Another middle of the week wander, this time between two horrid days of strong winds and heavy rain. The result of this is that the rivers tend to be a bit swollen and seeing as I had to cross the Walkham twice, I did well to stay dry footed. There was even some snow still hiding in the dips although it wasn’t cold at all. This isn’t a long walk at all, however walking along the Walkham first takes you into some pretty bleak areas and you feel nicely cut off from the world out the back of Great Mis Tor. I did this walk once before on a September evening and yet again, even in February, this is a good walk which can be very easily lengthened. This was good enough for me as I had around 4 hours spare, and it was planned nicely between the low fog in the morning and the rain that arrived at 5pm.
| Start – Great Mis Tor parking |
| Route – Over Tor – Church Rock – Walkham Valley – Clay Tor (both Hemery and Crossing) – Greena Ball – Great Mis Tor – Little Mis Tor – Four Winds |
| Distance – 5 miles Start time – 12.50pm Time taken – 3hrs Highest Point – Great Mis Tor 539 metres |
| Weather – Dry, overcast but not cold |
© Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey FL 2019 SF
I’ve just left the parking spots at Four Winds and looking across the road to Kings Tor and Swell Tor
Where I was a week or so ago, the Staple Tors and Roos Tor. Over Tor is just over there on the right, my first target
Merrivale from Over Tor
Great Mis Tor up on the right with a few stubborn patches of snow. White Tor is beyond the Walkham valley. I’m heading along the valley next.
Looking back out of the valley towards the sea in the distance
This is the first Clay Tor on the walk, marked by Hemery in his Dartmoor book, there’s a bit more rock here than the Crossing version further along the valley.
Hemery’s Clay Tor, looking back out to Roos Tor and Great Staple Tor
The memorial is on the Crossing version of Clay Tor, and a nice quiet spot it is.
Crossing’s Clay Tor, with the River Walkham below and Roos Tor poking up
Reminder that I’m in the Merrivale firing area
Crossing’s Clay Tor on the opposite bank as I climb up to Greena Ball. Both times I hopped from rock to rock across the river, I got lucky that I didn’t get wet both times, the river was pretty high with all the snow melt and yesterday’s rain.
At the back of Great Mis Tor the rewilding of Dartmoor hasn’t really taken off!!
Looking to Beardown Tors from Great Mis Tor, and one of the two military huts up here
All the way to Greak Links Tor from up here, Its a great view even in these hazy conditions
Fur Tor and Cut Hill stand highest in the centre of the photo, it looks very bleak and barren out there today. Its also probably very boggy, judging by my trudge up here over Greena Ball
North Hessary Tor and the mast. The outcrops up here are pretty impressive and there are lots of them. Little Mis Tor is down there, where I’m heading next.
The Walkham valley down on the right as it winds its way south
The River Tamar gleams in the distance from Little Mis Tor
The Staple Tors and Cox Tor at the back from Little Mis Tor
Rush hour on Dartmoor. The farmer was collecting up his sheep, at this point he was down to the left gathering a load from down there. These lots mingled around me awaiting his return! Little Mis Tor backed by Great Mis Tor
The path down. Back left is Peek Hill, Sharpitor and Leather Tor among others
Looking back up to the Mis Tors
The clump of trees marks Four Winds with Kings Tor right, Swell Tor above the trees and Foggintor to the left. The sun was shining by now and finished off a good walk
treksandtors 
Walkham valley is awesome. Nice one
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I think I will copy this walk, though perhaps in a drier spell. The lower Walkham as it flows to Double Waters is very pretty and it will be good to see its higher reaches.
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Its a fine place, I’ve done it in the summer and finished with a sunset on Great Mis which is recommended. The only tough part is crossing the Walkham but a bit of skill and less water will help
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