List of hills of Cornwall

This is a list of hills in Cornwall based on data compiled in various sources, but particularly the Database of British and Irish Hills, Jackson's More Relative Hills of Britain[1] and the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer and 1:50,000 Landranger map series.

Many of these hills are important historic, archaeological and nature conservation sites, as well as popular hiking and tourist destinations in the county of Cornwall in southwest England.

Colour key

ClassProminence
Marilyns150 – 599 m
HuMPs100 – 149 m
TuMPs30 – 99 m
Unclassified0 – 29 m

The table is colour-coded based on the classification or "listing" of the hill. The three types that occur in Cornwall are Marilyns, HuMPs and TuMPs, listings based on topographical prominence. "Prominence" correlates strongly with the subjective significance of a summit. Peaks with low prominences are either subsidiary tops of a higher summit or relatively insignificant independent summits. Peaks with high prominences tend to be the highest points around and likely to have extraordinary views. A Marilyn is a hill with a prominence of at least 150 metres or about 500 feet.[2] A "HuMP" (the acronym comes from "Hundred Metre Prominence) is a hill with a prominence of at least 100 but less than 150 metres.[3] In this table Marilyns are in beige and HuMPs in lilac. The term "sub-Marilyn" or "sub-HuMP" is used, e.g. in the online Database of British and Irish Hills to indicate hills that fall just below the threshold. To qualify for inclusion, hills must either be 300 metres or higher with a prominence of at least 30 metres, below 300 metres with a prominence of at least 90 metres (the threshold for a sub-HuMP) or be in some other way notable. For further information see the Lists of mountains and hills in the British Isles and the individual articles on Marilyns and HuMPs. In this context, a "TuMP" is a hill with a prominence of at least 30 but less than 100 metres; by way of contrast, see also the article listing Tumps (a traditional term meaning a hillock, mound, barrow or tumulus).

List of hills

HillHeight (m)Prom. (m)Grid ref.ClassParentRange/RegionRemarksImage
Brown Willy[1]420314SX158799MarilynHigh WillhaysBodmin MoorCornwall's county top.

Highest of Cornwall's 5 Marilyns.

Rough Tor[4]40087SX145807TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorBodmin Moor's second highest summit.

Site of tor cairn and historic settlements and monuments.

Kilmar Tor[1]396118SX252748HuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorTor 50m SW of summit trig point
Stowe's Hill[4]38178SX257724TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorMassive tor enclosure (Stowe's Pound)
and site of the Cheesewring
Langstone Downs[4]37933SX255738TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorLarge ancient cairn at summit. S of Kilmar Tor
Caradon Hill[4]37169SX272707TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorCaradon Hill transmitting station, former mining area
The Beacon (Hendra Downs)[4]36991SX196792TuMP, sub-HuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorOutcrop near fence is the summit.
Tolborough Tor[4]34842SX175778TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorOutcrop at the summit.
Bray Down[4]34654SX189821 (est.)TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorSmall cheesewring at the summit.
Buttern Hill[4]34648SX174816TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorMound is near Bronze Age chamber tomb.
Newel Tor[4]34662SX236741TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorLeaning rock slab at summit.
Brown Gelly[4]34274SX196727TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorTor, hut circles, barrows and cairns.
Kit Hill[1]334171SX374713MarilynBrown WillyCornish KillasOne of Cornwall's five Marilyns

Highest point in Cornwall outside Bodmin Moor

Ridge[4]33144SX242777TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorRock on south edge of summit plateau.
Garrow Tor[4]33057SX374713TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorSeveral tors and extensive Bronze Age

and Medieval settlements, hut circles, etc.

Hawk's Tor, North Hill[4]32936SX253763TuMPBrown WillyWest Bodmin MoorRock tor at summit. No trig point.
Leskernick Hill[4]32936SX183803TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorSummit is grassy mound near pool.
Fox Tor[4]32335SX226785TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorSummit is a rocky tor, 20 metres SW of trig point.
Butter's Tor[4]31634SX154783TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorOutcrop at summit.
Louden Hill[4]31532SX137803TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorFlat granite plinth at summit.
Hensbarrow Beacon[1]312193SW996575MarilynBrown WillyHensbarrowOne of Cornwall's five Marilyns

Summit dominated by spoil heaps of china clay mine

Condolden Barrow[4]

Condolden

30850SX090872TuMPCornish KillasSummit trig point, Bronze Age barrows

Second highest point in Cornwall outside Bodmin Moor

Hawk's Tor, Blisland[4]30761SX143763TuMPBrown WillyEast Bodmin MoorSummit is the outcrop next to the trig point. Site of Stripple stones, stone circle, Hawkstor Pit SSSI
Brockabarrow Common[4]30631SX160747TuMPBrown WillyBodmin MoorPile of boulders at summit.
Alex Tor[4]29130SX118787TuMPBodmin MoorSummit tor cairn
Hingston Down[4]26847SX409714 (est.)TuMPTamar ValleyThere is a tumulus, a transmission tower and various buildings around the summit
Carnmenellis[1]252165SW695364MarilynHensbarrow BeaconCarnmenellisOne of Cornwall's five Marilyns

Summit trig point

Watch Croft[1]252225SW420357MarilynBrown WillyWest PenwithOne of Cornwall's five Marilyns
Trig point nr summit
Carn Marth[4]23560SW715408TuMPCarnmenellisSite of former granite quarry
Carn Brea[4]22847SW683407TuMPCarnmenellisNeolithic and Iron Age settlement
Castle Downs[5]21667SW945623TuMPCornish KillasSite of major Iron Age fort: Castle an Dinas
Trink Hill[4]21262SW504371 (est.)TuMPWatch CroftWest PenwithTrig point and mound at summit.
Helman Tor[4]21037SX062615TuMPHensbarrowTor, nature reserve, logan stone,
prehistoric hillfort and stone hut circle
Bin Down[1]203101SX276578HuMPKilmar TorCornish KillasTall man-made mound on summit

On Looe Golf Course by 7th tee.

Carn Kenidjack[6]202~25SW388329UnclassifiedWest PenwithOpen hilltop, subpeak is Wheal Bal Hill with a transmission tower.
Chapel Carn Brea[5][7]19830SW386280TuMPWest PenwithHercynian granite outcrop;
westernmost hill in Britain;
site of old chapel, beacon.
Tregonning Hill[1]194102SW599300HuMPCarnmenellisCornish KillasSummit trig point
Prospidnick Hill[6]162~10SW654312UnclassifiedCornish KillasOpen summit; wood on SW hillside.
Brea Hill[4]6241SW928771TuMPCornish KillasBronze Age tumuli at summit

See also

References and footnotes