Why Dartmoor's iconic granite tors are actually remnants of deep chemical weathering
In short: Dartmoor is a vast upland landscape defined by exposed granite hilltops called tors. While they appear as permanent stone monuments, these formations are actually the result of ancient chemical weathering that stripped away surrounding rock. Today, this rugged terrain serves as a vital, carbon-sequestering peatland and a sanctuary for rare wildlife.
Dartmoor, a 954-square-kilometre national park in Devon, is anchored by a massive granite pluton that intruded into sedimentary rock about 309 million years ago. The landscape is famous for its tors—rounded, boulder-like outcrops of bedrock. These are not volcanic peaks but rather the resilient cores of granite left behind after millions of years of chemical weathering eroded the more heavily jointed, softer rock that once surrounded them.
The moor's character is shaped by its high altitude and acidic soils, which have historically discouraged intensive farming. This relative isolation has preserved an extraordinary density of prehistoric remains, particularly from the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age. Over 10,000 hectares of the lower moors are covered by ancient field systems, while thousands of hut circles, stone rows, and kistvaens stand as silent witnesses to a time when the climate was warmer and the hills were forested.
Today, the moor is a complex ecological mosaic. While the granite tors are the most recognizable feature, only about half of the park is true moorland. The rest consists of globally important habitats, including blanket bogs and ancient sessile oak woods like Wistman's Wood. These peatlands are critical for climate mitigation, as they sequester carbon from the atmosphere. The Dartmoor National Park Authority and the South West Peatland Project are currently working to restore hundreds of hectares of this peat, aiming for the entire area to become carbon negative by 2045.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Dartmoor
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