Bovey Heathfield

About this route

Bovey Heathfield is a remnant of lowland heathland that was once much more common in the area. It has suffered from misuse in the past but is now being managed as a Community Nature reserve.

Divided into two parts, it supports a range of habitats including dry and wet heathland, scrub and wet alder carr. There is a range of plants characteristic of heathland, including heather, heath milkwort, heath spotted orchid, bog asphodel and devil’s bit scabious. The reserve has a diverse fauna, including heathland rarities such as the Dartford warbler.

Getting Around

By bus: a regular bus service runs from Newton Abbot to Battle Road, Heathfield, visit the Travel Devon website for further information.
By road: turn off the A38 at Drum Bridges, then the A382 Newton Abbot Road heading towards Heathfield, at the lights turn right into Battle Road, then second left onto Cavalier Road. Continue along to a left hand turn, Dragoon Close where a gravel track on the right leads to the main entrance.

Facilities
Terrain
An easy access path offers a shorter circular route, otherwise terrain is uneven, please keep to the paths.
Accessibility
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Interesting information

Bovey Heathfield is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserve, it is managed by the Devon Wildlife Trust.

Photo of gorse flowers
Bovey Heathfield by Paul Dickson

You can explore more in this area

Photo looking out over Stover Lake through trees

Stover Country Park Wildlife

Stover Country Park covers 114 acres which consist of six main habitats types:  freshwater, marshland, coniferous plantation, mixed broadleaved woodland,
Photo of a trail through woodland at Yarner Woods

East Dartmoor woods and heaths

This National Nature Reserve consists of three adjacent sites – Yarner Woods, Trendlebere Down and the Bovey Valley Woodlands. The