Clam Bridge, Manaton, Dartmoor National Park
The River Bovey cuts a beautiful valley between Foxworthy Bridge and Drakeford Bridge. Lustleigh Cleave dominates the upper section of the valley. Houndtor Wood and Hisley Wood are beautiful downstream. Towards the middle of the valley, next to a modern, wooden footbridge is Clam Bridge. Fenced off and no longer usable, the simple log bridge and handrail were used for over a century to cross the river.
We've positioned Clam Bridge on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. The modern, wooden footbridge is one of a high number of bridges and stepping stones in the valley. Crossing this next to Clam Bridge is the most direct route between Water and Freeland (which form the lower part of Manaton) and Hammerslake (on the outskirts of Lustleigh). The path on the south side of the river is particularly steep but ends near the Kestor Inn should you need a drink after all the effort.
We'd recommend using Clam Bridge as part of a circular walk from the Kestor Inn. Whilst there are many potential routes, we'd suggest either walking north or south of the bridge. The northern circular route takes you up to Sharpitor and Nut Crackers and then along the broad ridge at the top of Lustleigh Cleave on which Harton Chest and Hunter's Tor sit. You drop down to Foxworthy and return via Horsham. Refer to the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map for detail.
The southern circular route takes you through Hisley Wood to Hisley Bridge and then back up through Houndtor Wood to the Kestor Inn.
Running north west to south east, the main bridges and stepping stones on the River Bovey in this valley are:
Foxworthy Bridge.
Horsham Steps.
Clam Bridge.
(Houndtor Wood Bridge.)
Hisley Bridge.
Drakeford Bridge.
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