Rough Tor

Rough Tor, Bodmin Moor

The hill and summit

Rough Tor is a 400 m granite hill on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, southeast of Camelford. It is Cornwall’s second-highest summit after Brown Willy (420 m). Its 86 m prominence makes it a Tump. The Database of British and Irish Hills identifies the high point as the natural tor at SX 14541 80795; the separate tor 35 m east-northeast is slightly lower. Little Rough Tor and Showery Tor are other outcrops on the ridge.

Getting there

Use Rough Tor car park at the end of Roughtor Road from Camelford, on Poldue Downs (SX138818). Forestry England lists parking and dawn-to-dusk opening throughout the year, with no designated accessible spaces. Follow current signs for parking arrangements and access restrictions.

Buses serve Camelford, including the 55 and 95/95A. Plan the onward journey to the car park and the return connection separately. Public toilets are at Enfield Park in Camelford; carry food and water for the moor.

Walking routes

• Showery Tor, Little Rough Tor and Rough Tor circuit: Visorando publishes 2.31 miles (about 3.72 km) and an average 1 hour 25 minutes. Cross the stream below the car park, climb to the ridge saddle and visit Showery Tor. Return to the ridge path and continue over Little Rough Tor to Rough Tor, then descend the indistinct stony path to the grassy path back to the car park.
• Showery Tor, Brown Willy and Rough Tor: Walking Britain’s walk 1808 is 6.5 km, 333 m ascent and 3 hours. Visit Showery Tor first, cross the valley to Brown Willy, return down its ascent path, then climb Rough Tor and descend northwest to the starting car park.
• Longer Bodmin Moor tors circuit: Walking Britain’s walk 3279 is 16.3 km, 424 m ascent and 6 hours. It goes via Louden Hill, Alex Tor, Candra, King Arthur’s Hall, Garrow Farm, Butter’s Tor and Brown Willy, returning over Rough Tor and Showery Tor to the same car park. It includes pathless ground, a De Lank ford and another stream crossing.

These are distinct published itineraries. The short circuit has poorly marked paths and rocky ground despite its publisher’s Easy grade. The long circuit requires substantially more navigation and commitment.

Terrain and safety

Expect uneven granite blocks, steep rocky sections and wet moorland. Low cloud can hide the tors and make the faint paths difficult to follow; carry a map and compass and know how to use them. Wet or icy granite and strong winds make the summit outcrops more hazardous. Heavy rain can make the longer circuit’s water crossings unsafe; do not force a crossing.

Sheep, cattle and ponies graze the moor. On open access land, keep dogs on a lead no longer than 2 m from 1 March to 31 July and whenever near livestock, and follow local restrictions. Brown Willy’s ascent has two stiles; the upper wired-over stile can require a dog to be lifted.

Geology and archaeology

The tors belong to the Bodmin Moor granite intrusion, formed as magma cooled below ground and later exposed by erosion. Weathering has shaped the exposed blocks.

The ridge contains a Neolithic tor enclosure, prehistoric cairns and house platforms. St Michael’s medieval chapel was built into a cairn at Rough Tor’s summit; a later memorial plaque to the 43rd Division stands within the chapel remains. Showery Tor’s natural rock stack is surrounded by a prehistoric cairn. These are protected archaeological remains: leave stones where they are.

Name and views

Rough Tor is also written Roughtor and pronounced “row-tor”. iWalk Cornwall explains “row” as a local dialect word for rough. Clear-weather views include Brown Willy and Stannon Lake; Showery Tor overlooks Crowdy Reservoir.