Meavy, Dartmoor National Park

Meavy, Dartmoor National Park
  • Pretty, archetypal English village in the south western section of Dartmoor National Park
  • Relax at The Royal Oak pub by the village church and green
  • Walk to the superb Burrator Reservoir and yomp to the top of the many tors that fringe the water. Continue to Dartmoor's high moor. Drive the B3212 to Princetown, Two Bridges and Postbridge
  • Drop down to the Dewerstone which is a Dartmoor beauty spot in a valley cut by the River Plym. Explore the Plym Valley on bike and cycle a section of Drake's Trail to Plymouth
  • Visit the National Trust's Saltram and Buckland Abbey. Spend a day at Dartmoor Zoo. Head to the South Devon coast
  • Main photo: The Royal Oak Inn and the village green in Meavy

 

Where is Meavy in Dartmoor National Park?

Meavy is located near the south western border of Dartmoor National Park.

The beauty spot Burrator Reservoir is north east. Dartmoor's high south moor is to the east. The South Devon coast and Plymouth are south and south west. The Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is to the west.

It's a great place from which to explore Dartmoor, South Devon, Plymouth and the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. East Cornwall is also very easily accessible on the A38.

 

Directions to Meavy

If you're coming from the heart of Dartmoor, drive the B3212 to the Dousland and Yelverton area and then follow one of the moorland roads across to Meavy.

If you're coming from West Devon or the Plymouth area, take the A386 to Yelverton and then follow one of the moorland roads across to Meavy.

We've positioned Meavy on Google maps. Zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location.

 

Parking in Meavy

You can normally find parking along the lanes in the village.

 

Why holiday or weekend break in Meavy?

To help you choose the Meavy area, we’ve listed some of the local attractions below.

 

The Royal Oak in Meavy

Enjoy a pub lunch at The Royal Oak. This is one of Dartmoor's great pub locations. The Warren House Inn is on high moorland. Fingle Bridge Inn is in a classic Dartmoor steep-sided valley. The Royal Oak Inn is in a picture-postcard village by the village green. Highly recommended when on holiday in Dartmoor National Park.

If you're a keen walker, try parking at Burrator Reservoir and walking down.

 

Meavy village green

Relax on the village green by the pub and in the shadow of the church.

 

Dartmoor tors near Meavy

Sheeps Tor. Sheeps Tor dominates the eastern side of Burrator Reservoir. It rises steeply from the plantations that fringe the water and is topped by huge rocky outcrops and crags that are popular with climbers. Given its height and relative isolation, the 360 degree views are sensational. If you're exploring the Burrator Reservoir area, make sure you yomp up to the top of Sheeps Tor. 

Gutter Tor. Gutter Tor is an easily accessible and very impressive collection of outcrops above Sheepstor Brook Ford and Scout Hut Copse east of Sheepstor village and the lower section of Burrator Reservoir. It provides super views of the Upper Plym Valley (English Heritage).

Leather Tor. A fin of rock rising steeply from the surrounding moorland, Leather Tor is great for a scramble. It also offers immense views of Burrator Reservoir and Dartmoor's south moor.

Sharpitor (Princetown/West Dartmoor). There are a handful of tors on Dartmoor that give you very special views in return for very little effort. Sharpitor (Princetown/West Dartmoor) is one of them.

 

Burrator Reservoir near Meavy

Visit Burrator Reservoir.

Burrator Reservoir, or Burrator, is an exceptionally popular Dartmoor beauty spot in the south west section of the National Park. It sits below the busy B3212 between Princetown and Yelverton.

Fringed by plantations, tors and moorland, the Burrator Reservoir area is a concentrated version of Dartmoor. Two dam walls sit at the southern end of the reservoir. The water arcs north east. A road and various paths run around the reservoir. There are plenty of car parks from which to explore the area.

 

Dartmoor’s prehistory near Meavy

Upper Plym Valley (English Heritage). The English Heritage Handbook states that the Upper Plym Valley has 'some 300 Bronze Age and medieval sites, covering 6 square miles of Dartmoor landscape'.

Yellowmead Circles/Multiple Stone Ring. Multiple stone rings in a top setting.

