52 for 2021 Week 32 Tavy Cleave

52 for 2021 Week 32 Tavy Cleave

For this week’s Dartmoor jaunt I decided to take the trip out to Tavy Cleave in the Willsworthy Range area (military shooting range) we then went over to Ger Tor and on to Hare Tor. On the return we went to a rocky outcrop that overlooks the River Tavy.

Ger Tor and the River Tavy from Nattor.




We parked at Lane End Car Park just outside the military range danger area, there is a flagpole and notice to warn you if the range is active not to cross the danger area pole line.




Soon after we crossed into the range we saw a Curlew flying away too far for a photo but we did also see some Curlew tracks. Often in military ranges there is a very diverse wildlife as the areas don’t get the same footfall as other areas on the Moor.




We soon got to the Nattor area.




From Nattor you get a great view of Ger Tor and Tavy Cleave.







On the way up to the top of Ger Tor you get a good view of the firing ranges below.




Then once on top another great view of the River Tavy and the Cleave.




Ger Tor has some spectacular rock formations.







Hare Tor (our next target) can be seen in the far distance.




There is also an old military range lookout building on the Eastern slope of the Tor hidden in the rocks. A bleak looking place to spend your day, although the remnants of a chimney are still present so they probably had a fire of some kind in it when it was in use.




After Ger Tor we headed for Hare Tor. From the top of Hare Tor the views are indeed grand vistas, here we can see Sharp Tor Brat Tor and in the far distance Great Links Tor.




Hare Tor has a little outcrop on the Western side locally known as Little Hare Tor (not marked on the OS Map).




After lunch on Hare Tor we headed for the rocky outcrop that overlooks the River Tavy aka Tavy Cleave.




The slopes down to the river are strewn with Clitter.




From here we headed back towards Ger Tor.




Ger Tor looks different from this direction, in this shot you can see the range warning flagpole that sits on top of the Tor.




The way back took us past some Ponies, I couldn’t resist.




The newly shorn and marked sheep were multicoloured. The markings identify ownership.




From Ger Tor is a straight downhill ramble back to the Car Park.







That’s all for this week folks.

Tags: Dartmoor Tavy cleave Willsworthy Range Military Firing Ranges Dartmoor Photowalk