Staple Tors

There are three parts to Staple Tors - Little, Mid and Great. Great Staple Tor is famous for its towers (or steeples) of granite blocks that perch on each other creating unusual shapes. Little Staple Tor has an extensive clitter field that was exploited in the 19th century to make a granite stone dressing industry. The Staple Tors together with Roos Tor form a chain of tors that flank the west side of the Walkham valley. From the road at Merrivale these tors are impressive, especially with the bulk of Great Mis Tor on the eastern side. They are very easy to get to and provide good views and a pleasant couple of hours out on a nice Sunday afternoon. It would be easy to extend the walk beyond Roos Tor.

Park at the roadside car park at SX 539750 and walk north up the slopes of Little Staple Tor. Carry on north to the other Staple Tors. From Great Staple Tor it is easy to visit Roos Tor and then head eastward along the slope back to the car park.

This is a straightforward walk of a couple of miles. You are never very far from the road although the army firing range starts at Roos Tor.

	The off road car park at (SX 539750) looking more or less south. On the right is the characteristic contour of Vixen Tor while on the horizon are the hillsides flanking Burrator.
	A remnant of granite sett working - this stone has been drilled, split and left. In the 19th century there was a substantial granite cutting business on the sides of the Staple tors. This was because of the large amounts of clitter and easy access to the road. Much of the granite was used to dress Plymouth or Tavistock streets - some was used for Castle Drogo.
	One of the many open-air sett-maker's benches (or bankers) that are gathered around Little Staple Tor. Sett makers had to dress larger pieces of granite into smaller pieces, and they would stand (or kneel) beside their stone bench and with hammer and chisel would trim the granite block. Up to 60 pieces of granite per day could be produced.
	Clitter around the slopes of Little Staple Tor.
	Little Staple Tor (SX 538753).
	The view from Little Staple Tor. The main road is just below us.
	A squall approaching from the west.
	Middle Staple Tor (SSX 540757)
	Middle Staple Tor
	Looking north towards Great Staple Tor.
	The north view from Great Staple Tor. Roos Tor lies straight ahead.
	Great Staple Tor (SX 542760) with Great Mis Tor on the left horizon.
	One of the characteristic steeples of Great Staple Tor.
	Looking west from one of the columns of Great Staple Tor.
	Looking south from Great Staple Tor towards the Middle tor..
	The SE view from Great Staple Tor.
	Great Staple Tor.
	Great Staple Tor.
	A number of pits just SE of Roos Tor.
	This boundary stone at Roos Tor has a B inscribed on it to denote that this was part of the Duke of Bedford's land. There are a whole circle of these stones around the tor, so obviously the Duke felt very strongly about his property. The reason was to protect Roos Tor from predatory granite workers that were very active in this area around 1880.
	Roos Tor (SX 543766).
	The north face of Roos Tor.
	Roos Tor with an army flagpost.
	Looking along the line of the diversion channel of the Sortridge and Grimstone leat. This diversion was buiilt to allow water to flow above the Merrivale Quarry that was taking the main current of the original leat. Great Mis Tor on the right.
	The edge of the disused Merrivale Quarry (SX 547752). This was opened by William Duke in 1876 and it absorbed the Steeple Tor sett making industry that preceded it. In the background is the Princetown road with King Tor on the right.