Like most of the country we’ve had some wet weather down here in the South West, meaning my visits out have not been as frequent recently as I would like. It has also meant the ground underfoot has started to take on its more normal squidgy, boggy self. The other change since my last walk, around the Hameldown area, is the temperature. That day I was in a t-shirt, not today a fleece was needed and at times I was cursing not bringing gloves. Autumn is most definitely here, and on the high moor, with a wind blowing, it will feel more like winter from now on. Now this walk, and the area, is classic Dartmoor. This western side has some of the best long range views in the South West and most of the tors will have the view and are reasonably in reach from the car park behind the Dartmoor Inn (Lydford). Only if you plan to head beyond Green Tor will you be heading away from good obvious paths, this is a fine area for walking and you can add or take away tors to suit the length of walk you need. For me, I wanted to head up to Sharp Tor, then roughly across to Greak Links before returning past Smallacombe Rock and Arms Tor. All in all a good walk in some lovely territory.
| Start – Lydford parking |
| Route – Black Rock – River Lyd – Doe Tor Brook Bridge – Doe Tor – Sharp Tor (Lydford) – Chat Tor – Rattlebrook – Green Tor — Bleak House – Lower Dunna Goat – Higher Dunna Goat – Great Links Tor – Little Links Tor – Smallacombe Rock – Arms Tor – Brat Tor – Lyd Bridge and Stepping Stones – Lydford parking |
| Distance – 6 miles Start time – 10.30am Time taken – 4hrs 40mins Highest Point – Great Links Tor 586metres |
| Weather – The odd shower to start, but cloud clearing with plenty of sunny spells, Windy. |
© Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey FL 2019 SF
Starting out from the car park, and whereas normally I would head to the stepping stones across the Lyd, I took a different path towards Black Rock
To the south west is Gibbet Hill and further right between the trees is Brent Tor
I’m stood above Black Rock looking at 3 tors that I will visit today. Brat Tor on the left is my last one, Doe Tor is furthest right and will be my next target, with Sharp Tor in between and on the agenda after Doe Tor
Looking north along the River Lyd from Black Rock to Great Nodden back right
Black Rock falls with Black Rock itself on the left bank
Some fine horns on show today
Doe Tor Brook bridge and the glaring sun shining on Brat Tor behind
I’ve reached Doe Tor now and I look along the outcrop to Hare Tor. I had thought about adding in Hare Tor but decided to keep to the plan and head next to Sharp Tor
Sharp Tor is behind the military flag pole on Doe Tor, Hare Tor to the right. Having had a few showers pass through the weather was definitely getting better
White Hill on the right hand side with Cox Tor and White Tor in the distance
Looking west from Doe Tor, this view is pretty much a constant all along this side of the moor
WD16. A war department stone which, back in 1903, marked the perimeter of the Willsworthy firing range. There are 46 stones in total (although number 17 is missing). That’s Brat Tor behind this one.
The endless view, this time from Sharp Tor, the stacks on this tor are very impressive
The wilderness behind Sharp Tor, with the horizon including Black Hill and Cut Hill. Fur Tor is also infront of Cut Hill for the keen eyed.
A broody looking Hare Tor
I’m now on Chat Tor, which is always a surprise to me considering its a fairly flat area with a small weathered rock just sticking up out of it. Most tors on Dartmoor seem to either be at the summit of a hill or on the side of a rise in ground. This one is in a large flat area as if dropped from above
Chat Tor up on the right as I walk down towards the Rattle Brook, the valley of the brook is seen wriggling away
I’ve crossed the Rattle Brook and reached Green Tor which is a good spot for a brew and a view of the Rattle Brook heading towards Tavy Cleave. Great Mis Tor is poking up on the horizon alongside the Staple Tors, Cox Tor and Roos Tor
Bleak House
A rainbow signifies another shower heading my way
Lower Dunna Goat with Chat Tor again on the right and Hare Tor behind it. Great Mis Tor is further away to the left
Looking to Green Tor and Bleak House from Lower Dunna Goat
Boundary Stone by Higher Dunna Goat, with Great Links Tor in the distance
Higher to Lower. The Dunna Goats line up with Great Mis Tor beyond
I’m almost at Great Links Tor now and I look across Woodcock Hill with Hunt Tor sitting on the side. The dark tors in the distance are the roof of Devon with Yes Tor on the left and High Willhays to the right
The Dunna Goats from Great Links Tor. The paths across this part of the moor are now pretty soggy, plenty of dodging and jumping over boggy areas needed.
Between the Great Links stacks to Hare Tor
The trig on Great Links Tor, looking down to Arms Tor and Brat Tor and Cornwall stretching away
The view to Hare Tor and beyond
Widgery Cross on Brat Tor with Gibbet Hill beyond the A386 behind
Great Nodden is behind Little Links Tor. There’s a fair drop and re ascent between the two
Smallacombe Rock can be seen down there as I leave Little Links Tor
Pretty much the same view as the previous photo but this time from Smallacombe Rock
Great Nodden on the left and the Corn Ridge back right from Smallacombe Rock
I’m on Arms Tor now with my last target, Brat Tor to the right. Sharp Tor and Hare Tor up on the left and in between on the horizon are Great Mis Tor, White Tor and Cox Tor
Some lovely light on Brat Tor as I look down to Doe Tor with Doetor Brook wriggling between me and it. The usual suspects of Sharp Tor and Hare Tor on the left
Widgery Cross on Brat Tor, built for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in 1887. Arms Tor is beyond
Looking down on my descent route. I’m heading for the ford area middle right of photo
Widgery Cross one last time on Brat Tor
The stepping stones and bridge over the Lyd. Great Nodden is above the bridge and Arms Tor up to the right
Last shot as I walk back to the car. All three tors in shot have been visited today. Arms Tor left, Brat Tor in the middle and Sharp Tor back right. You can’t fail to have a good walk on this side of the moor, the views make sure of that.
treksandtors 
Great stuff. I used to sleep in that great crack atop Great Links
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I’d be afraid of rolling out and down the hill. I’ve only got to the top of the Great Links outcrop once, its not the easiest to get back down off (summiting is just about manageable by standing on the rock holding the trig point, and hauling yourself across and then round to the left and then upwards)
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It was a bit of a scramble. Though Vixen Tor is harder.
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Even harder now its out of bounds!!
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I used to merrily trespass!!!
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Great photos, of a lovely walk. Thanks for sharing.
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Tank you very much, its such an easy area to walk and get great photos, even if you don’t go up as far as I did
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Top walk. Like you I’ve not been out much. Bad weather and a case of man flu have kept me indoors
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Hope the man flu wasn’t too bad. As we know its a killer so hopefully you got lots of sympathy!! It was a good walk, all that side of the moor gives great views so you don’t have to venture too far to great some great views
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