A day off work and a chance to make up for the previous weekends washout where walking was not possible. The plan was to head out on a short walk today and then bag another one in a couple of days. Fingers crossed for Sunday. This walk is a simple one, heading out from one of the most popular car parks on the moor. Normally there’s an ice cream van here and plenty of cars and in summer the best sunsets on the moor are from this spot. But this was winter, the skies were blue and there was a baltic wind. There weren’t too many people out today and I saw no one on my route who was walking, just a few cars passing me on the lanes. It had worked out perfectly, as I needed to go to the bank, which for me means centre of Plymouth or Tavistock, easy choice as Tavistock is lovely and nearer to Dartmoor and walking. I had lunch whilst there and set off for Pork Hill and the car park below Cox Tor with a loop route in mind. Once parked, I headed downhill first to pick up the lanes and a couple more Dartmoor 365 squares, before climbing up through fields to Sharp Tor and then up the back of Cox Tor before a simple descent back to the car. An easy 5 miles
First into Tavistock, my bank is over on the left here, but its always lovely to walk around the town and I had a decent lunch in the Lemon Grove cafe before heading off for the walkThe weir in Tavistock on the River Tavy Before starting the walk I picked off a Dartmoor 365 square at Wilminstone, this bridge carried the old railway from Tavistock up to OkehamptonNow up at Pork Hill car park, the views are always great on this side of the moor and the info board will tell you what you are looking at, which is mainly Bodmin Moor in Cornwall!Brent Tor through the wintry trees, which always look better for me without their green leaf adornment Heading down a lonning (short path for moving animals with a farmhouse or barn at the end), this will lead me to CollatonAt the bottom of the lonning was the farmhouse and a lane down to the main lane between Moorshop and Peter Tavy. Here you get views to Kit Hill in CornwallAs I turn around I see the boundary stones at the cross roads, the only letter that can be seen on this one is the T for Tavistock. This is another D365 squareLooking back in the direction of the marker stones. I’m on the lane between Moorshop and Peter Tavy nowTurning to Sowtontown I capture this view towards Gibbet Hill back leftCox Tor. I’ll be up there in a bitFirst I do an out and back to Headland Farm Cross which is lying there in the bank, another D365 squareLoved this group of treesGoatsA lovely view down to Peter Tavy and the church with Brent Tor up on the leftThe white fluffy cloud at the back looked like a huge hill from the climb up towards Sharp Tor. So I named it White Fluffy Cloud Tor. Sunny Great Links Tor was below it, with Boulters Tor nearest to meUp on Sharp Tor, not your usual granite tor but still a cracker with views like this. the late sun had turned to that classic deep orange light which is great for photosIn the centre of Dartmoor was a bank of cloud which looked very moody. The wind from the east should be pushing it towards me but as is the way with winds and cloud across Dartmoor it never came this way but stayed over there. Roos Tor and Great Mis Tor are lit up by the sunSun rays pouring over Whitchurch Down as I leave Sharp TorIt was a cold climb up Cox Tor with a very bitter easterly to enjoy on the way up. However the views south east were brilliant here Looking north east at that bank of cloud which is behind Great Mis Tor on the rightThe sun was lighting up lots of tors, this is Great Staple TorAnd Middle Staple Tor with the mast on North Hessary Tor at Princetown behindRoos Tor and behind Great Mis Tor and that cloud bankFoggintor quarry, Kings Tor on the right edge, with Little Staple Tor in the foregroundBack at the car park and the sun is settingLooking back up to Cox Tor, which if you wanted a quick and easy walk isn’t too far from this car parkI stopped at Four Winds car park on the drive back to grab this shot of the last of the sun before it went behind the clouds. A lovely walk which more than made up for missing out last weekend due to rubbish weather
If its clear in that direction then anywhere along that side of the moor is brilliant for a sunset, from Pew Tor all the way up to Sourton Tor, anywhere will give a great view of it
Thank you for the kind words Terry, the photo was taken just after Harragrove, where I turned right and uphill into fields heading for Sharp Tor. You can also get a similar view from the lane at the bottom if you peer over the hedge. Its a lovely little walk as you say and a couple of hours well spent
Some superb photos, love the one of that mountain cloud and of the ethereal light on Staple Tor. I also love the bare look of winter trees. Cracking walk and post.
Really enjoyed this walk in the run up to Christmas and looking back now probably the last time we had sun to speak of, as its been grotty the last 2 weeks. The bank of dark cloud gave some great photos with the tors all lit up in front of it.
treksandtors 
I always remember those wonderful sunsets you could get from there looking towards Cornwall.
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If its clear in that direction then anywhere along that side of the moor is brilliant for a sunset, from Pew Tor all the way up to Sourton Tor, anywhere will give a great view of it
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Nice little blog, that view containing Brent Tor and Peter Tavy is one I have to see! Nice photos throughout, looks a terrific short walk.
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Thank you for the kind words Terry, the photo was taken just after Harragrove, where I turned right and uphill into fields heading for Sharp Tor. You can also get a similar view from the lane at the bottom if you peer over the hedge. Its a lovely little walk as you say and a couple of hours well spent
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Will have to pay a visit at some point, thanks!
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Aye, you have to take advantage of any decent days at this time of the year.
That white cloud fooled me at first glance. Snowy mountains in Devon?
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Have to say I did a double take on that mountain, wondering what it was!!
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Some superb photos, love the one of that mountain cloud and of the ethereal light on Staple Tor. I also love the bare look of winter trees. Cracking walk and post.
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Really enjoyed this walk in the run up to Christmas and looking back now probably the last time we had sun to speak of, as its been grotty the last 2 weeks. The bank of dark cloud gave some great photos with the tors all lit up in front of it.
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