Bovchu three

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Bovchu here.

I walked from Bovey Tracey to Chudleigh and enjoyed this Slow Ways route. I parked in the Methodist Church Car park but there are other car parks, toilets and a visitor centre. The route is muddy in parts and I experienced one flooded muddy road but that section of the route is short, I would suggest walking boots. Stiles and gates throughout the route with some steep steps and a steep climb at Gappah and into Chudleigh.
I decided to do this route as it takes in more of Bovey Tracey’s picturesque town. Bovchu two is the same route except in Bovey Tracey you walk along Le Molay-Littry Way which is a pavemented path beside a road.


Starting at Fore Street we headed up through Bovey Tracey passing local shops and businesses, there are lots of cute houses and you pass a nice church.
Most of this is pavemented but there is a small portion of quiet road to walk on.

Turning down a footpath that will lead you to Le Molay-Littry Way. There were muddy parts down this path until Le Molay-Littry Way which is all paved. Along Le Molay-Littry Way and crossing over the road you enter into a big field where there are cows, they were on the opposite side of the field and not bothered by us.
After climbing over a muddy stile there was bit of country lane walking but it was quiet and we didn’t encounter any cars. The public footpath signs were easy to follow as we entered through the private fishing pond and is well sign posted throughout. Following the Public Footpath signs pass through Little Bovey Farm but it is all clearly sign posted and we got to see some pigs.

Between the farm and the Chudleigh Knighton Nature Reserve is where the flooded path was, but we managed to walk on the banks and the less flooded spots. Through a muddy gate and into Chudleigh Knighton Nature Reserve, we went to the left and wandered through the high shrubbery until the reserve flattens out and you can see the electricity pylons and the edge of the reserve. There is an obvious gate to leave through and walk along a busy fast road, not sure if this is the way out you are meant to leave by. Instead of leaving through the obvious gate we followed the wall down in the reserve and left through a gate less obvious to see so we didn’t have to walk as far on the verge beside the road. When we walked along the verge it had been cut, we found it easy to cross even though it is a fast road.

Along this path there were a couple of benches and some Ant signs which are part of the Ant trail you can do around the Nature Reserve. At the end of the path there is an information board showing you a map of the Nature Reserve you have just walked through. Heading into Chudleigh Knighton you pass a play park and at the time of posting the only refreshments or toilets available are in the Clay Cutters Arms and there is also a bus stop.

Once through the village where at times you walk along the road, you head down a footpath over the River Teign and through a field by the A38. Walking underneath the A38 you come out on the other side and walk along a path that brings you to the B3193. This part of the walk was fine, but crossing the B3193 isn’t the nicest to cross as cars are driving fast and it’s on a slight bend so visibility can be difficult. Needless to say we moved fast.

This is when the route starts to incline, you will meet some steep steps and start to climb up to Gappah. A great view at the top. Once at Gappah you enter a field through a brambly broken stile which has been reported to the council. There were cows in the field which were in our way, we slowly walked through them which was scary and would suggest going around them.
A couple more stiles, gates and you enter a field where you can see Chudleigh Rocks, there were people climbing when we walked the route. This is also a field with some great trees.

Over Kate Brook and heading up the last steep climb you come out at civilisation and walk along a pavement to Chudleigh town centre and the cafes, restaurants and shops.

Great walk, wear boots, lots to see.

There are three slow ways for Bovchu. This is marginally longer than the other two but I chose it as it has most off-road walking. It’s not accessible for all with steps, stiles and some steep gradients. There are just a couple of big road crossings and a small section that requires walking along a busy road but there is good visibility and a wide verge. I walked the way from Bovey Tracey to Chudleigh.

There’s a lot of variety on this walk. Bovey is an interesting little town, with history and a good arts and craft vibe. Plenty of cafes and other refreshment opportunities. Also good bus connections. The slow way heads out of Bovey along the high street following pavements then turns onto a bridleway.

After a short section along pavement of B3344 it joins a field footpath (cattle were on far side, not bothered) which leads to and through Little Bradley Ponds Nature Reserve which is a peaceful spot.

A combination of footpaths and walking along quiet lanes and a bridleway (slightly flooded at the start when I walked it but a dry and firm, wide verge) brings you to another nature reserve Knighton Heath. It’s access land with a couple of used paths to choose from I took the left fork through the gate but they join up (head towards the power lines!). From here you need to walk along a fairly big road for a short distance but the verge was wide and level. The slow way soon picks up a footpath that takes you to Chudleigh Knighton, where there is a pub.

The slow way then follows a footpaths from Chudleigh Knighton. It crosses the Teign over a stepped footbridge,under the A38 via an underpass (the A38 is pretty noisy) and then climbs cross-country to Gappah. There were cattle in the fields north of Gappah. They were not at all interested in me but if preferred you could walk along the lane instead to rejoin footpath near Winstow Cottages. The footpath passes through what looks like former parkland of Lawell House, with lovely old trees and views of Chudleigh Rocks.

From there the path heads north to rejoin the B3344 just outside of Chudleigh. The pavement takes you all the way in from there. Plenty of refreshment opportunities in Chudleigh and regular bus services.

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