Bovey Tracey Guide Devon

UK City Guides: Bovey Tracey, Devon

Beautiful Bovey Tracey, Devon

Most of the buildings in the market town of Bovey Tracey are made using local Dartmoor granite. — Most of the buildings in the market town of Bovey Tracey are made using local Dartmoor granite

Bovey Tracey is a tranquil market town in Devon adjacent to the dramatic Dartmoor National Park and is consequently known as a Gateway to Dartmoor. About halfway between Newton Abbot and Moretonhampstead, this town of around 6,000 people is suitable as a base to explore the sights of Dartmoor as well as the South Devon coast, but also has its own attractions.

Ducks swim on the River Bovey in Bovey Tracey, Devon. — Ducks swim on the River Bovey in Bovey Tracey, Devon

History

The village of Bovey dates back until at least the Saxon period. It appears as Bovi in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The River Bovey, from where the town derives its name, starts up on the moor and eventually flows into the River Teign. From the moor also comes the granite that the town's buildings are mostly built from. The other half of the town's name comes from the de Tracey family, Normans who were given the land after the Norman Conquest and who in 1259 established the weekly market.

More than 100 buildings in the town are listed, with the Grade I listed parish church the oldest building in the town. With its 14th century tower and 15th century carvings, the parish church of St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas of Canterbury is perhaps the most preeminent, although there are several other churches in the town worth a visit.

Legend has it that the church was built as a penance by William de Tracy for the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170. However, this story, promoted by the local tourist board, is disputed by historians. The William de Tracy involved in Becket's grisly assassination in Canterbury was not the lord of Bovey Tracey manor but of nearby Bradninch and Moretonhampstead.

The town also featured in the English Civil War. In 1646 Oliver Cromwell and his Roundhead soldiers arrived at Bovey Tracey at night. They surprised part of Lord Wentworth's Regiment, catching some officers playing cards at a local inn. Some of Wentworth's Royalist troops got away, but Cromwell did manage to capture around 400 horses. According to a local story, the Royalists escaped by throwing coins out of the windows to distract the not-so-well-paid Roundheads. The following day, there was a battle on nearby Bovey Heath, where Cromwell's troops were victorious.

Known as the Gateway to Dartmoor, Bovey Tracey is within easy reach of Dartmoor. — Known as the Gateway to Dartmoor, Bovey Tracey is within easy reach of Haytor and other sights of east Dartmoor

Attractions

Within the town itself there are several places worth a visit. Perhaps the most popular, for all ages, is the House of Marbles and Teign Valley Glassworks at the site of a former pottery with distinctive kiln chimneys still towering over the site.

As well as museums devoted to marbles and glass, games of all kinds, and pottery, there are shops selling a wide range of such products, and you can see glassblowers at work. With an outdoor games garden and a licensed restaurant there is plenty to see and do.

House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey includes shops, museums, and restaurants. — House of Marbles in Bovey Tracey includes shops, museums, and restaurants

MAKE Southwest is a series of galleries displaying a wide variety of locally created arts and crafts. Home of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen, and located in a riverside setting, changing exhibitions throughout the year show arts and crafts made from ceramics, wood, leather, paper, textiles and metal as well as jewelry, prints, and photographs etc. A large shop has a selection of local crafts for sale and there is also a cafe serving hot drinks and cakes.

Dartmoor Whisky Distillery in the Old Town Hall is the only whisky distillery in Devon and their tasting tours are very popular. Following introductions to the distillery participants get to taste a range of their whiskies as well as gin. A shop carries a full range of drinks as well as related merchandise.

The Jolly Roger is a totally unique establishment combining two distinct interests, motorbikes and life-size models. A showroom, shop, and warehouse for life-size models is the primary business, but there is also a collection of motorbikes on display. The bikes include Harley Davidsons and many Triumphs, and the life-size figures range from Dinosaurs to fantasy figures and include historical, movie, and literary characters. Especially popular with kids, there is also a cafe.

Besides the the parish church of St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas of Canterbury, other churches in Bovey include the Baptist Church, St. John the Evangelist and the Holy Spirit Catholic Church.

