Carburrow Tor

Nearest town:
Bodmin (8km WSW)
OS reference:
SX155708
OS sheet:
201
Latitude:
50° 30' 26.12 N
Longitude:
4° 36' 8.29 W
Added to TMA by

Images

Image of Carburrow Tor (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Summit of Carburrow Tor E Cairn viewed from W

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Apr 22, 2025
Image of Carburrow Tor (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Shelter on Summit of Carburrow Tor E Cairn viewed from SE.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Apr 22, 2025
Image of Carburrow Tor (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Carburrow Tor W Cairn viewed from Carburrow Tor E Cairn.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Apr 22, 2025
Image of Carburrow Tor (Cairn(s)) by markj99

Carburrow Tor Cairn W, less impressive than its companion.

Image credit: Mark Johnstone
markj99
markj99 Sep 22, 2020
Image of Carburrow Tor (Cairn(s)) by Mr Hamhead

The east Cairn showing the remains of a building used during WW2 by the local Home Guard.

Mr Hamhead
Mr Hamhead Jan 18, 2004

Articles

Carburrow Tor

Prehistory: Volunteers are needed on moor

moss
moss Aug 24, 2011

CONSERVATION charity BTCV will be running volunteering days on the last Friday of each month, including one in North Cornwall this week.

The work to be done will include clearance around hut circles, redefining old field systems, controlling bracken and gorse and making the sites more accessible.

All the work is done by hand, with an archaeologist on site to explain about each of the sites and to record the work done.

This Friday BTCV will be running its second volunteer task day on Bodmin Moor, at Carburrow Tor near Warleggan (grid reference SX 1524 7051). It consists of prehistoric hut circles and terraced fields and a medieval settlement, as well as a Bronze Age barrow. The work involves managing bracken and gorse to ensure archaeological features are not being damaged and are visible to visitors.

The overall aim is to form a group of volunteers to continue vegetation management on sites throughout the moor, supported by BTCV, Cornwall Council and English Heritage.

Ann Preston-Jones, of English Heritage, said: “The remains at Carburrow Tor are absolutely fantastic, with remarkably well-preserved prehistoric hut circles and terraced fields, a medieval settlement with its trackways and fields and, on top of the tor, the Bronze Age barrow after which the tor is named.

“A large area of the hillside is protected by law as a Scheduled Monument. Sadly, much of the site is hidden by gorse and bracken: but now, thanks to the work of BTCV, the stone walls of the hut circles and other remains are revealed for the first time in many years. I’m really looking forward to seeing the results.”

Tom David of BTCV said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to become actively involved in managing very important historical sites.

“BTCV offer volunteers the opportunity to get involved with these sorts of projects in a safe and enjoyable environment. Volunteers will be able to visits sites they might not have been to before and be able to see the difference they have made at the end of the day.

“The task at Carburrow is going to consist of clearing vegetation from around old hut circles so that they are more clearly visible.”

If you are interested in this project and would like to become involved in this or other conservation projects that BTCV run contact them on 01209 610100 or [email protected].

thisiscornwall.co.uk/story-13192081-detail/story.html

Carburrow Tor

Mr Hamhead
Mr Hamhead Jan 7, 2004

Carburrow is one of those areas on Bodmin Moor that contain so much history in such a small area. Extensive Bronze Age huts litter the southern slopes with the remains of a long house up against the wall at the bottom (very near Tor farmhouse). There are two cairns atop of the tor, the one on the eastern side was hollowed out in the 2nd World War so the home guard could use it as a lookout post.

Carburrow Tor

Hob
Hob Aug 20, 2003

Lovely place.

Approach from the road to the east and scramble up through the undergrowth.
On top is a large cairn which has been tweaked at some point to include a rectilinear side space and a smashing cupola on top. Another smaller cairn a few yards to the north

It’s got a excellent view of both coastlines to north and south, across to the hurlers and cheesewring to the east and some overgrown industrial nastiness to the west.

One of the best things is that the cupola makes a brilliant place to sit out of the wind and enjoy the place. Nice way to get a feel for the moor and look for cropmarks etc.

There are also extensive bronze age settlements on the SW side of the tor.

Folklore

Carburrow Tor
Cairn(s)
Rhiannon
Rhiannon Jun 9, 2004

The two cairns each conceal a golden coffin, containing the body of a king. A flock of birds protects them and chases away intruders – perhaps you’ll see them wheeling round if you visit? It is said that attempts to dig a Home Guard lookout at the site were interrupted by a flock of birds..

(mentioned in Grinsell’s ‘Folklore of Prehistoric Sites in Britain’)

Sites within 20km of Carburrow Tor

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