I’m enjoying our walks on this side of the moor recently and no doubt over the winter period we will look for others in this South West corner of Dartmoor. Setting out from Peter Tavy gives a few options for a walk, you could head towards Mary Tavy along the Dartmoor Way, or up to Boulters Tor or along the lanes to Harford Bridge or Cox Tor. There’s a good pub and a cycle cafe, so there is a bit there, alongside the imposing church and its 16th century Renaissance carvings. Recently I’ve omitted climbing Cox Tor from a number of visits to the Staple Tors, and this walk puts that right, as Cox Tor is a good summit for views. This would be walk number 38 of my second round of Dartmoor squares, it included L3, L4 and M3 in this one. Cornwall spreads out to the west and you get great views down to Plymouth as well, into Dartmoor you can see the Staple Tor, Great Mis, Great Links and Fur Tor as well. Another average length walk here, keeping in mind the shortening days and managing my Plantar Fasciitis to ensure it doesn’t flare up too often. This walk was beautiful with dark clouds full of rain, passing across the moors mixed in with sunshine piercing through, lighting up the tors around us. We managed to only get wet once properly, as we climbed Cox Tor, rain also came as we climbed to Great Combe Tor but we hid behind a bush and it was only a brief shower. Our lunch spot on Cox Tor was nicely out of the wind and gave us gorgeous views into the centre of the moor and across to the Staple Tors. All in all a fab day out and we will look for more of this type of walk during the winter months, especially with a pint at the end, like we had in the fine Peter Tavy Inn.
Setting out and passing the Peter Tavy ChurchAs you walk the lanes up towards Boulters Tor the views improve across towards Kit Hill and Bodmin MoorOne of our favourite tors, Brent Tor, between the treesAn ever improving viewWe didn’t head up to Boulters Tor, nor Smeardon Down, instead we hung a right down into the Combe to pick up some different tors. This is Little Combe TorA bit of rock here, not too much but then again it is called Little Combe Tor after allThe Colly Brook in spate passing under Combe BridgeThis used to be a swimming pool and is used as that on occasions, despite the signs saying not toClimbing up to Great Combe Tor and looking across to Smeardon Down and its tors, blue sky over there but it was drizzling here brieflyLovely view out across The Combe to Brent TorSame distance view, with Great Combe Tor. The church at Peter Tavy can be seen sticking up on the left above the rocksWe had a quick coffee break sat here on a rock between Great Combe Tor and Sharp TorSharp Tor (Peter Tavy version)Looking the other way to White Tor on the left, Roos Tor and Great Mis Tor on the right. The bank of Cox Tor rising up on the right edge of the photoHappy walkers as the rain clears and we carry on up to Cox TorNearly at the summit of Cox Tor here, the bumps on the ground are periglacial moundsCrepuscular rays pierce the clouds as I look south from Cox TorA Cox Tor lunch with a view to the Staple TorsWe headed down from Cox Tor on its western side to pick up Little Cox Tor, both this one and Little Combe Tor were on my list of second visits to complete 500 tors again.Little Cox Tor and views to northern CornwallSame tor but looking south towards PlymouthWe’ve picked up the lane below Cox Tor heading for Collaton Lane, dark clouds are heading to Plymouth in the distance and Pew Tor peeks up on the leftThe start of Collaton LaneThe boundary guide stone at the bottom of Collaton Lane, there are lots of boundary and mile stones running along Batteridge Hill and across Whitchurch Down, this is one of the Dartmoor 365 squaresViews up to Cox Tor as we head to Headlands FarmHeadlands Farm Cross (another Dartmoor 365 square), or what is left of it. Cox Tor again behindViews down towards Tavistock and Kit Hill in the distanceAnd back at Peter Tavy, a lovely little walk this one, just the one long climb from Combe Bridge to Cox Tor, but with stop offs at a couple of tors. More of this during the winter.
These are specific to south west Dartmoor and related to the freezing and thawing of the ground during the ice age. Something hich the south west corner of the moor did quite regularly apparently
treksandtors 
I have to say I like a periglacial mound, as I usually refer to them as lumps.
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These are specific to south west Dartmoor and related to the freezing and thawing of the ground during the ice age. Something hich the south west corner of the moor did quite regularly apparently
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Fabulous brooding clouds there. I love days like that with a mix of sunshine and showers. You get some great light effects at this time of year
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We’ve had plenty of large white and dark clouds recently, lots of rain, but hopefully the colder weather is on its way
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Looks like another very varied walk, with a pint at the end to boot. Brilliant!
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We quite like the pub at Peter Tavy, so its a good village to start and finish in
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