The cairn and cist north of the wall at SX6275278808
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
GLADMAN
The ‘industrial spoil heap’ at SX556862, to SE of the summit. Some older maps (i.e mine) cited this a kosher prehistoric monument. However please note the following (and save yourself some time to spend upon the summit instead):
“Gerrard, S., 1993-2002, Monument Protection Programme Alternative Action Report, 27/04/1993 (Report – non-specific). SDV145710. (27/4/1993) Lower Dunna Goat. Not a cairn. Overlies a gully associated with tinwork. Considerred under the Monument Protection Programme but not recommended for scheduling.”
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
It may have just been wishful thinking since the arc was by no means complete, but I got the impression the cairn was surrounded by a ring of small stones.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking across the cairn to the enigmatic summit tors.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
An excellent upland cairn.. for those who don’t believe walking is overrated. The front seen sweeping in here was later to give me a severe hammering. Worth it.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The surprisingly (for me) large cairn can be seen far left background of image. The main tor looms to the right.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The central c40ft high tor of this excellent near-as-dammit 2,000 footer (1,939ft) taken from that to the immediate east. Curiously, no tor cairn is cited here... which on balance would appear correct to these eyes.... although note extreme bottom left of image.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx SE towards the Eastern White Barrow and Avon Reservoir...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx NE to Pupers Hill, the excellent positioning of the Huntingdon Barrow vis-à-vis the former’s tor cairn is readily apparent.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Looking approx NW across the cairn fabric – one can only suppose those archaeologists who reckon this monument has little ‘structure’ aren’t sufficiently aware of much of upland Britain since I would assert it’s in pretty good nick, all things considered. The feature to upper right apparently represents the remains of tin workings.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Still here after millennia... methinks these ‘sinners’ have had the last laugh upon monotheistic theocracy.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The massive ‘Heap of Sinners’ upon Huntingdon Warren... that any serious antiquarian could harbour doubts regarding this is, frankly, very odd indeed.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Note the pipers, centre upper right of the monument. The ramblers’ cairn is annoying, but so are they, to be honest. A woman actually came up to me here and asked me where she was......
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
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.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The cairn ‘fills in the gaps’, so to speak; the essence of the tor cairn.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
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.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
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.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The best-preserved arc surrounding Branscombe’s Loaf.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
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.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Sunburst upon the other ‘tor cairn’....
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The second ‘tor cairn’, a little west(ish) of Branscombe’s Loaf.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
These ‘tor cairns’ are so enigmatic I swear my hair was standing on end. Which takes quite a bit nowadays.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
A not altogether successful attempt at a ‘bird’s eye view’..... “If God had wanted man to fly, Mr Wint..”
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Branscombe’s Loaf’s ‘tor cairn’ is perhaps best illustrated here.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
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.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
Clearly, this excellent cairn once possessed a rather striking kerb. Or Multiples thereof?
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
The substantial summit round cairn...
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
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.
Image credit: Robert Gladstone
