Kilmar Tor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kilmar Tor |
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Kilmar Tor from the SE. Trig point just visible on the right.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 396 m (1,299 ft) |
| Prominence | 118 m (387 ft) |
| Listing | HuMP |
| Geography | |
| Location | Bodmin Moor, Cornwall |
| OS grid | SX252748 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 201, Explorer 109 |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | granite tor |
Kilmar Tor is a cool hill located on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, England. It stands about 396 meters (1,299 feet) tall. The name Kilmargh comes from the Cornish language. It means "horse's retreat" or "horse's church". This hill is quite long and stretches from the southwest to the northeast.
Kilmar Tor is considered a HuMP. This is a special term for hills that are at least 100 meters (328 feet) higher than the land around them.
Contents
Exploring Kilmar Tor
Kilmar Tor is found on the eastern side of Bodmin Moor. It's about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) west-southwest of a small village called North Hill. It's also 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) north of Minions, which is Cornwall's highest village.
What You'll Find at the Top
The top of Kilmar Tor has some interesting features. You'll see large rock formations called tors. These are made of granite, a very hard rock. There's also a trig point at the very top. A trig point is a special marker used by mapmakers to measure distances and heights.
You might also spot a cairn and a cist. A cairn is a pile of stones, often built by people. A cist is a small stone box or coffin. These ancient structures tell us that people have been visiting this area for a very long time.
Old Mining History
Around the southern part of Kilmar Tor, you can still see signs of an old railway. This railway is no longer used, but it's a reminder of the mining that used to happen here. In the past, people dug for valuable minerals in this area. The railway helped them transport the mined materials.
Surrounding Landscape
Kilmar Tor is surrounded by other interesting places on Bodmin Moor.
Nearby Tors and Moors
To the north of Kilmar Tor, you'll find an area called Twelve Men's Moor. Beyond that, there are other tors like Trewortha Tor and Hawk's Tor. To the southeast, you can see Bearah Tor. To the south, there are open lands known as Langstone Downs.
Rivers and Streams
A small stream called Withy Brook flows past the western side of Kilmar Tor. It runs roughly from north to south. To the east, the open moorland gently slopes down towards the valley of the River Lynher. These waterways add to the natural beauty of the area.
