GLADMAN

I assume the poor ‘pipers’ are the two uprights shown here – that’s what you get for defying a fundamentalist christian theocracy. Immortality. Right on! Snowdon rises beyond, but such was the vibe I elected to spend my remaining time here.

The cairn ‘fills in the gaps’, so to speak; the essence of the tor cairn.

The great tor cairn gracing the summit of Pupers Hill. I must confess I was initially underwhelmed, having come from a couple of hours upon the immense ‘Heap of Sinners’. However, looking more closely, I soon realised my error – yeah, this is sheer class.

Looking approx south across the ‘interior’ of the round cairn towards the serrated skyline of Great Links Tor... although one of Dartmoor’s great tors, I had no intention of visiting at the time. That soon changed.

The best-preserved arc surrounding Branscombe’s Loaf.

Looking approx west across the second ‘tor cairn’ – and another small round cairn, if not part of the tor cairn? – to the great round cairn. It might be argued that there is evidence for another monument to the beyond to the left. So much going on up here one gets confused, you know? Best to simply enjoy the moment.

Sunburst upon the other ‘tor cairn’....

The second ‘tor cairn’, a little west(ish) of Branscombe’s Loaf.

Branscombe’s Loaf......

These ‘tor cairns’ are so enigmatic I swear my hair was standing on end. Which takes quite a bit nowadays.

A not altogether successful attempt at a ‘bird’s eye view’..... “If God had wanted man to fly, Mr Wint..”

Branscombe’s Loaf’s ‘tor cairn’ is perhaps best illustrated here.

The highlight of the top, however, is rather more subtle.... the remains of a ‘tor cairn’ surrounding Branscombe’s Loaf. High Willhays and Yes Tor rise beyond, sentinels of Dartmoor.

Clearly, this excellent cairn once possessed a rather striking kerb. Or Multiples thereof?

The substantial summit round cairn...

To be fair, this eastern-most monument is more alike the possible cairns noted upon Deans Moor (below to the approx north-west) than those at the summit of the hill.

Eastern-most cairn...

Although hollow, the eastern-most cairn is pretty substantial.

The far more upstanding monument some way (very approx) north-east of the summit pair.

The summit pair from approx south(ish).

Eastern summit cairn.... bit soggy up here.

The western of the summit cairns.

The western of the summit pair of cairns...

The eastern of the summit pair...

Looking across the pair of summit cairns... Puper’s Hill rises beyond with its enigmatic tor cairn.

The co-joined settlements can be seen looking from Gripper’s Hill. Incidentally, the great ‘Heap of Sinners’ cairn is visible top right.

Note the enclosing wall... there are other settlements beyond, too much archaeology for one day.

Wonderful lighting following the morning’s storm front....

The Avon Reservoir engulfs part of the settlement... the dam can be seen top right.

The wall of this enigmatic enclosure.....

The Eastern White Barrow is top right. Copious prehistoric settlement that-away.

Puper’s Hill’s wondrous tor cairn can be seen top right skyline... those with exceptional peepers might just make out the ‘Heap of Sinners’, centre-left(ish) skyline.

The lower of the two ‘cairns/mounds/whatevers’, with the Avon Reservoir beyond. The colours of the moor under autumnal sunlight are breathtaking.

An aerial view of the monument seen from Drosgol, itself graced by a pair of cairns, naturally. Banc Lluest Newydd and Carn Hyddgen (right to left) rise beyond left background, both, of course, featuring cairns. So much more going on, too.