Rainy Stones

Walking in the rain: Dartmoor, in the heart of Devon, is known for its dramatic granite cliffs called tors. Sharp Tor is a prime example of this rugged beauty. In fact, ‘Sharp Tor’ is a common name on Dartmoor, as many of these granite formations are characteristically steep.

The tors, including Sharp Tor, were formed around 280 million years ago when molten granite cooled and solidified deep below the earth's surface. Over millions of years, the overlying rock was eroded, exposing the granite. Today's forms are mainly the result of periglacial weathering during the ice ages. Freeze-thaw cycles blasted the rock along its natural fractures, while wind and rain eroded softer material, leaving the harder granite cores, the tors, behind. | England