Teign Valley Glassworks a popular visitor attraction for all ages. — Teign Valley Glassworks a popular visitor attraction for all ages

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

St. John the Evangelist, Bovey Tracey. — St. John the Evangelist, one of many picturesque churches in Bovey Tracey

Eat & Drink

Creeping Thyme on Fore Street is in its own words "a small intimate award winning, 20 seater restaurant" serving locally-sourced produce. Also try Brookside Café & Restaurant on Station Road and 3 Sixty on Newton Road.

There are a couple of pubs in town The Bell Inn and the historic Cromwell Arms also offering accommodation.

Haytor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon. — Haytor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon

Nearby

Within easy driving distance of Bovey Tracey are several places of interest. Haytor is a 10 minute drive west on the B3387 or take the 193 bus. The granite outcrop has some fantastic views of the moor and on a clear day, it is even possible to see the sea to the south. Granite from the local quarries here was used to build the British Museum, and the original London Bridge, which is now in the USA.

Continue on the B3387 to Widecombe in the Moor to see Widecombe Church, known as the 'Cathedral of the Moor' due to its large size in such a small village on Dartmoor.

Postbridge Clapper Bridge, Dartmoor National Park, Devon. — Postbridge Clapper Bridge, Dartmoor National Park, Devon

A 35-minute drive on the B3387 brings you to Postbridge Clapper Bridge. This lovely bridge is one of several clapper bridges found across Dartmoor, Exmoor, and other highland areas of the UK. They are believed to be derived from the Saxon word cleaca which means "bridging the stepping stones".

The village of Chudleigh is 10 minutes east on the B3344 or 20 minutes on the 38 bus. Colorful Chudleigh Carnival takes place in July.

Tourist Information Centre

Riverside Community Centre
Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9AW

Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10 am to 4 pm; Friday 10 am to 1 pm; Saturday 10 am - 1 pm. Closed Monday, Wednesday and Sunday.

Accommodation

As a base for a visit to nearby Dartmoor, Bovey Tracey and the surrounding area has a wide variety of accommodation choices with camping and glamping, numerous self-catering options, farmhouse and pub bed & breakfasts as well as hotels ranging from small and intimate up to large, country house size.

The Dolphin Hotel on Station Road provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking and a bar. The Cromwell Arms is housed in a former 17th century oak-beamed coaching inn.

Select from a range of accommodation in Bovey Tracey.

Exeter, the nearest large city, offers a range of accommodation options to suit all budgets and tastes. Choose from a selection of hotels and guest houses in Exeter including the four-star Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel, the four-star Southernhay House Hotel, and Jurys Inn Exeter, also a four-star hotel.

See here for a complete list of accommodation in Exeter.

A humourous statue guards the entrance to a front garden in the Devon town of Bovey Tracey. — A humourous statue guards the entrance to a front garden in the Devon town of Bovey Tracey

Access - Getting There

18 miles southwest of Exeter on the Devon Expressway/A38, Bovey Tracey (population around 6,000) is also within easy reach of Haytor, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, Torquay, and, of course, Dartmoor National Park.

Rail

Bovey Tracey had a railway service until 1959 when passenger services ceased. In 1970 the line closed permanently. The old station is home to the Bovey Tracey Heritage Trust Centre. The closest train station now is 6 miles away in Newton Abbot, 30 minutes by bus.

Trains from Exeter St David's Station connect to Newton Abbot in about 20 minutes. From there, take bus 39 (15 minutes) to the Methodist Church in Bovey Tracey.

Bus

The 38 bus runs between Exeter Bus Station and Bovey via Countess Wear and Chudleigh. Journey time is about 45 minutes.

The number 12 Stagecoach bus connects Torquay with Newton Abbot in about 30 minutes.

The 173 bus connects Moretonhampstead with Exeter and takes around 1 hour, 20 minutes.

Air

The nearest airport to Bovey Tracey is Exeter International Airport, only 5 miles to the east of Exeter city near Clyst Honiton off the A30.

The airport has regular domestic flights to Aberdeen, Alicante, Belfast, Edinburgh, Guernsey/Jersey, the Isles of Scilly, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle.

International destinations include Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, Dublin, Faro, Funchal, Geneva, Hannover, Larnaca, Nice, Palma, Paris, Malaga and Salzburg.