Rough Tor & Brown Willy Summit Walk
Standing on Brown Willy at 420 metres, you are on the highest point in Cornwall — and on a clear day the Atlantic glitters to the north while the full sweep of Bodmin Moor unfolds beneath you. This is the kind of hike that earns its view.
The Route Up
The trail begins near Roughtor Car Park off the Camelford road and crosses rugged open moorland to reach Rough Tor first, where sensational scenery opens up north to the Atlantic coast and south to the High Moor. Wild ponies graze the slopes and buzzards wheel overhead — wildlife spotting is half the pleasure.
From Rough Tor, experienced walkers continue south across the De Lank river to Brown Willy, Cornwall's highest point at 420 metres, with panoramic views stretching to the coast on a clear day. The full round trip takes around three hours.
Ancient Moorland, Modern Wonder
The route passes prehistoric summit cairns, holy wells, and Bronze Age settlements — a mostly circular walk that doubles as an open-air archaeology lesson. This is Bodmin Moor at its most elemental: granite, sky, and silence.
Bodmin Moor was designated an International Dark Sky Landscape in 2017 — the first such designation in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK — so consider timing your visit to catch the sunset and stay for the stars.
Rough Tor & Brown Willy Summit Walk on video
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