All | Little | Shorter | Standard | Longer | Tors | Relics | History | Links | Panoramas | Home

 

The Langstone

The Langstone (or Longstone) is one of the largest Bronze Age standing stones on the moor. Langstone Moor has probably been occupied by our ancestors over 10,000 years. There are remains of a Neolithic settlement on White Tor and the flints and other artefacts collected from Langstone Moor suggest that the area was a vibrant trading place in Bronze age times.
Park at the small carpark east of Peter Tavy at SX 522778. Take the east track up onto the moor. You can diverge onto Smeardon Down and check out Boulters Tor but then head east to Stephen's Grave and then White Tor with it's good views. Head east to the Langstone. If you wish you can continue along the path to the Walkham. We didn't. Head back down the Colly brook valley to see the remains of the Bronze Age workings and boundary walls.
This is a 4 miles walk over pretty easy ground and with an obvious track. Having said that it is exposed and subject to strong winds and mists so don't underestimate it. A nice straightforward walk that may be extended easily into something more challenging. Army training grounds start at the Langstone.
 
The small car park at SX 522778.
The eastwards track leading up onto the moor.
Boulter's Tor - SX 525781. Part of this tor lies in farmland.
Another view of Boulter's Tor.
Stephen's Grave - SX 536781. John Stephens was a Peter Tavy lad who fell for a local girl who spurned or was refused him. Suicide by poison was his recourse and so he got buried at the farthest point away from the parish - at a crossroads. This is a lonely place and some say 'tis ghost haunted. The pillar got reerected in the 1930's.
Great Mis Tor from White Tor. White Tor is not granite. It also contains the remains of a substantial Neolithic settlement - one of the oldest on Dartmoor. However, the remains are not obvious - lots of stones confront and confuse the average walker. But the views are great from this easily defensible spot.
The northwards view from White Tor. In the distance you can see the start of Tavy Cleave.
Another north view from White Tor. White Tor always seems rather dark and black - white is maybe a sarcastic name to give the tor.
The east view from White Tor.
The Langstone SX 550787 - one of the largest standing stones (or menhirs) on the moor. The stone is of the Bronze Age and it stands at the end of a now diminutive stone row running northwards. Great Mis Tor in the background.
Another view of the Langstone. In WW2 times American gunners were stationed nearby and used the stone as a target. Look closely and you'll see their bullet marks on the stone.
A north-south boundary work at SX 542782. There's a lot of reaves and other old remains on this hillside. Further down the hillside there are tin working remains. Look at those hillocks on the hillside. What are they caused by? It has something to do with the metamorphic rock underneath. They are composed of a fine silty loam that resulted from weathering during the Ice Age. Similar mounds can be found around Cox Tor.
Part of the Bronze Age boundary wall at SX 541781
Wet ground with Cox Tor on the horizon.
The path narrows between well maintained walls at SX 530780. This is probably used in animal rounding or collecting. Good farmland abounds nearby.
 


All | Little | Shorter | Standard | Longer | Tors | Relics | History | Links | Panoramas | Home