So the wet weather had continued since the previous walk at Ashburton, but there was a small glimmer of something better. We planned a walk to start as the weather cleared, so we could enjoy the best of it. Well the rain and damp weather had decided to hang on a bit longer, and it was still drizzling a bit as we booted up and set off. We’d parked at the National Trust property of Parke, the building here is used by the Dartmoor National Park as its main office, and we headed downhill to the River Bovey and the path that handrails the river. Before long we were on lanes heading for Brimley, passing some very fine looking houses as we went. From Brimley we took a left, heading back into Bovey Tracey, before picking up the road back to Parke entrance and the car. A simple walk but it kept us walking a bit, ready for our trip to South Wales and some more lofty mountains.
Start – Parke
Route – Parke Bridge – Dartmoor Way – Wilford Bridge – Lower Brimley – Bovey Tracey – Parke
Distance – 5 miles Start time – 1pm Time taken – 2hrs 30mins Highest Point – Near Soldridge 120 metres
Parke, this is the Dartmoor National Park main office. Its not open to the public but you can wander the gardens all around it. There is also a café and toilets available.It was still lightly drizzling at this point as we head into the woodland and follow the river pathFirst we cross Parke BridgeThis is the Dartmoor Way, a newish path that circles the whole of the National Park around its edges. There is also a path running straight through the middle splitting it in half, called the High Moor Link. I’ve pretty much walked all of the path over many, many walks. But not had a go at joining the bits together. Not yet anyway (adds this to long list of things to do!!). This path also previously was the train line between Bovey Tracey and Lustleigh, this part is especially straight.The River Bovey, we took a slight detour off the Dartmoor Way track to walk beside the river for a bit, then re-joined further along. That brought us to Wilford Bridge, where we turned uphill along some lanes……..….. passing some very lovely houseViews across fields to Bovey Tracey, no sight of the promised sunshine, not yet anywayThe daffs were brightening up the lanes howeverEdgemoor Manor, a hotel with a George 5th postboxBefore long we were in Brimley, not too much here, but like Parke it is a Dartmoor 365 square, so good to tick those offCrossing the A382 as we walk into Bovey TraceyChurch of St John the Evangelist and a bit of blue skyBovey TraceyThis is the A382 again and the Copper Kettle is a common sight on this side of the moor, lots of walks will involve passing around this roundabout and the café Heading back into Parke and there were banks of primrosesPlus two or three trees full of mistletoe, this one was particularly laden full. So that was the end of the walk and plans turned to South Wales, we had a place booked in Cefn Rhigos (near the 4 waterfalls walk) and other options for walks all planned out, incase the poor weather continued. We needn’t have worried 😊
treksandtors 
A dull start, but you got some blue sky by the end of the walk. Great also now that the spring flowers are brightening things up.
LikeLike
All those years ago, I used to know Major W.G Hole who lived there, a real old country gent. He wrote rather a nice poem about Dartmoor.
LikeLike