A perfect day for exploring Dartmoor! The sun shone, no wind and beautiful scenery!! There is a large car park on Whitchurch Common with an ice cream van. The views of Tors and surrounding countryside are all around. To reach this part of Dartmoor from Plymouth, head for Tavistock but turn right through Whitchurch, over the bridge and right again. Moorshop is signposted and then follow the road on the map. From Princetown, head for Merrivale Quarry and it's a short distance beyond that.
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Plaque in the car park |
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This is on the west side towards Tavistock, then, facing North: Cox Tor, Great Staple Tor, Middle Staple Tor and Little Staple Tor, to the East: North Hessory Tor, Foggintor Quarry, Kings Tor and to the South: Pew Tor and Plymouth sound, Saltash and the River Tamar.
We began our climb up to Cox Tor
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The path leads up hill to Cox Tor |
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The view from Cox Tor looking back towards the car park, Pew Tor beyond and beyond that, Plymouth Sound, Saltash and the River Tamar |
The tors below are to the right of the car park
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Great Staple Tor, and Middle Staple Tor |
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Cox Tor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfvQ66S4wbzIuOvcPC87Dhnk0EDNM7_xX9OH5r59-uKl7Mtepk9hi4YTjf8_z6kfr2ZYIBjgMWm97us4GPDal4RmLJ28IUGl9RAZl50J-zTWlEQ8W0zG9ydraPZKS-vceRHSsRDtDLmsK/s640/IMG_0285.JPG) |
Teresa and Bob on top of Cox Tor |
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Trig point on Cox Tor |
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The route from Cox Tor across to Great Staple Tor |
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Half way across now with views to Roo Tor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrxOQZM5Xq97e4yspmTvkL51Us6obLQMqPsloLSOyl5UNObi3OD7m_ei501FoM5JzIXgW7WbwoFSbfJXuGfPd-JiXl8rHchQ1pQLcWIdanGoRKQyuDiwDU0QTWVKEBXv8-SiIHcBI9g2p/s640/IMG_0304.JPG) |
Great Staple Tor |
I think you imagine a Tor is just one collection of rocks, but this one has several collections, all fasinating formations of rocks.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyT7A-0JuTRsSXLES_wkW_U2VdOYGxKTLWICPCJddpof14rTwgbXmFpvWCDumS_wmqtVjy77N7OejfK3HT4GaRvR1sRAnIDL3tuzzFgifpJ05b0ZzAxRr2X2OnpP8UsEFsZ9VU1e5rRXs/s640/IMG_0315.JPG) |
Sheep lining up on Great Staple Tor with Roo Tor in the background |
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Great Staple Tor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIhM1JzC9ILM1q8HStvAi9shu7d2BBBBkX8jOvHXQSqjUMAiTmrVfvrOdqPfFed2fwlrEOdBZbqSYOsin2GmqFN21JpqOds0RYyUCBIFWL2kVn0c7cqyB9FiArPOAQsfXcOVEwStVRGC6/s640/IMG_0327.JPG) |
Great Staple Tor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUIW5tvTg-mQw4-5HjjBc3AUcaWyyuOaNlmwPjz6q5W26DNcegIizjTPM4np9Hvg0_VoTg2mYt3WUt1FeHEC6FhonM5ZzZIQ18iBF_nhQywM2am_5WSnN_B2q4o-qBjGs5IUQZqFt_Swl/s640/IMG_0332.JPG) |
Great Staple Tor in the distance |
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Dave on Middle Staple Tor |
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Pew Tor on the other side |
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Pew Tor
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gXja0XWc6JaxdqVpqgMhUkuQ9c9BTFjflInleKNLQqrirrz-hK4gbhwaPHmnJDBWevsQ9qAuUnR8BSOcnQq8RQGVA8cffqBx6rhiDBnW-lo3rsW8zczp-Iuw3m0iTWHM37EcOTcKVdBH/s640/IMG_0362.JPG) |
Pew Tor with a view of Plymouth Sound |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjXNaskbESoGFPYAR0NUO78bEwNKATia5NEnlvajbGO-C4sRgiK98RyoZ5b5KAmQV4_437TvxjjIVmKnZPP39yxlSqyP2_SsJb9rwWYQfc_X_nYZZa4DtUVxr_rCi4SW9CaQFxhmQS3mM/s640/IMG_0370.JPG) |
A cross beside a stream |
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A lovely day to explore Dartmoor. It amazes me how many rocks are strewn around and piled on top of each other on these tors! I have lots more photos of this day, far too many to upload.