The Cheesewring
"If a man dreams of a great pile of stones in a nightmare, he would dream of such a pile as the Cheesewring" Wilkie Collins; Rambles Beyond Railways 1861
Perched on the edge of a quarry, The Cheesewring takes its name from the process used to create cider by pressing bags of apples, also known as cheeses, together. Once believed to have been created by ancient druids, the rock stack was actually created by erosion over miliions of years, the wind and rain eating into the cracks formed when the rock solidified.
Similar formations can be found on tors all over Cornwall, but this is the most iconic.
In Victorian times it was a popular destination for outings, with old photographs showing groups of people standing on top of the stack, something only skilled rock climbers should attempt to do nowadays.
The Cheesewring can be found north of the village of Minions on the south side of Bodmin Moor. Park in one of the two carparks and head north along well walked paths. It's best to approach from the western (lefthand) side.
Stowes Hill, on which the Cheesewring stands, is home to a Neolithic encampment, its 6000 year old collapsed walls encircling the summit.
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