Helman Tor

Helman Tor
Torr Helman
Highest point
Elevation209 m (686 ft)
Coordinates50°25′19″N 4°43′46″W / 50.42194°N 4.72944°W / 50.42194; -4.72944
Geography
Helman Tor is located in Cornwall
Helman Tor
Helman Tor
OS gridSX 062 615

Helman Tor (Cornish: Torr Helman)[1] is a granite hill in mid Cornwall, UK with several separated tors, and is designated as a (non-statutory) County Geology Site[2] (with similar criteria [3] to a County Wildlife Site). The hill also has a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Helman Tor is also the name of the largest nature reserve managed by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust which includes Breney Common (a Special Area of Conservation) and Red Moor.[4] The Wildlife Trust aims to rewild the reserve, including potentially releasing beavers, as well as long-horn cattle and Cornish black pigs.[5][6] Helman Tor, along with Breney Common, Red Moor and Belowda Beacon, is part of the Mid Cornwall Moors [7] Site of Special Scientific Interest. It lies on the Saints' Way, a long-distance footpath completed in 1986.[8]

It is the northern end of a granite ridge.[9] There are at least three rocking stones (logan stone) on the ridge.

There is a prehistoric hill fort and a stone hut circle settlement on the site.[10] There is evidence of walls constructed in Neolithic period, around 6,000 years ago, as well as some level platforms, thought to be house sites, one platform has a network of postholes. There is also remains of a field system. These are similar to those at Carn Brea and limited excavation was carried out by Roger Mercer.[9]

One of the logan stones

There is a second Logan stone in the highest pile beside the trig point (triangulation point). A third logan stone is further down the ridge to the south, outside the reserve.

  1. ^ "MAGA - Cornish Language Partnership". Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  2. ^ "County Geology Sites". Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  3. ^ "County Geology Site Criteria for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly" (PDF). Cornwall Wildlife Trust 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Helman Tor". Cornwall Wildlife Trust. 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  5. ^ "First ever Beaver Officer to be appointed in Cornwall". Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  6. ^ "Rewilding Cornwall: where the wild things are (or could be…)". Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Mid Cornwall Moors SSSI" (PDF). Natural England. 23 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  8. ^ Ordnance Survey Landranger 200; Newquay, Bodmin & surrounding area, 1:50 000. 1988
  9. ^ a b "Helman Tor". Historic Environment Service, Cornwall Council. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  10. ^ Historic England. "Earlier prehistoric hillfort, stone hut circle settlement and field system at Helman Tor (1007306)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 October 2012.