After last weeks successful foray into the centre of the South moor, I fancied something similar. Fur Tor is always a trek, no matter which way you approach it. You can go from Postbridge, along the East Dart. You can head from Bagga Tor, across rough ground or from Lane End, through Tavy Cleave. I plumped for the latter as I hadn’t been to Tavy Cleave since 2017, which was far too long. However as I neared the hamlet of Willsworthy I could see the red flags flying on Ger Tor. I’d forgotten the basic lesson, always check the firing times, even on a Sunday in the Easter holidays. I turned and headed for Bagga Tor, knowing that this was another route to my ultimate goal, Fur Tor, but disappointed that Tavy Cleave was again missed. I quickly adapted the route to pick off the Dartmoor 365 squares that I wanted to hit but was left with a short section of ground which was a duplicate (which I don’t like). Still this is a great walk, over some rough ground, which was made easier by the recent fire which has burnt away the thicker, clumpy grasses. As a result I was able to cover the ground quicker than normal.
Route –Bagga Tor – Lynch Tor – Limsboro Cairn – 3 way range pole – Western Red Lake – Eastern Red Lake – Fur Tor Brook – Fur Tor – Tavy Hole – Walkham Head – Walkham Head Peat Pass – Walkham Valley – Turf House/Ninney Lane – Lynch Tor – Bagga Tor parking
Distance – 8 miles Start time – 10.30am Time taken – 5hrs Highest Point – Fur Tor 572 metres
Weather – Sunshine with a very cold wind, snow and hail briefly
Bagga Tor parking spots, you’ll get 3 or 4 cars in here beyond the gate, Bagga Tor itself is about 50 metres to my right. Tavy Cleave is over on the right and West Devon stretches away aheadBagga Tor looking to Hare Tor (highest point) and Ger Tor, both with red flags flying on themLooking up to Lynch Tor from Bagga TorLooking back the other way to Bagga Tor as I make my way along the Lych WayThe Limsboro Cairn and military flag pole. Great Mis Tor is back leftLynch Tor and white fluffy clouds. Standon Hill on the right and White Tor furthest leftFrom left to right, Hare Tor, Sharp Tor, Great Links Tor, the Dunnagoats and Green Tor/Amicombe HillLooking back to Lynch Tor as a dark cloud covers White Tor. You can see the darkened grass on the right which cover a large area from here to The Meads and across to Eastern Red Lake and back to Walkham Peat Pass. A huge fire in February has taken most of the tufty grass away.Following the firing range poles (Merrivale) down towards The Meads. Fur Tor on the rightThe 3 way range pole and what looks like some rain coming across the Okehampton Range. 5 minutes later it snowed for 10 minutes and then sun came out againFur Tor in the distance, heading that way next across Western Red LakeEastern Red LakeThe River Tavy, Tavy Hole is that way, I’ll be there laterFur Tor and the view towards the western tors of Dartmoor (Hare Tor to Great Links)Plenty of outcrops here at Fur TorLooking south from Fur Tor to Great Mis Tor and North Hessary Tor, the wind was bitter up here. I remember last April I was sat in my back garden sunbathingI love how this huge boulder is hanging, pinned in place by the upright rock. The large rock is about 3 or 4 metres from top to bottomYou can see the River Tavy wriggling away and going into Tavy Cleave, with Hare Tor up on the right, Sharp Tor furthest right. The red flags were still flying.Tavy HoleAnd again, these rocky sections are obvious on these higher sections of a river and a Dartmoor 365 spotErrr hello, another white wall approachesHail and snow this timeI headed across rough ground to Walkham HeadThis is the Walkham Peat Pass, the dark shape in the distance is Cut HillA path of sorts as I head down into the Walkham Valley or the upper parts at least. That’s Great Mis Tor in the distanceThe turf house behind Lynch Tor in the Walkham ValleyBack at Lynch Tor and along the centre is the ridge to Bagga TorLooking south as I descend from Lynch Tor, Great Mis Tor is left, then Roos Tor, Cox Tor and White Tor on the rightAnd north is Hare Tor and Great Links TorDartmoor ponyLynch Tor from Bagga GateA new lamb on DartmoorBack at the car and the red flags have been taken down from Ger Tor and Hare Tor. Its a shame that the Cleave sits within the Willsworthy range and therefore is out of bounds when the Willsworthy Range is firing. Still it was a new route to Fur Tor for me but the Cleave is the best way, without a doubt
More of the stunning expansive Dartmoor views. Must be frustrating when the live firing disrupts plans. I find it strange all that is allowed in a National Park
treksandtors 
Many years now since I was there – we used to camp by the tor for days on end and never see a soul.
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Its a grand place and like you I saw no one
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More of the stunning expansive Dartmoor views. Must be frustrating when the live firing disrupts plans. I find it strange all that is allowed in a National Park
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Even more strange on a Sunday and within the Easter holidays. can’t remember the last time I saw firing on a Sunday
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Lovely photos
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