Beardown Man

Beardown Man is a tall standing granite stone - or menhir - some 11 feet high. It is the tallest menhir on Dartmoor and no one knows what it's original purpose was except that it was built in the Bronze Age. Was it a way marker, or did it have some symbolic purpose? Unlike many other Dartmoor menhirs, Beardown stands on it's own in splendid isolation and in rather an isolated place. Man stems from the old word maen meaning stone.

Park by Holming Beam (SX 591765), walk up the track, and turn right down a short steep track towards the Cowsic. Cross over the wooden bridge and head up towards Lydford Tor. Go over the newtake wall and walk north towards Devil's Tor. Here you'll find the Beardown Man. Carry on north following the line of the Cowsic Head. The ground now gets a bit trickier as we approach serious fen country. Walk  around the head - there are excellent views from here - and make for Conies Down. Cross Conies Down water at any convenient place and then head back over the down to the car park. 

In good weather this walk is a delight. In bad weather it could be difficult. Map and compass are essential. Most of the area is in a military range. Allow 3 hours.

	The north view from the car park near Holming Beam (SX 591765). This area is used a lot by the military when the ranges are in use.
	A bridge over the Cowsic at SX 595770. On the skyline is Lydford Tor. On the left is part of Maiden Down with the Cowsic valley between.
	Beardown Tors.
	Looking southwards towards Lydford Tor from the small unnamed set of rocks at SX 598789.
	Devil's Tor (SX 597797). Why Devils? Well maybe it's "plenty good enough vur 'e'".
	Beardown Man with Devil's Tor behind.
	Another view of Beardown Man (SX 596797).
	Looking over Beardown Man from Devil's Tor. In the background lies the upper reaches of the Cowsic valley.
	Cowsic Head from SX 594803.
	Another shot of Cowsic Head. This is a lovely quiet and isolated place.
	One of the rivulets of Cowsic Head
	On the watershed above Cowsic Head (SX 593806). Over on the right is Fur Tor while on the left lies the mass of High Willhays. This area is quite peaty and not the easiest of ground to walk.
	A small peat hag above Cowsic Head. Great Mis Tor on the horizon.
	Heading back over the grass across the edge of Maiden Hill.
	A view over the upper Cowsic from SX 590799.
	The upper Cowsic valley.
	Looking north from SX 590785 near Broad Hole. Just below is Conies Down Water, behind is the Cowsic.
	Another view of the Cowsic valley.
	Approaching Holming Beam.