Tavy Cleave

Tavy Cleave is unusual. It is a river valley enclosed in a steep gorge which is rare for Dartmoor. The Cleave is very beautiful in its own right but it is also a good way to approach the central parts of North Dartmoor and Fur Tor. There are lots of possible variants of this walk depending on time availability and fitness. 

Park at Lanehead (SX 537824 - north from Mary Tavy). Take the NE path over Nattor Down until you hit the Wheal Friendship leat and then follow it on the right hand side. It loops around Nat Tor and then you'll be at the start of the impressive Tavy valley. Carry on the leat path until you get to the leat head. Cross over the leat and then take the left hand path up the Tavy. After a short walk the river turns 90 degrees to the north and you'll then be in the Cleave. The ground now gets a bit rougher and scrabbling over boulders becomes necessary. At the end of the Cleave cross the Rattlebrook and walk up the hillside past the army observation post. If you contour along the hill you'll soon see the remains of the old settlement of Watern Oke. Head east towards Fur Tor and you'll soon see Sandy Ford in front. Make for it and stop for a food break. To return walk NW up the hill (there's an army flagpole to reference) and then W towards Hare Tor. Go down the steep valley, cross the Rattlebrook and climb up the hillside taking the path that leads to Ger Tor via the Tavy Cleave tors. The views over the Cleave are superb. From Ger Tor make your way back to Lanehead car park.

The described walk is about 6 miles and fairly straightforward in good weather although there is a lot of boulder clambering as you walk through the Cleave. Not the place to sprain an ankle.

Most of the walk lies in the Willsworthy firing range so don't go if the flags are flying.

	Walking alongside Wheal Friendship leat by the side of Nat Tor. Straight ahead is Standon Hill.
	Nat Tor - SX 545823. Despite the down named after it this is not one of Dartmoor's most impressive tors.
	The start of the Tavy valley from SX 545823. Straight ahead is the peak of Ger Tor. We're walking beside the leat path.
	Further along the Tavy valley with the slope of Ger Tor on our left. Straight ahead are some of the peaks of Tavy Cleave tors.
	The Wheal Friendship leat head - SX 549829
	Making our way up the Tavy valley. The ground gets a little more difficult here.
	We're nearly at the Cleave.
	The start of Tavy Cleave. On the left are the peaks of Tavy Cleave tors. SX 554830
	Carrying on up the Cleave. There's a waterfall here and an ideal place to stop and admire the scenery.
	At the waterfall. This place doesn't really seem like Dartmoor at all.
	Halfway up the Cleave.
	Two thirds of the way up the Cleave. The slope of Amicombe Hill is on the horizon. The pathway here is not the easiest of walking as we clamber over half hidden boulders.
	The meeting of the Tavy with the Rattlebrook at the head of Tavy Cleave - SX 561837
	An easterly view towards Hare Tor. Down below is the head of Tavy Cleave.
	Watern Oke - the SW view. SX 564836
	One of the hut circles at Watern Oke. Hare Tor on the horizon.
	A group of Dartmoor ponies.
	Looking over Pinswell and Fur Tor from the southern slope of Amicombe Hill (near Watern Oke). Sandy Ford is straight ahead.
	Sandy Ford - SX 572834. This is where the Amicombe and Tavy streams meet. This is a lovely place to stop at.
	Looking south from the edge of Amicombe Hill. On the left horizon is Fur Tor while straight ahead is the upper Tavy valley.
	Walking over the crest of Amicombe towards Rattlebrook. Hare Tor on the horizon.
	A north view of the Rattlebrook valley from the edge of Amicombe. In the distance lie the tors of Great Links and Dunnagoat.
	The crossing over the Rattlebrook at Deadlake foot - SX 562841. The boundary stone has WD 21inscribed on it. This is one of the 46 War Department stones that mark out the original parcel of Willsworthy land that it bought in the 1900's.
	An easterly view from SX 558838. Fur Tor in the distance with the head of Tavy Cleave below us within the valley cleft.
	Tavy Cleave Tor - SX 554832. The north side of Standon in the background with the Tavy valley in between.
	One of the old hut circles that are found on Willsworthy Range at SX 550834.
	Ger Tor - SX 547831
	Ger Tor with Standon Hill in the background.