Bovey Valley, Bovey Tracey, Dartmoor National Park
The River Bovey flows, roughly speaking, from the high moor north east of The Warren House Inn down to the River Teign near Stover Country Park. On Dartmoor, the Bovey Valley is usually taken to mean the beautiful wooded valley between Foxworthy Bridge and Drakeford Bridge. You could spend a holiday exploring and enjoying this valley alone. It's an exceptional place and essential Dartmoor visiting.
We've positioned the Bovey Valley on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. Because it's such an exceptional place, we've split this listing into two sections. The first deals with the valley's geography. The second covers things to do and places to visit.
The River Bovey enters the valley below the stunning Hunter's Tor. Cleaves rise from either side of the river. Lustleigh Cleave is the bigger and climbs north of the water. It's one of the most impressive places in Dartmoor National Park. Neadon Cleave, Horsham Cleave and Water Cleave are south of the river. Foxworthy is a small hamlet at the mouth of the valley. Foxworthy Bridge is a good, stone bridge spanning the Bovey.
Horsham Steps are downstream. High above, on the broad ridge of Lustleigh Cleave, are various lookout points offering stunning views. See our listings for Lustleigh Cleave Lookout Rock (1), Lustleigh Cleave Lookout Rock (2) and Harton Chest for detail. The woods south of the river at this point are part of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve. The Kestor Inn is above the woods and is part of the village Manaton. Below the inn, Clam Bridge spans the river which then bisects Hisley Wood to the north and Houndtor Wood to the south.
Towards the bottom on the valley is the gorgeous Hisley Bridge. From there, the River Bovey arcs past Pullbrook Wood to Drakeford Bridge at the tail of the valley. Pullbrook Wood, Houndtor Wood and Hisley Wood form the Bovey Valley Woodlands.
The village Manaton is on the south side of the river. The village Lustleigh is on the north side. The Dartmoor gateway town Bovey Tracey is located to the south east by the National Trust's Parke Estate.
So, what to do?
First, it's a walkers' paradise. If you're a keen walker, try the long Bovey Valley Circular Walk. Other walks we'd recommend include the Lustleigh Cleave, Hunter's Tor and Bovey Valley Woodlands Circular Walk and Lustleigh Cleave to Hunter's Tor Circular Walk. Note that the Bovey Valley is on the edge of the high moor. Wander across to see Bowerman's Nose and Hound Tor.
In addition to walking, you can mountain bike or horse ride in the Bovey Valley.
For photography, head up to the viewpoints at Harton Chest and Hunter's Tor. Hisley Bridge is a cracking spot as well.
Much of the Bovey Valley is part of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve. Visit the Yarner Wood Reserve Base/Natural England Office and watch birds from one of the hides.
There are plenty of pubs and cafes in the Bovey Valley area. Try the Kestor Inn in Manaton, the Cleave Pub in Lustleigh and the Home Farm Cafe in the National Trust's Parke Estate.
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