Totnes walker, 79, conquers 181 Dartmoor tors for charity

Mr Holl has gone to the top of 181 tors in 29 treks

A 79-year-old man has completed an epic challenge of walking up more than 180 Dartmoor tors for charity.

John Holl, started his on-off walk with friends in August 2020 at Aish Tor and completed the journey at Yes Tor on Thursday.

Tors are the granite outcrops dotted around Dartmoor - High Willhays Tor is the highest at 621m (2,040ft).

Mr Holl expects to raise more than £4,000 in sponsorship for the Totnes community transport, Bob the Bus.

"I am delighted, I've really enjoyed our walks," he said, toasting the end with a bottle of champagne.

John Holl and his walking friends have defied tough conditions to continue the fundraising treks

Mr Holl dreamt up the challenge with friends on one of their regular moorland treks.

"It's been very rewarding with jolly good companionship," he said.

The walking has gone smoothly apart from one day when a river burst its banks in torrential rain and they abandoned the walk.

The number of tors conquered on each of the 29 treks has varied from a handful to 10, depending on the distances involved.

Mr Holl and his friends stuck to the paths laid out in the Dartmoor guide by writer William Crossing, topping a total of 181 tors.

Mr Holl, second from right, was joined by friends on the treks over Dartmoor

The exact number of tors on Dartmoor varies depending on which source is consulted but Mr Holl believes he has conquered most of them apart from a number of inaccessible tors including Vixen Tor where public access is not allowed.