Great Links Tor

Great Links Tor is one of the most impressive tors of Dartmoor. From its high vantage point of nearly 600m there are splendid views over Cornwall and large parts of Dartmoor. Great Links is made up of a number of barrel like piles of granite. On the highest pile is positioned a precarious looking triangulation point. It always seems to be windy at Great Links. 

Park at the car park (SX 526853) just up the track from the Dartmoor Inn on the Okehampton - Tavistock road. Walk over High Down, and cross the river Lyd at the ford at SX 533852. Carry on the track past the ruins of Doetor Farm, over the Wallabrook and skirtring past Hare Tor you'll reach Tavy Cleave Plains. We peered over the cleave from one the tors and then headed east to the Rattlebrook along the valley of which we walked up easily. At Bleak House a short scramble takes you to the Dunnagoat Tors (good views from here). Then a short walk over wettish ground takes us to Great Links Tor. Then walk down the western slope, hop over the upper Lyd, get onto the King's Way, walk over Great Nodden and then it's a 30 minute walk back to the car park.

This is an 8 mile walk. It is a straightforward hike with little wet ground.  Allow about 4-5 hours.  

Parts of the walk are within the army firing range.

	High Down - a favourite place for summer tourists (SX 528851). We are following the east track that takes us towards the river Lyd. On the left is Brat Tor, in the centre is Doetor brook and on the right middle horizon is Doe Tor.
	Some of the remains of Wheal Mary Emma - a tin mine of the 19th century that lay beside the Lyd. In this photo you can clearly see one of the circular buddles (or settling areas for the tin mulch).
	The ruined wheel pit of Wheal Mary Emma.
	Crossing the Lyd - SX 533852.
	Some of the ruins of Doe Tor Farm - SX 536849. The farm was abandoned in 1955.
	The remains of tin streaming near to Wallabrook Head. Chat Tor is on the left horizon and Hare Tor on the right.
	Looking north west from SX 545841. Brat Tor is on the horizon.
	Approaching the Tavy Cleave Tors along the top of Tavy Cleave Plains.
	Tavy Cleave as seen from Sharp Tor (one of the Cleave Tors) SX 555833.
	The view from Sharp Tor towards Ger Tor (on the right). The Tavy valley is on the left.
	Hare Tor is on the left horizon. Photo taken from Sharp Tor.
	Looking along the Tavy valley. On the left is the southern part of Amicombe Hill (Watern Oke) with its army observation post. Fur Tor is on the horizon.
	Looking up the Rattlebrook from near the Dead Lake confluence. On the horizon lies Dunnagoat and Green Tor.
	The Rattlebrook - SX 563843.
	Another photo of the Rattlebrook.
	Walking along the upper Rattlebrook valley towards Bleak House. There are the remains of tin working around here. On the left lies Amicombe Hill - Fur Tor in the distance.
	Dunnagoat Ford across the Rattlebrook. You can just see part of the remains of Bleak House. The ford was used by the old peat tracks that led back down off the moor to Lydford.
	The beautiful view over Lower Dunnagoat Tor and the Rattlebrook valley from Higher Dunnagoat. The word Dunnagoat may derive from the Celtic words dun (or hill) and coed (or wood).
	Rattlebrook Head from Higher Dunnagoat. Just on the horizon lies Yes Tor and High Wilhays. Below them are the remains of the Rattlebrook peat works.
	Approaching Great Links Tor from Dunnagoat.
	Looking south from Great Links. Chat Tor is on the centre right while far in the distance is Great Mis Tor.
	One of the rock barrels of Great Links Tor.
	The triangulation point of Great Links Tor.
	The eastwards view towards Great Links from near Great Nodden at SX 543878.
	Looking north from the top of Great Nodden. You can see the line of the old Rattlebrook peat railway as it heads up towards the moor.