Flat Tor

Flat Tor (SX 609816) is a set of diminutive granite slabs that barely poke out above the wet moorland soil. It is not the most commanding of Dartmoor tors but it does offer location. Flat Tor is in the middle of one of the more isolated parts of High Dartmoor. Flat Tor is on the watershed between West Dart head and the East Dart. The ground is wet, flat and exposed. In good weather the views over Wildbanks Hill and Rough Tor are good. Flat Tor is near Cut Hill and Fur Tor so both these landmarks have been included in the walk.

Start from Drift Lane SX 646788 at Postbridge and walk over Broadun to Sandy Hole Pass. Follow the East Dart upstream and just beyond the waterfall at Kit Rocks cross over the first stream, walk along the marshy ground beside the East Dart and then head up the Cut Hill streambed. Head up the east slope of Cut Hill - if you make for the line of the army warning poles then this gives you the easiest way up to the summit of Cut Hill. Then make for Fur Tor taking the track then traverses Cut Combe valley. To return from Fur Tor it is best to follow a compass course to Flat Tor since it is a pretty featureless (but direct) walk over the wet ground around South Tavy and West Dart heads. From Flat tor you can head due east down the Broady marsh stream bed to rejoin the East Dart just above Sandy Hole pass. From here it is a good hours walk back to Postbridge along the way we started.

This can be a serious walk of nearly 10 miles. Allow at least 5 hours. The usual warnings about walking over Dartmoor must apply here. There is wet ground nearly all the way from Fur Tor to Flat Tor and the ground is pretty exposed and featureless. In poor weather this could get very challenging. A lot of the walk is within the Army ranges so watch out for warning flags.

	Approaching Braddon Lake at SX 635796.
	The SE view from the slope just above Braddon Lake.
	Approaching Sandy Hole Pass from the East Dart at SX 625811. There are remains of tin streaming around the river
	Sandy Hole Pass
	Sandy Hole Pass.
	Sandy Hole Pass
	Sandy Hole Passage.
	Making our way towards Cut Hill - SX 616818
	The East Dart just below Kit Steps. You can see the substantial effects of medieval tin streaming on the right hand bank.
	The view from the east side of Cut Hill.
	The top of Cut Hill.
	Heading towards Fur Tor. The Cut Combe valley is on the right.
	The view over Cut Combe water with the featureless mounds of the Kneesets ahead.
	Fur Tor.
	Fur Tor.
	The main stack of Fur Tor.
	The NW view from Fur Tor.
	Fur Tor.
	Near Tavy Head. This ground is wet and exposed. In wet and windy weather this would be an unpleasant place to be.
	Near Tavy Head.
	The rainbow points to the unpromising summit of Cut Hill.
	Near West Dart Head.
	Not far to Flat Tor now! We're coming down off the high plateau. West Dart head is on the left and Cut Hill stream head is on the right.
	Looking south from Flat Tor over the upper Dart valley. On the right horizon is the distinctive shape of Rough Tor while on the left is part of Wildbanks Hill.
	The north view from Flat Tor looking at the southern slopes of Cut Hill.
	Flat Tor.
	Flat Tor.
	Another view of Flat Tor which clearly shows how the tor got its name.
	The East Dart waterfall.
	The dimpsey view over Postbridge from Broad Down.