DARTMOOR WAY - STAGE THREE

NORTH BOVEY TO BOVEY TRACEY

The thing that these two settlements have in common is reflected in their names - the proximity to the River Bovey and it and the valley in which it is located was never far out of view on this stage of the journey. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Bovey Lots of minor lanes, bridle roads and forest tracks but not a lot to write about.

 The start was down through the village to the River Bovey along a byway.

 On reaching the river there is this attractive set of stepping stones but the route did not take me that way. Instead the byway took me over Dickford Water via Dickford Bridge  to the hamlet of Barnefield. 

 As the route descended down a lane to the River Bovey this was the view across the fields back towards North Bovey. Clapper Bridge was at the bottom.

 The lane climbed up the other side and after a left turn down another lane this attractive garden complete with statues was at Neadon. 

 Footpaths and bridleways above the valley of the Bovey led to Horsham ( a small collection of buildings nestling in woods) and on to the village of Water. I chose not to deviate into the village where there is the Kestor Inn http://www.kestorinn.com/  The route continues down a lane to Beckhams and then the route is through Houndtor Wood, descending to follow the River Bovey to Drakeford Bridge.

 After you break out of the woods near Drakeford Bridge there is this long grass meadow adjacent to the river.

 After Drakeford Bridge the route goes under a disused railway bridge and then the former track and the river are followed for 3/4 of a mile. The route then follows a footpath above the old railway track now a cycleway where the above picture was taken . 

 After crossing the A382 Bovey Tracey is reached and the route is up through some houses to the Cromwell's Arch - all that is left of an ecclesiastical building. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1003831

I stayed the night at the Cromwell Arms http://www.thecromwellarms.co.uk/

 which proved to be another good choice. I had time for a wander around the town - http://www.boveytracey.gov.uk/