Tag Archives: Kilmar Tor

Where East meets West

8th May 2018

Kilmar Tor

The Eastern Turret – Moderate

On occasions you get a certain light on the moors. Especially when the sun is out and low on the horizon. Things take on a washed out golden tinge and all the contrasts start to kick in. The effect is (to use an overused expression) magical. The moor becomes enchanted and Kilmar Tor in particular starts to look like a kind of fortress, with rock battlements and boulder castellations.

Perfect Light. Pity about the wind!

My bio compass was definitely haywire on this occasion. ‘Lets go to the Eastern Turret’ I said. That’s where the climbs are. Yes they are, but we went to the Western Turret. Doh! Anyway, as it happens and again, it was too windy to climb. The routes look good, but a 40 knot wind would have made them decidedly sketchy.

Loads of potential

So it became a bit of a bouldery walkathon, with a full circuit of the Tor and a couple of hand mashing boulder problems along the way. Even easy problems seem to be able to shred you on Bodmin Moor. I think I might tape my hands next time just to make the whole experience a bit more enjoyable.

Dave in action

The dead pony was macabre. Clearly it had been there a while and devoured by the critters in the rocks, but it makes you wonder what caused its death. Big cat?? Dont forget I know where the sheeps graveyard is in the woods in this area. Strange that.

Steady on Tom!

And so Dave, Tom and I headed back to the car as dusk came on. Wouldnt want to get caught out there in the dark……