The day after I had walked with the boys around the Staple Tors, myself and Linda headed out to the West Dartmoor area for a walk from Peter Tavy. This one picks up a few Dartmoor 365 squares on Walk number 26, including I5, J3, J4 and K3. The weather was extremely warm, and I factored in some tree cover in order to provide a little bit of shade from time to time. It worked out well and with plenty of rivers and leats around we managed to keep cool. Alongside that was a fine pint in the pub at the end! The walk picks off a number of tors dotted along the River Tavy, and as you head further north they become more difficult to get to, particularly at this time of year, when the greenery has grown up. Longtimber Tor is the easiest to reach, being sandwiched between the path out of Peter Tavy and the River Tavy. But the tors of Brimhill, Kents, Big Rock and Coffin Wood all need a bit of a clamber through some undergrowth, negotiating the odd fence and some steep slopes at times, making these easier to bag in the winter months. Four Dartmoor 365 squares on this walk as well with Mary Tavy, Hill Bridge, Elephants Nest and Cataloo Steps giving plenty of variety. The variety was increased by visiting both churches on this walk. Mary Tavy church holds the grave of one William Crossing, the author of A Guide to Dartmoor, a book revered in these parts, almost as much as a Wainwright is in Cumbria. The second church in Peter Tavy held some astonishing artifacts, with Renaissance woodwork and 16th century apostle paintings. A fascinating walk around a little visited part of the moor.
Peter Tavy is our start point, we’d arrived before the pub had opened, but would be partaking in a beverage at the end so we started from the car park. That’s Peter Tavy church at the backLooking over some green fields as we head for the lane out of Peter Tavy towards Mary TavyLinda walking the lane to Mary TavyNot easy to see in the sun dappled light, this is Longtimber Tor, hidden in the trees and greeneryThe River Tavy and more tor like rocks on the other side, Longtimber Tor is to my left hereCrossing the River Tavy on the Clam bridgeThe Clam bridge, normally these are simple tree trunk bridges built across the river, sometimes one truck others have had two, plus a handrail. This one, although called the clam bridge is now of a more normal wooden bridge styleThe Mary Tavy Hydro Power Station, built in the 1930s and was the largest in England when built. It still powers 1700 homes.Mary Tavy Church, we didn’t go in as there was a service onThe grave of William Crossing and his wife, EmmaStunning blue skies surrounding the churchWalking the fields now towards Horndon and looking back to White Tor (left) and Cox Tor (right)This was a Miners Dry, constructed before 1884 and used by the miners of the Wheal Friendship mine to change/dry off after a days work. Its the only one left on DartmoorViews to Brent Tor on the western side of DartmoorBrimhill Tor, the bracken and grass is getting highThe size of these outcrops is tricky to gauge with so much greenery on the rocksWe had hopped a fence and negotiated a tricky path to reach Kents Tor, but got this nice view out to White TorKents Tor, stand on top to get the view in the photo aboveThe Elephants Nest pubI believe this is a female Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly, there were lots of these alongside the Hill Bridge leatBig Rock, another difficlut one to get a good photo of in the undergrowthThe male Beautiful Demoiselle damselfly. He waits on the leaves by the sides of the stream (or leat in this case) for the female to come by.Hill Bridge, complete with diving youth and flamingoWillsworthy Bridge, we kept following the road behind me (Lych Way), but the rest of the Lych Way heads off to the right here towards LydfordDropping down towards the Cataloo Steps we find this handy bench on the Lych Way. Bagga Tor in the distance above the trees. Just after taking this photo we almost walked into a deer, hidden at the edge of the field in a slight ditch it jumped out and bounced across the field quicklyCataloo Steps, not the easiest set of stepping stones I’ve crossedMore bracken and undergrowth, with Coffin Wood Tor in the middle of it all. It wasn’t worth risking a twisted ankle trying to get on top of these torsClimbing past Brousentor Farm we get long distance views to Brent Tor and Gibbet HillAnd into Tavy Cleave, with Ger Tor and Hare Tor over there as wellDown the lane towards Peter TavyWith views back to Hare TorBrent Tor againBack in Peter Tavy and a chance to look around the churchInside the churchThe painted apostles from the 16th centuryAstonishing Renaissance woodworkThe cross and gateway outsideAnd back to the pub and a well deserved cold beverage after a very hot but fascinating walk
3 thoughts on “Peter Tavy, Hill Bridge and Cataloo Steps”
Having been a “Moorland Wanderer” I am impressed, although not remote, a walk not for the faint hearted. your descriptive and images made me feel like I was there.
More great views. I’m guessing this was at trend of the good weather. Seems like an age ago now after a couple of weeks of very unsettled weather. Bring back the sunshine now everywhere seems to have had a good dousing
Yeah this was the first week in June, so in the middle of the warm patch we had. Very changeable weather at the moment, wet, windy, sunny, warm, cool, everything. Just needs to settle a bit into a dry patch again
treksandtors 
Having been a “Moorland Wanderer” I am impressed, although not remote, a walk not for the faint hearted. your descriptive and images made me feel like I was there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
More great views. I’m guessing this was at trend of the good weather. Seems like an age ago now after a couple of weeks of very unsettled weather. Bring back the sunshine now everywhere seems to have had a good dousing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah this was the first week in June, so in the middle of the warm patch we had. Very changeable weather at the moment, wet, windy, sunny, warm, cool, everything. Just needs to settle a bit into a dry patch again
LikeLiked by 1 person