Barley Grove and Torrington Common

The beauty of this site is its views. Standing at the viewpoint on Great Torrington Common you can look south over the valley of the River Torridge. Evidence of how the river has shaped the physical structure of the valley can be clearly seen.

You will see the river curve in from your left to run along the bottom of the Common. Look at the inside of the curve and the slope rising up from the river. You will notice a series of terraces underlain by gravels. These terraces represent the past action of the river (both erosion and deposition) as it has progressively cut down into the landscape.
Turning your attention to the Common below the viewpoint, you will be able to observe from some of the footpaths that there are several exposures of sandstones, siltstones and shales that are not normally easy to see. These were formed in deep water during the Upper Carboniferous (the same time that coal was being was laid down in South Wales).
The rocks, comprising sandstones with interbedded shale and siltstone, can best be seen along ‘Sliding Rock Path’. The bedding dips south and some quartz veining occurs.