The upper Tavy

The upper Tavy is one of the most isolated places on the northern moor - so no surprise that the army favours this area for military training. However, this isolation gives it a special attraction and it is a good place to visit in pleasant weather. Apart from the skylarks singing overhead, you will probably only encounter sheep and cattle on this lonely stretch. Dartmoor river heads are usually bleak places and Tavy head is no exception. If you want a challenge then take this walk in the mist.

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 Wheal Friendship leat path until you get to the leat head. Then cross the Tavy and climb up Standon Hill, traversing Deep Bottom as you go. Walk eastwards, cross over Western Red Lake, walk over the Meads, cross the Eastern Red Lake and up the shallow hill following the military posts as a guide. You'll then see the western side of the Tavy valley which you can walk up in a SE direction. Cross the Tavy near the rocks beside Tavy Hole and carry on up the valley. Once you reach the top of Tavy Hole the streambed levels off and the ground gets a bit tougher. Carry on beside the stream as far as you want to go and then cross over in a S direction. After a short climb you'll arrive at one of the highest plateaux on Dartmoor and in good weather the views are good. Then head back westwards towards Standon Hill passing the edge of Walkham Head as you go. This could be a wet and rough 2 miles. You pass by a peat pass and some army tracks. Once you get to the edge of Standon Hill the views suddenly open out. Walk down the slope to the river, cross it and after a short climb you're back on the leat path which leads back to Lanehead.

This is not a walk to take lightly. This 7 mile walk was done in pretty well ideal conditions on a sunny May afternoon, but in misty weather this area would be challenging - largely because of its isolation and exposure. The top of the plateau could be rather wet and awkward to walk across. Crossing the rivers was easy, but at other times this may not be so. There are lots of army posts to guide you along - especially around Standon Hill.

Most of the walk is located within any one of the Willsworthy, Merrivale and Okehampton army ranges - so watch out for those flags.

	The Lanehead car park with Ger Tor in the background.
	Looking back at Lanehead. Already we're near to an army range.
	Walking alongside Wheal Friendship leat by the side of Nat Tor. Straight ahead is Standon Hill.
	The clear waters of the Wheal Friendship leat. There's lots of small fish darting around in this smoothly flowing water.
	The start of the Tavy valley from SX 545823. Straight ahead is the peak of Ger Tor. We're walking beside the leat path.
	This is where the leat head of Wheal Friendship takes some of the Tavy water and where we cross over the river so as to start climbing up Standon Hill.
	The Tavy as it emerges from Tavy Cleave.
	Tavy Cleave from the northern side of Standon Hill.
	Looking NW from the northern top of Standon Hill. Ger Tor is straight ahead.
	The view from the top of Deep Bottom - SX 557823.
	The valley of Western Red Lake. There's a boundary stone by the stream with the carving WD 23.
	The limonite laden waters of Western Red Lake. Now we know what this name means. (The redness is caused by oxidation in the stream of the leached out iron from the waterlogged peat. Limonite is the name given to the reddish iron paste and it is especially common when water is low and current sluggish.)
	The north west view from the top of the Meads. On the left is Hare Tor while the Tavy races down the valley to meet the Rattlebrook which extends on the right side with Great Links above it on the horizon. Straight ahead in the distance is Dead Lake.
	Eastern Red Lake - SX 572827. This is another limonite rich stream.
	The upper Tavy valley narrowing in towards Tavy Hole.
	The N facing vista over the Tavy valley from Red Lake hill at SX 575825. On the left horizon is Hare Tor and over to the right is Great Links Tor.
	Looking towards Fur Tor from the hillside above the Tavy at SX 577824. In the middle distance lies the stream bed of Fur Tor brook.
	The view over the Tavy as it meanders in ox-bow bends down past Fur Tor towards the Amicombe.
	The lower stretches of Tavy Hole.
	The Tavy as it heads northwards down the valley from SX 582818.
	The rocks of Tavy Hole.
	The start of Tavy Hole at SX 583816. Above this lie the rush bound upper stretches of the Tavy.
	The stream of the upper Tavy. This is a very quiet and isolated place - and it feels ever so slightly sinister. In misty weather this would be a strange place to be - in bad weather, probably rather unpleasant.
	Looking over the NE upper stretches of the Tavy from SX 587812. The headwaters of the Tavy are straight ahead but barely perceptible as it drains an extensive area of the featureless upper fen.
	Looking west over the plateau from SX 583813. Hare Tor on the horizon.
	The northern edge of the large shallow pan that is Walkham Head. On the horizon is Limsboro Cairn and in the distance is the top of White Tor.
	The Walkham Head peat pass at SX 579815.
	A boundary post near SX 566817 entitled WD 25. WD stands for War Department and the stone marks part of the boundary of land purchased by the War Office from the Calmady family (lords of the Willsworthy manor) in the early 1900's. Not surprisingly, the land was bought for firing practice and it now forms the bulk of the present Willsworthy range.
	A military post marking an edge of the Merrivale army range at SX 563817. Straight ahead is the diminutive peak of Standon Hill and on the left is Baggator Head.
	A curious sheep eyeballing an unexpected photographer on top of Standon Hill. Ger Tor lies straight ahead in the middle distance. The name Standon derives from the Anglo Saxon word 'stennen' meaning stony and indeed the lower western slopes of this hill are littered with clitter.
	The view from the top of Standon Hill - SX 553823 over the Tavy valley. You can see the line of the Wheal Friendship leat as it curves around Nat Tor. Even the sheep are admiring the stunning view over west Devon.
	The Tavy river from the slopes of Standon Hill at SX 550825. This is where the Tavy begins to leave the moor and heads off down to Tavistock.
	The crossing over the Tavy and there ain't much water after a protracted dry spell of weather. Ger Tor on the horizon.
	Back at the Lanehead car park - SX 537824.