Pu Tor

Pu Tor is an impressive tor that you can easily walk to. There are splendid views over SW Devon along the way. Part of the walk is by the side of the Grimstone and Sortridge leat - an old water channel that probably goes back 500 years or more. It's purpose was to supply water to some of the old manor houses and farms that are scattered on the SW edge of the moor. The leat arises from the Walkham river just under the foot of Great Mis Tor and ends in a field just past Sortridge Manor. On the way back we go past Vixen Tor which is rather impressive from the southern aspect. Sadly, Vixen Tor is no longer accessible to the public.

Park offroad at SX 535751. Cross the road and follow the leat to Windypost. Take the left channel which takes you to Pu Tor. Then follow the track that leads northwards past Vixen Tor. Either carry on this track which takes you back to the main road, or else cross the not very wet marsh and head back along the leat. 

 A very easy walk of about 2 miles. Even bad weather shouldn't give navigational problems. No restricted military areas.

	Car park near Merrivale at SX 535751.
	The Grimstone and Sortridge leat as it begins to curve around the contours of Beckamoor water. On the left is an affluent that drains water from the upstream hillside into the leat. This leat is still well looked after.
	The leat's aqueduct over the Beckamoor water.
	A sheep leap across the leat. Cox Tor in the background.
	A bull's eye stone at Windypost that controls the water entering the channel serving Pu Tor cottage.
	Windypost Cross - SX 533743. This is a 16th century (or older) guide post that probably helped the wool farming monks of Tavistock when they crossed the moor.
	Looking back at Windypost cross. Great Staple tor is behind on the horizon and Great Mistor on the right.
	A view midway between Windypost and Feather Tor. Cox Tor is just peeking above the hill on the left.
	Feather Tor (SX 535741). This is a low and undemonstrative sort of tor.
	The northwards view from Pu Tor - SX 532735.
	The eastward view from Pu Tor over the Walkham valley. Pu Tor cottage lies below the clitter on the right. On the right horizon is Sharpitor, with Leeden and Ingra Tor almost straight ahead.
	One of the impressive rock piles of Pu Tor.
	Another rock pile at Pu Tor.
	Pu Tor - the south west view.
	The water channel just before it meets Pu Tor cottage.
	The NE view over the Walkham valley from the footpath near Heckwood Tor at SX 538737. Heckwood is probably a derivation of oakwood and this photo shows why.
	Heckwood quarry. This was used to provide stones for the Plymouth breakwater in the 19th century. Note the two partially dressed blocks of granite that never made it to Plymouth.
	Heckwood Tor at SX 538737
	Vixen Tor bog from SX 540739 with Cox's Tor and Great Staple Tor on the horizon.
	The southern face of Vixen Tor. This is the highest rock mass on Dartmoor - 93 ft high on the southern side.
	Vixen Tor - sometimes whimsically thought to resemble the Eqyptian sphinx, or rather more prosaically to look like "an old man in a cap who has turned his back on his wife".
	The main mass of Vixen Tor. This is where an old witch called Vixana apparently lived. Her job was to lure the unwary into the nearby bog.
	A closer view of Vixen Tor. This tor is probably named from a fox lair.
	The north side of Vixen Tor. This does look rather face-like.
	A splendid wheelwright's stone lying beside the leat - SX 537748. This was used to fit a metal tyre onto a wooden wheel. The wheel hub fitted into the central socket while the work was being done. There was a lot of granite working in this area and carts needed to be well shod so as to cope with the rough tracks. The ruins of the smithy are nearby up the slope.