Brown Willy and Fernacre Stone Circle

This nice walk explores Bodmin Moor using paths next to Little Rough Tor until you reach Brown Willy summit (420m) with spectacular views. The return way uses mainly pretty flat paths around Rough Tor and goes past Fernacre Stone Circle.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.30 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 909 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 938 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,335 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 817 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) Go down the track at the end of the car park, go through the gate and cross the stream. Ascend the large grassy path in front of you heading to the "pass" between Showery Tor and Little Rough Tor. Keep the track on the left-hand side.

(1) At the crossing, go straight down the non-well-marked grassy path on the other side of the hill which bends right after 250metres. Keep the left-hand side until reaching the De Lank River.

(2) When the path levels in the valley, go past a stile next to a metallic gate and cross De Lank River. This permissive rocky path (with arrow signposts) continues up for 600 meters before you reach another stile. A last short ascent and you reach Brown Willy Tor with a characteristic OS marker triangulation post at the top.

(3) The 360° view is gorgeous. You can see Codda Tor, Rough Tor, Showery Tor, and even the sea on clear days. You can continue the path along the small wild ridge following arrow signposts for a few meters before you reach a private land. Then, go back the same way to Brown Willy and this time, descend the path you climbed before until the first stile next to the metallic gate at De Land River. Ignore the path on the right where you came from and go slightly left walking along the low wall. Walk in the valley around Rough Tor, keeping left.

(4) Before reaching a small isolated forest close to farmland and a wind turbine, bear immediately right across the moor. After almost 200 meters you go past the beautiful Fernacre stone circle. Skirt Rough Tor left side until you join a better marked grassy path. Follow straight for one mile this leveled way which goes back to the car park. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 846 ft - Rough Tor Forestry Commission car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.82 - alt. 1,201 ft - Rought Tor
  3. 2 : mi 1.35 - alt. 945 ft - Small bridge and stile
  4. 3 : mi 1.96 - alt. 1,335 ft - Brown Willy viewpoint
  5. 4 : mi 3.93 - alt. 919 ft - Fernacre Stone Circle
  6. S/E : mi 5.3 - alt. 846 ft - Rough Tor Forestry Commission car park

Notes

Park your car at Rough Tor Forestry Commission car park (Road from Camelford).

The paths on this route are not very visible/marked. It is strongly recommended that you follow the route using the GPX on the Visorando app.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.