The Dartmoor National Park Authority at Bovey Tracey
The River Bovey woodlands and the old Newton Abbot-to-Moretonhampstead railway line.
Distance 3 miles (4.8km)
Minimum time 1hr 30min
Ascent/gradient 196ft (60m)
Level of difficulty Easy
Paths Woodland and field paths, 4 stiles
Landscape Wooded river valley and parkland
Suggested map aqua3 OS Explorer 110 Torquay & Dawlish
Start/finish SX 814782
Dog friendliness Dogs should be kept under control at all times
Parking Car park on the B3344 at lower end of Fore Street, Bovey Tracey, with tourist information office
Public toilets At car park
Description
The road signs as you approach Bovey Tracey proudly proclaim the town as being the 'Gateway to the Moor', and although this may be debatable (the town is 3 miles/4.8km from the open moor, and gives no impression of Dartmoor proper) it is certainly true that the character of the landscape changes markedly as you leave the town. To the west the road climbs steadily up towards the tourist honeypot of Hay Tor, and the northern route travels past picturesque Lustleigh through the wooded Wray valley to reach Moretonhampstead and the open moorland beyond. The town's other claim to fame is that it is home to the headquarters of the Dartmoor National Park Authority, based at Parke, a splendid house set in spacious parkland just to the west of the town. The River Bovey runs through the National Trust's Parke Estate, and the area provides an excellent range of walking opportunities.
Directions
© The Automobile Association 2006. © Crown Copyright Licence Number 399221
1 Cross the road and turn right, following the signs for 'Town centre shops'. Just before you come to the the bridge turn left along a concrete walkway into Mill Marsh Park, past the children's playground and through the arboretum. This level footpath leads past the sports field to meet the busy A382 at Hole Bridge via a kissing gate. Cross the road carefully.
2 Go through the kissing gate and turn right to enter the National Trust's Parke Estate on the trackbed of the, now dismantled, Newton Abbot-to-Moretonhampstead railway line. Follow the path over the Bovey.
3 Turn immediately left down wooden steps and over a stile to follow the river (left). Cross a stile at the end of the field and carry on through a wooded strip, down wooden steps and over a footbridge and stile into the next field.
4 Signs here point left for Parke and right for 'Railway Walk' but you should go straight on following the 'Riverside Walk' through the field into woodland, then on a raised wooden walkway to the river. The path winds on, then runs along between woods with fields on the right, then over a footbridge to meet the river at a weir. Follow the bank, ignoring a broad track right. Two kissing gates lead out of National Trust land and past a footbridge on the left. A few paces later the footpath turns right to cross the railway track. Turn left and straight on to a lane via a kissing gate.
5 Turn left (signed 'Manaton') and pass between the old railway bridge piers. Walk across Wilsford Bridge, ignoring signs to Lustleigh right. Continue up the lane past Forder gatehouses, then steeply uphill until the lane bends sharp right.
6 Turn left over a stile to re-enter the Parke Estate. The wooded path is narrow, with views left over the Bovey Valley. Go through a beech wood and kissing gate to enter a large field. Keep to the right edge, dropping gradually downhill, to leave via a kissing gate and down a narrow wooded path parallel to the road.
7 The path ends at a kissing gate; turn sharp left to walk across the parkland and the drive to Parke car park. Walk downhill to cross the lower drive, then left to walk below the house, ending at a five-bar gate. Turn right ('Riverside Walk') to cross the river at Parke Bridge, then straight on to join the old railway track.
8 Turn right and follow the track until it crosses the Bovey, to meet the A382. Cross the road to enter Mill Marsh Park and retrace your steps to your car.
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