Haytor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Haytor or Hay Tor is a granite tor on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. It is near the village of Haytor Vale in the parish of Ilsington. Until the late 18th century Haytor was known as Itterdown, and should not be confused with older hundred of Heytor which covers the costal area between the River Teign and River Dart.[1]
Haytor (and the immediately adjacent Haytor Rocks) is a natural beauty spot popular with coach parties and walking groups. It is easily accessible by road. At a height of 457 metres and situated right on the eastern side of the moor, it provides excellent views of the coastline, the Teign estuary and the rolling countryside between, with the ridge of Haldon behind. It is a notable landmark visible on the skyline from many places between Exeter and Totnes. Haytor is also a climbing venue, especially popular with groups and schools due to its generally easy grades.
Haytor and Haytor Rocks together form a typical "avenue" tor, where the granite between the two main outcrops has been eroded away.
The granite here is of a particularly high quality and there are several disused quarries near the tor, the rock from which was transported by the Haytor Granite Tramway (built in 1820) to the Stover Canal.[2] The tramway itself was built out of the granite it would carry, and due to its durable nature much of it remains visible today.
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ Percy Russell, A History Of Torquay (Torquay: Devonshire Press Limited, 1960), 6
- ^ History of the Stover Canal, Stover Canal Society
 This Devon location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
