Lane End, Tavy Cleave, Dead Lake Ford, Hare Tor, and Ger Tor

This walk will be in one of the firing ranges on Dartmoor. If red flags are flying on top of strategic tors, the car park also has a flagpole; this walk cannot be completed today. Do not enter.

(S/E) Starting at the Lane End car park, head east along the farm track to where it enters the farm. The next objective is to handrail the Wheal Jewel Leat, which is still in an easterly direction but with a slight northerly path. There is a tendency to drop down the slope, keep high.

Entering the Cleave: Be mindful that there may be no mobile phone signal; for assistance or using the route on the app, if not downloaded.

At the Leat, on the riverside handrail upstream, into the valley, and to the small stone building, which straddles the Leat. If the river is in spate, approaching the hut, cross the Leat; there is a narrow crossing point, as the water run off will be over the path. If not in spate, the option is to cross by the hut.

(1) At the Leat intake weir, continue up the river. The path from here is varied, from worn trails to routes over boulders. Keeping the river on the right, and as the hillside levels out to a flattening landscape, the main river, Tavy, turns right; a stream joins from the north, the Rattle Brook. Follow, the RattleBrook upstream to where Dead Lake, the stream, flows into the valley. walk up to (2) Dead Lake Ford. Depending on the rainfall, Dead Lake may only be a small brook or even have dried up.

Escape Route: Due to the remote access and terrain, if able to, walk off, and continue (2) to (E). If assistance is needed, call for assistance with the location use W3W >>> and set the location.

(2) Dead Lake Ford, a moorland track, access track for the military, crosses the stream. Heading on a north-westerly direction and up to the Tor.

(3) Hare Tor, the route will lead off in a southwesterly direction. This section should be easy to follow, as it is again a route used by the military or the security to manage the flags.

(4) Ger Tor, with the views over and down through the Cleave. The way down from the Ger Tor has route options; the area is a boulder field. Heading southwest, across the leat. There is a bridge if crossing is difficult. The app route does lead to one of the bridges; should the chosen path lead off route, another bridge is south towards Nattor Farm, continue to (S/E).

Before the walk

• Ensure the walk matches your needs, skills, and ability
• Do not attempt unless you are a competent 'remote' walker, and you are prepared for any eventualities.
• Being prepared with suitable clothing, footwear, and equipment -carry a first aid kit, whistle, a torch, etc
• Check the weather forecast; see in the app
• Consider something to eat, and always be hydrated; take a drink.
• Use the Visorando app, download the walk to your mobile. Consider a battery backup and or a printed route.
• Let someone know where you are. The app has a share route function, ‘Share my Location’.
• Dartmoor Firing ranges. This walk will be in one of the firing ranges on Dartmoor. If red flags are flying on top of strategic tors, the car park also has a flagpole, this walk cannot be completed today. Do not enter. Check the notice board in the carpark or - Dartmoor Firing days >>>

The Walk - Set as 'Moderate' - due to the terrain and remote walking

Start: W3W >>> Lane End car park

• Parking: Vehicle parking - The Lane End car park
• Timing: The time taken is estimated, to allow extra time, when appropriate, for exploring and personal pace.
• Note: Ensure the Country Codes are followed and that dogs are kept under control. Farmers do have special powers regarding dogs worrying. Keep off the field where crops are growing, stay on the path.
• Accessibility: Moorland walking offers its own challenges, especially on this walk. Caution is required when negotiating the many boulders; care should be taken, especially on the last section - concentrate on the footings, and not the end.
• Handrail: is a linear feature that has been identified as a road, wall, etc
• Spate: Flash flood after rain

NOTE: Dartmoor's weather can change in an instant; one minute it's sunny, and the next, thick with fog, it can be dry, then heavy rain. The River Tavy is one of the fastest-rising rivers in the UK during a spate. Keep away from the water's edge.

During the walk

• Where applicable, keep to the defined paths
• Leave no trace, take away only memories, and leave only footprints
• Keep dogs under control, and leave no trace; bag it and bin it, don't sling it.
• Know your own limitations; walking is an adventure, and can have risks associated with it. Be responsible and know when to give up and turn back, rather than get into any harm
• Care should be taken when climbing tors, especially when wet. All three tors have easy access routes; be mindful of the more adventurous scrambles and appreciate that there can be some high drops.
• Walking within a group? Walk together.
• Be Tick aware >>

Report any findings; see app ' ! '

Meaning of -

• 'Cleave' as a verb has two meanings, but the one that seems to fit the location, and probably how Cleave got the name, is cutting or splitting something apart. In this case, the river is cutting its way through the land, assisted by weathering and glaciation.
• 'Leat' - is simply an open water course, supplying water to a mill or other workings, in this case, mining activity
• 'Spate' - a sudden flood of a river

Wheal Jewel was a nearby mining workings