TORS OF DARTMOOR
a database of both lesser- & well-known rocks and outcrops
South Park Rocks Recent and extensive clearing of the forest that once covered the slopes of South Park on rising ground to the south of the North Teign River near the village of Gidleigh, has revealed the existence of several scattered and rather scruffy looking pale faced rockpiles. Here we probably have a long-lost tor but one that is now hardly recognisable as such. The paleness of the rocks is most unusual but can be attributed to them standing through decades of darkness as the conifers invaded and dislodged the tor's substance.  The landscape as at October 2021, is completely littered with scores of broken tree trunks forming an unsightly mess of debris left from the clearance. At various points crumbling outcrops rise from the steep slope but most of them are disappointing broken up by the force of the trees pushing up and through them. Accessing the piles is problematic as the terrain underfoot is awkward and complicated by the piles of discarded branches. It is a scene of utter ruin.  However, that said there are tremendous views from the hillside down the valley to the east that compensate somewhat for the wrecked tor remnant that survives. All of the split and toppled lowly outcrops here were first noted by Paul Rendell in 2020 who gained permission to roam from the landowner. Although a public footpath comes up from the river and crosses through the Park and tracks lead away to the rocks this is still private land and cannot be accessed without prior arrangement. 
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