Great Links Tor
Great Links Tor is one of the most impressive and remote high tors on Dartmoor, rising to approximately 586 metres above sea level on the northern quarter of the moor. It sits within the vast open expanse of high Dartmoor, well away from any roads or settlements, making it one of those summits that must genuinely be earned on foot. The tor is notable for its substantial granite outcrop, which crowns a broad, boggy hill and commands sweeping views across the northern moor and, on clear days, well into Cornwall and over the Bristol Channel to the Welsh hills. Its relative isolation and the effort required to reach it mean that visitors are rewarded with a profound sense of wildness and solitude that is increasingly rare in southern England.
Dartmoor's tors, including Great Links, were formed through millions of years of geological process. The granite beneath the moor was intruded as molten magma deep within the Earth during the Variscan orogeny around 300 million years ago. Over countless ages, the overlying rock was stripped away by erosion, and the granite was exposed and shaped by weathering, freeze-thaw cycles during ice ages, and the action of wind and rain. The resulting stacked blocks and weathered pillars of Great Links Tor are classic examples of this process, with horizontal and vertical jointing producing the characteristic layered appearance common to Dartmoor tors. The area has been used by humans since prehistoric times, and the wider high moor is scattered with Bronze Age remains, including cairns and the remnants of ancient field systems that speak to a period when the climate was warmer and the land more hospitable.
Physically, Great Links Tor presents as a rugged crown of grey granite blocks, some quite large and dramatically balanced atop one another, giving the summit a castellated, fortress-like silhouette when viewed from a distance. Up close, the rock is textured and roughened by millennia of weathering, colonised in patches by vivid orange and grey lichens that give the stone a painterly, almost mosaic quality. The landscape immediately around the tor is high blanket bog, with cotton grass, purple moor grass, and sphagnum moss underfoot — a terrain that can be wet and yielding even in relatively dry periods. The sound of the place is defined by wind, which can be persistent and strong at this elevation, along with the calls of skylarks in summer and the haunting cries of golden plovers and curlews drifting across the open moor.
The surrounding landscape is quintessential high Dartmoor: treeless, wide, and wild. Nearby tors within walking distance include Doe Tor, Hare Tor, and the distinctive sharp profile of Fur Tor — sometimes described as the most remote tor on Dartmoor — which lies to the south-east across boggy ground. The West Okement River rises in the surrounding catchment, and the Meldon Reservoir to the north-east is visible from the summit on a clear day. The military firing ranges that occupy significant portions of northern Dartmoor are nearby, and visitors must be aware of live firing days when access to certain areas is restricted. The Ministry of Defence publishes firing timetables, and red flags flying at range boundaries indicate when access is prohibited.
Reaching Great Links Tor requires a commitment to moorland walking. The most practical approach is from Sourton or from the lane near Dartmoor Inn at Lydford, heading south and east onto the open moor. There are no waymarked trails leading directly to the tor, so navigation by map and compass — or reliable GPS — is essential, particularly in poor visibility when the featureless terrain can be disorienting. The walk is typically several kilometres each way across rough, sometimes wet ground, and appropriate footwear, waterproofs, and navigation equipment are strongly advised. The Dartmoor National Park Authority recommends that walkers carry Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL28, which covers this part of the moor in detail.
The best times to visit are late spring through early autumn, when days are long, the weather is most settled, and the moor is at its most colourful. However, Dartmoor's weather is notoriously changeable and can deteriorate rapidly at any time of year, so visitors should always check forecasts and be prepared for mist, wind, and rain even in summer. The high summer months bring the bonus of spectacular wildflower displays in the valleys below and the constant song of skylarks overhead. Winter visits are possible for experienced hill walkers and offer the dramatic possibility of the tor under snow or frost, but carry significantly greater risk given the potential for severe weather and short daylight hours.
One of the compelling hidden qualities of Great Links Tor is its place in the tradition of Dartmoor letterboxing, a quirky and beloved pastime that originated on the moor in the nineteenth century and now has thousands of devotees. Hidden among Dartmoor's tors and valleys are thousands of small waterproof boxes containing a visitors' book and a rubber stamp, and Great Links Tor, by virtue of its remoteness and prominence, has long featured on the itineraries of serious letterboxers. This tradition — which predates and inspired the global geocaching phenomenon — gives the tor an added layer of significance as a landmark within a living, participatory culture unique to Dartmoor.