Down Tor Stone Row (Hingston Hill Stone Row). This is arguably the most extraordinary stone row on Dartmoor. Whilst Stall Moor Stone Row is the longest in the world and Stalldown Stone Row has the tallest collection of stones, for sheer presence it's hard to beat Down Tor Stone Row (Hingston Hill Stone Row). This is essential visiting when on holiday in Dartmoor National Park.

 

Dartmoor’s high moor and Princetown from Meavy

Drive the B3212 north east and you'll very soon come to Princetown.

Dartmoor's most famous village/town, Princetown is located on high moor in the central section of the National Park. It sits between Dartmoor's north and south moors and is home to the imposing Dartmoor Prison. Learn more about Dartmoor National Park in the Princetown National Park Visitor Centre. Discover Dartmoor Prison's history in Dartmoor Prison Museum.

 

Cycling near Meavy

Mountain bike the Granite and Gears Princetown Railway Cycling Routes and Granite and Gears Princetown and Burrator Cycling Route from Princetown. You can hire bikes from Princetown Cycle Hire/Fox Tor Cafe Cycle Hire.

Other cycle routes we'd recommend include Drake's Trail that runs between Tavistock and Plymouth and the Granite Way which runs between Lydford and Okehampton.

 

Walks near Meavy

For a waterside walk, try the Burrator Reservoir Circular Walk.

For a walk with a tor, try the Burrator and Sheepstor Circular Walk.

For a valley walk, try the Dewerstone Valley Circular Walk. Note that this one is particularly impressive in autumn when the leaves turn.

 

Cadover Bridge and the River Plym from Meavy

Cadover Bridge is a beauty spot near Meavy. Great for a picnic and paddle in the River Plym.

 

The Dewerstone from Meavy

The Dewerstone is another beauty spot in the Meavy area. Walk to the top of its crags for big views or complete the Dewerstone Valley Circular Walk to which we refer above.

 

Dartmoor Zoo from Meavy

Dartmoor Zoo. Great family day out.

 

National Trust properties near Meavy

Buckland Abbey (National Trust). Spend time walking Dartmoor's south plateau and you'll encounter a high number of ancient crosses. These marked routes across the moors. The routes were used by monks and others to travel between the medieval abbeys and priory that fringed the wild, high ground. Buckland Abbey was one of these monastic institutions. The abbey is most famous as the home of Sir Francis Drake. Today, it is a National Trust property.

Saltram (National Trust). Super impressive, and popular, National Trust property on the outskirts of Plymouth.

Plym Valley (National Trust). Moorland and river valley. Great for walks and views.

Lydford Gorge (National Trust) is home to the thunderous Devil's Cauldron and what is said to be the highest natural waterfall in South West England. The circular walk around the lip and floor of the gorge is an extraordinary experience.

 

Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from Meavy

The Tamar Valley is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) that borders the west side of Dartmoor National Park. The AONB is located on either side of the River Tamar where Devon meets Cornwall. Stunning landscape. One of the most under-visited areas of beauty in the UK. Away from the crowds and highly recommended.

 

Exploring Plymouth from Meavy

Take the A386 south to Plymouth.

'Britain's ocean city' is situated just south west of Dartmoor National Park. Plymouth is arguably the best located city in the UK overlooking Plymouth Sound and the South Devon and East Cornwall coastlines. The city's waterside areas are stunning.

Visit top attractions including the National Marine Aquarium, Smeaton's Tower and the Tinside Lido. Take a boat trip and try watersports in Plymouth Sound. Discover Plymouth's internationally important maritime history. Drake, Raleigh, the Pilgrim Fathers, Captain Cook and Charles Darwin all sailed from the city. Enjoy top Westcountry food and drink. Plymouth Royal William Yard and the Barbican are highlights.

 

Exploring South Devon from Meavy

The coast east of Plymouth is lined with magnificent beaches. Bigbury-on-Sea Beach and Bantham Beach are highlights.

See our sister site Love South Devon for more information.

 

Exploring East Cornwall from Meavy

Meavy is close to East Cornwall. Follow the A386 and then A38 west into East Cornwall.

Rame Head, Cawsand and Kingsand are essential visiting.

At low tide, Whitsand Bay is sublime. It's one of our favourite spots in the Westcountry.

 

Other local towns and villages near Meavy

For villages/small settlements, head up to Two Bridges and Postbridge.

For towns, try Tavistock.