South Tavy Head

South Tavy Head (SX 595810) is one of the most isolated parts of the northern moor. The ground is peat hag ridden which makes it difficult walking country. The South head is one of the Tavy tribituaries and it is fed by the wet blanket bog that covers the plateau. The area covered by the head is surprisingly extensive and is shared with other river heads such as the West Dart, the Cowsic and Walkham. On a sunny day the area is alive with butterflies, larks and so forth. There's even badger setts around. But on a windswept drizzly day conditions would be something else, and South Tavy head in a force 9 gale would be really horrendous.

Park by Holming Beam (SX 591765), walk up the track, and turn right down a short steep track towards the Cowsic. Cross over the wooden bridge and head up towards Beardown Tors but follow the track keeping Lydford Tor on your left. Cross over a stile and walk along the topside of the Methern valley. Walk north towards Devil's Tor. Here you'll find the Beardown Man. Carry on north following the line of the Cowsic. The ground now gets more awkward as we approach serious fen country. Go past Cowsic head and you're suddenly on the plateau with bad ground and good views. Head north and you'll see the wilderness of Tavy Head. Follow the contours wetward along the emerging stream until you get to a more solid hillside overlooking the start of Tavy Hole. Then head south over the plateau until you get to the Walkham valley. Follow the valley down until you get to the confluence with Spriddle Lake. Then walk beside the prison leat until it sweeps off towrds Mistor Marsh. Climb up the low slope of Black Dunghill and then walk back to the car park.

In good weather this walk is excellent - although not one to take lightly. If bad weather hits then this walk could quickly become a real problem. Map and compass are essential - you'll probably need to use the compass even in perfect visibility around Tavy Head. Most of the area is in a military range.

	The car park near Holming Beam (SX 591765). The vehicles belong to the Dartmoor Rescue group who are stationed here in support of the Ten Tors challenge which is taking place on the day of this walk (14th May 2006).
	Part of the army support to the Ten Tors challenge. Photo taken just above the Cowsic wooden bridge. Beardown Tors on the horizon.
	Looking north up the Cowsic valley from the wooden bridge at SX 595770.  On the right is Lydford Tor, on the left horizon is Maiden Hill.
	Approaching the unnamed tor (SX 597797) from the south.
	A well shaped but unnamed tor some hundred yards south of Devil's Tor. View looks SE towards Crow Tor and Longaford.
	The menhir of Beardown Man (SX 596797).
	One of the grassy rivulets that feed into the upper Cowsic. Not the best walking country.
	Looking downstream from Cowsic head.
	Cowsic Head - SX 594805. A couple of sheep are gathered on a small knoll behind which lies the edge of the blanket bog that covers the plateau behind.
	On the watershed above Cowsic Head (SX 595806). On the left horizon are the rocks of Fur Tor while on the right is Cut Hill. This area is very peaty and not the easiest of ground to walk. The dot in the air is an army helicopter - part of the Ten Tors support.
	South Tavy Head. This is a wide drain pan of very peaty ground from which the Tavy emerges.
	Another view of South Tavy Head with Cut Hill in the background.
	A typical tribituary channel. Some of these are quite deep and may be overgrown by the grass.
	Peat hags near South Tavy Head. A very isolated and exposed place and not the spot to get caught in a thunderstorm! SX 589809
	More peat hags.
	The upper Tavy as it begins to enter Tavy Hole. Fur Tor on the right. Taken from SX 585812.
	An army helicopter loading parts of the Ten Tors checkpoint material from Limboro cairn.
	Walkham Head. This is a wide river head in contrast to the smaller head in the steeper adjoining valley of the Cowsic. The name Walkham may derive from Walla Combe. In the past the river has been known as the river Store.
	The upper Walkham valley. This covers a large area and the shallow pan has encouraged substantial peat formation over the years. Over on the horizon lies Lynch Tor. Looking west from SX 580810.
	Old peat workings near Walkham Head. These haven't been used for a while but they covered an extensive and widely worked area. The peat would either be taken down the Walkham valley towards Princetown or else over Lynch Tor and down to Peter Tavy.
	The upper Walkham valley. The view is pointing downstream.
	Looking northwards up the Walkham valley from SX 574795. The prison leat is on the right and has just started from it's source from the outfall of Spriddle Lake.
	The remains of the Wheal Prosper tin mine - SX 573794 as seen from the prison leat. The mine was working in 1790 when a small amount of tin was produced.
	The Walkham and the track of the prison leat.
	An unusual round arch bridge over the leat. This was made by prisoners from Dartmoor prison which accounts for the "non Dartmoor" style.
	Walking alongside the prison leat.
	The NW slope of Black Dunghill - SX 579776. This place must have the most unappealing Dartmoor name but it's actually not that bad. At this time of year it looks positively green. There used to be a lot of peat excavation from here - maybe because it's fairly close to Dartmoor prison.
	The southern view from Black Dunghill.
	The southward track leading back to Holming Beam car park. The trees on the right are part of the plantation that provides shelter from the easterly winds for the prison fields.