River Bovey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids River Bovey |
|
|---|---|
The River Bovey passing over a ford and under Hisley Bridge
|
|
Catchment of the River Bovey
|
|
| Country | England |
| County | Devon |
| Towns | North Bovey; Manaton; Lustleigh; Bovey Tracey |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
|
The River Bovey is a river in Devon, England. It starts on the eastern side of Dartmoor, a large area of moorland. The Bovey is the biggest river that flows into the River Teign.
The river actually begins as two smaller streams. These streams start very close to each other. They are found near the B3212 road, between the towns of Moretonhampstead and Postbridge. The two streams then join together at a place called Jurston.
Contents
The River's Journey
After starting, the River Bovey flows north for about two miles. Then, it changes direction and generally flows towards the southeast.
Along its path, the river passes several interesting places:
- It flows by the village of North Bovey.
- It travels through a beautiful area called Lustleigh Cleave. This cleave is located between the villages of Manaton and Lustleigh.
- Finally, it goes through the town of Bovey Tracey.
The River Bovey eventually meets the River Teign. This meeting point is near the villages of Teigngrace and Kingsteignton. It's about a mile south of Chudleigh Knighton.
Where the River Collects Water
The area from which the River Bovey collects its water is called its catchment. Think of it like a giant funnel that directs all the rainwater into the river.
- To the west, the catchment stretches to Chagford Common. It also goes past Hookney Tor and the road from Fordgate to Hound Tor.
- To the south, the boundary of the catchment is shared with the River Lemon. This line runs from Hemsworthy Gate to Haytor Rocks. It continues past Brimley and stays north of Stover Country Park.
- The eastern edge of the catchment runs from Chudleigh Knighton to Doccombe.
- In the north, the boundary goes from just outside Moretonhampstead to Meldon Hill. This hill is south of Chagford.
Rivers Joining the Bovey
The River Bovey has two main smaller rivers, or tributaries, that flow into it. These add more water to the Bovey as it travels.
- The first main tributary is the Becka Brook. This brook starts near Hound Tor. It then flows through a famous spot called Becky Falls, known for its waterfalls. The Becka Brook joins the River Bovey just below Trendlebere Down.
- The second main tributary is the Wray Brook. This brook begins north of Moretonhampstead. It joins the River Bovey to the south of Lustleigh.
How the River Gave Its Name
The River Bovey has given its name to a few important things in the area.
- It named the Bovey Formation. This is a special type of sedimentary basin, which is like a large bowl in the ground where layers of rock and soil have built up over time. This formation is the main place in England where a special type of clay, called ball clay, is found. Ball clay is used to make things like pottery and tiles.
- The towns of North Bovey and Bovey Tracey both got their names from the river.
- Even Bovey Castle, a fancy hotel located near the river outside North Bovey, is named after it.
