Firstly this isn’t just an eye catching headline for a an old school human blog, but
this is also the name of the highest point in the land of granite – aka Cornwall!
After musing about it for about a year, I thought I’d grow up and do some reading. Turns out Brown Willy is this Tor’s bold namesake, because in Cornish original “Bronn Wennili’ translates to “hill of swallows”. Beautiful. Makes me feel very, very immature.
BW is the highest point in Cornwall, standing at a respectable 1,378 feet (420 meters) above sea level on Bodmin Moor.
Interestingly as time passed and BW stood watching, English mapmakers recorded local names. The Cornish “Bronn Wennili” was anglicised and corrupted into “Brown Willy,” a process evident in historical spellings like “Brunwenely” (c.1200) and “Brounwenely” (1350). Another theory, proposed by Cornish historian Henry Jenner, suggests it could derive from “bronn ughella” or “ewhella,” meaning “highest hill,” aligning with its status as Cornwall’s peak.
Anywho, the name’s evolution highlights the linguistic shift from Cornish to English in the region. Despite a 2012 campaign to restore “Bronn Wennili,” the name “Brown Willy” remains in official use (No one suggested ‘Brown Tor’? No? Swallow Tor? No? Unbelievable).
We are currently blessed to have an unobstructed view of the big boy himself, Brown Willy. Right there, smack bang in the middle of our back garden view on the horizon, which frames our stunning Cornish South West views perfectly. Very blessed.
I’ve been watching BW differently since I wildly told my beautiful wife that “I’m going to climb Brown Willy next week, and record a 5 minute meditation video”.
She said: “ah that’s a great idea babe, I’ll make you a flask of tea”.
What a lovely little bugger she is.
I thought I’d watch a few YT videos to see what I was in for, especially as I don’t identify with the hiking crowd, despite my brand new semi-professional hiking boots…okay, since you asked; I kept trying more and more comfortable boots on until no more comfort could be achieved. The Meindl Vakuum GTX is hands down the most extravagant footwear purchase of my life.
…also my faithful fur lined Ugg Butte ‘weather proof’ boots didn’t fill me with confidence. This will be a big walk from my perspective / hiking experience, and in new (albeit fancy) boots.
I’m writing this just before I head off to bed, after packing my camera and sound bag ready for an early start. It’s forecast to be cloudless and 16 degrees Celsius.
Couldn’t ask for a better Spring day to try my first hike.
I’ve caught myself a few times in the garden looking Ol’ BW’s way. It’s been going round my head since that distant and confident declaration that I’d climb Mr B Willy.
…willy be able to do it?
I’ll let you know in Pt 2.