably the site of the cist at SX 68677475. The main summit cairn can be seen top left, the western (northern) cairn top right.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN May 4, 2014

The even more massive cairn at SX 68577472.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN May 4, 2014

The cist within the cairn at SX68587422.

Image credit: Robert Gladstone

GLADMAN May 4, 2014

Articles

Corndon Tor

Barrow / Cairn Cemetery

GLADMAN Jan 21, 2018

Corndon Tor is an elongated north-south ridge rising to a summit at either end, that to the south – the higher at c1,453ft (443m) – crowned by a small granite tor girdled by the probable remains of a large cairn... a ‘tor cairn’ if you will. According to Pastscape [Newman, P 14-MAR-2008 EH Archaeological Field Investigation]:

“SX 6859 7415 – Stones Piled around the base of the outcrop may be remains of cairn which has been much disturbed...very spread and fragmentary The cairn overlies a reave which runs up to the tor.....Maximum diameter 27.2m.”

A little to the north sits a massive round cairn:

“SX 6858 7422 – ...constructed from moorstone with a truncated cone profile and no turf cover. The top of the cairn has suffered some interference and is uneven and hollows have been dug into the south-east side fairly recently. Max height 2m and the cairn has a maximum diameter of 27.5m.”

Some distance beyond two further massive round cairns surmount the northern summit. Hey, I defy any Citizen Cairn’d to resist the temptation to wander over to have a closer look. Again, according to Newman:

The eastern of the pair [SX 6867 7476] is “... over 2m high with a flattish top surface which has been badly disturbed by recent building of shelters... A reave, part of the Dartmeet system, touches the cairn tangentially on the west side but is not covered by it.”

The western [SX 6857 7472] represents “A mound of loose stone over 2m high in places. Upper surface extensively disturbed and undulating cuased (sic) by interference, including recent shelter building.”

So... unfortunately these great cairns appear to have suffered greatly at the hands of idiot criminals creating ‘muppet shelters’ out of the fabric for no defensible reason – let’s face it, we are not exactly miles from the nearest road here – so vandalism it is, plain and simple. However my understanding is that conservation work has been undertaken (following Newman’s observations) by the combined talents of the Dartmoor National Park Authority, the Dartmoor Preservation Association and English Heritage. So keep an eye out for the criminal element and send them packing. Well, if you really need to shelter from the elements upon Corndon Tor I’d suggest it’s high time you stopped letting mummy dress you.