The River Bovey

Flowing from Dartmoor through the town of Bovey Tracey before meeting the River Teign is the River Bovey.

The River Bovey starts its life on the eastern side of Dartmoor National Park, not far from the River Teign which it later flows into. It has two main tributaries, the Wray Brook which rises north of Moretonhampstead and joins the Bovey south of Lustleigh and the Becka Brook which starts life near Hound Tor and flows through Becky Falls.

It is the first, and largest, of the three main tributaries of the River Teign, and it was once known as the West Teign, the two rivers meet about a mile south of the village of Chudleigh Knighton, in a relatively flat area known as the Bovey Basin. The Bovey Basin stretches from Bovey Tracey to the town of Newton Abbot and is famous for its valuable deposit of ball clay which is still mined in the area. Ball clay is valued for its light fired colour and is used mainly in ceramic whiteware.   

The River Bovey passes through several towns and villages, some of which have taken their names from the river including North Bovey, on Dartmoor, and Bovey Tracey. The river has also given its name to the luxury hotel Bovey Castle which sits just outside Moretonhampstead.

As the River Bovey makes its way through Bovey Tracey it passes through Mill Marsh Park and by The Devon Guild of Craftsmen, which is located in the Riverside Mill. The Riverside Mill is a Grade II listed building built in the 19th century as stables for Bridge House, now the pub opposite, there is a large water wheel to the side which was used to draw water from the River Bovey to the main house and for the horses. 

Once it has joined the River Teign the river makes its way to the sea at Teignmouth.