Great Mis Tor, Merrivale, Dartmoor National Park
Great Mis Tor is one of the most easily accessible of the high, rocky tors on Dartmoor. Located on the western side of the National Park near Princetown, Great Mis Tor is part of a cluster of beautiful granite outcrops by the B3357 that runs between Princetown and Tavistock.
The much photographed Great Staple Tor is to the south west, Roos Tor to the west and White Tor with its Fort/Neolithic Enclosure to the north west. These tors provide huge views across the National Park and Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You'll also see the River Tamar flowing south to Plymouth and the South Devon and East Cornwall coastlines.
We've positioned Great Mis Tor on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.
Recommended route to Great Mis Tor
Unlike most Dartmoor tors, Great Mis Tor is only *easily* reached from one direction. The River Walkham forms a natural barrier north and west of the tor. After dry spells, there are crossing points but the river doesn't make it easy to walk in from these directions. Mistor Marsh and a series of brooks and a leat make access difficult from the east. Again, it's possible during a dry spell but not easy. There's boggy access from the north east via the Lichway/Lych Way and Conies Down Tor area or a little further down from Black Dunghill via Holming Beam.
With this in mind, start from one of the car parking areas by the B3357 or follow the path from Princetown as marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map. The simplest route is from the car parking area by the prehistoric Merrivale Complex due south of the tor. You follow the army track as it climbs to Little Mis Tor. The track turns into a rutted path or you can just walk across the moor to Great Mis Tor in front of you.
To extend the walk, it's fun to drop down the west flank of the tor through the clitter field to Grimstone Head Weir on the River Walkham. From there, wander up the side of the Walkham to the Greena Ball area before looping back to the top of the tor. Follow the army track back down to the car park. Whilst you are there, wander across to English Heritage's Merrivale Complex with its stone rows, standing stone, stone circle and cists.
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