Interesting information
Meldon Quarry is close to Okehampton. This large working site, mostly hidden in the landscape, produces hard rock such as hornfels. This is used in a variety of ways, but in particular it has provided the aggregates for road building and rail ballast since 1895.
Further south is the impressive silhouette of Sourton Tors (reached by a footpath north of Sourton). Unlike most of Dartmoor’s tors they are not made of granite. Instead, they also consist of hornfels that, as at Meldon, were created when hot granite intruded into the original rocks of this area. The actual point of contact between these rocks with the granite is approximately a kilometre further south-east. As you look out onto Dartmoor, you will see an area which was once a plateau and you can observe how, over millions of years, rivers have cut through the rock creating distinctive valleys.
At the southern end of the trail is the famous Lydford Gorge.
