Helman Tor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Helman Tor |
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| Torr Helman | |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 209 m (686 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Helman Tor
Location in Cornwall
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| OS grid | SX 062 615 |
Helman Tor (called Torr Helman in the Cornish language) is a special hill in mid Cornwall, England, UK. It's not just any hill; it's a "tor," which means it's a rocky hill formed by natural forces.
This amazing place is looked after by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve. This means it's protected so that plants and animals can live there safely. Helman Tor is also recognized as a County Geology Site because of its interesting rocks. Plus, it's a Scheduled Ancient Monument, which means it has important old ruins that are protected by law.
Helman Tor is located right on the Saints' Way, a famous walking path. It's also very close to other important natural areas like Red Moor and Breney Common. These areas are protected for their special wildlife and habitats.
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What Makes Helman Tor Special?
Helman Tor is the northern part of a long ridge made of granite rock. Granite is a very hard type of rock that forms deep underground. Over millions of years, the softer rock around it wore away, leaving the tough granite behind.
The Rocking Stone
One of the coolest things to see at Helman Tor is a "logan stone" or rocking stone. This is a huge boulder that is balanced so perfectly that you can make it rock back and forth with just a little push! It's a natural wonder that shows how amazing geology can be.
A Glimpse into the Past
Helman Tor has a rich history that goes back thousands of years. People lived here a very long time ago, and you can still see signs of their lives.
Ancient Homes and Forts
On the hill, there are remains of a prehistoric hill fort. This was a large, protected settlement where people lived and defended themselves. You can also find stone "hut circles," which are the stone foundations of ancient round houses.
Archaeologists have found evidence of walls built during the Neolithic period, about 6,000 years ago! This was a time when people started farming and building permanent homes. There are also flat areas that might have been house sites. One of these even has a pattern of "postholes," which are marks left by wooden posts that held up roofs.
Old Farmlands
Besides homes, there are also remains of an ancient "field system." This shows that people were farming the land around Helman Tor thousands of years ago. These old fields are similar to others found at Carn Brea, Redruth. Experts like Roger Mercer have studied these sites to learn more about how people lived in ancient Cornwall.
