Known locally as Bovey, and proudly as the Gateway to the Moor, Bovey Tracey is a friendly market town on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, with the South Devon coast a short drive away. It’s also where our Bovey Tracey team lives and works, so we know it well.
Whether you’re thinking of moving here or already call it home, this guide covers life in the town and the villages around it, from the high street and Dartmoor walks to schools, transport links and the local property market.
Why people choose Bovey Tracey
Our patch covers Bovey Tracey, Chudleigh, Liverton, the village of Lustleigh, and homes right under Haytor and across South Dartmoor. It’s a lovely part of South Devon to live and work in, with good independent shops, plenty of places to eat and drink, and the moor on the doorstep.
For most people, though, it’s the community that makes the difference. Bovey is a proper working town with a mix of families, makers, retirees and business owners, and everyone we spoke to told us the same thing: people here look out for each other.
Bovey’s independent high street
Bovey Tracey’s high street is made up mostly of small, independent businesses, many of them run by people who live in the town. We popped in to meet a few of them.
Grace & Favour Home
Steve and the team run an independent card and gift shop stocking UK-made items. They’re drawn to colourful, useful pieces you won’t find in the chain stores, so it’s a good place to look for a present for someone who has everything.
Steve describes Bovey as a lovely little town close to both the moors and the coast, and a great place to bring up a young family. He’s quick to credit the locals too: “As a business, we are supported by the residents of the town.”
Bovey Larder
Bovey Larder is a refill shop run by Corin. You bring your own containers and take as much or as little as you need, with the aim of cutting single-use plastic out of the food supply chain. You’ll also find local produce on the shelves and a few gifts for visitors.
Corin has raised his family here, and talks about the town’s “pockets of brilliance”, from the independent shops to Make South West, the arts and crafts centre in the old mill at the bottom of town, and the distillery at the top. “It’s got a good community that binds it all together,” he told us.
The Cheese Shed
Run by Ian Wellins, The Cheese Shed stocks around 130 West Country cheeses, all made this side of Bath and Bristol. The shop opened five years ago, but the business has been going for 20 years, starting out as mail order only.
Ian’s view of Bovey: “It’s small enough to have a sense of community, but it’s big enough to have everything you need.”
Wildmoor Deli
Jeremy has run Wildmoor Deli for almost 12 years, and there’s been a deli on the same spot for more than a century. He enjoys the mix of loyal regulars and visitors on their way up to the moor, which keeps the street busy. “We have a lot of food festivals, a lot of markets, and interesting stuff always going on,” he said.
Our team’s favourite spots
We asked the Bovey Tracey team for their favourite thing about the town. Food and drink came up more than once.
- The Dolphin: a pint in the sun at the newly renovated Dolphin on a Friday is hard to beat.
- Café 360: our resident cyclist always stops for one of their flat whites and a slice of Rocky Road before the ride home.
- The Cheese Shed: another vote, this time for the sandwiches, with plenty of outdoor seating to enjoy them.
Dartmoor on the doorstep
Some of Dartmoor’s best walks are only minutes from town. Haytor is a short drive up the hill, and the National Trust’s Parke estate is about a mile’s walk away, with woodland and riverside trails and the Home Farm Café for a stop afterwards. Lustleigh Cleave, Yarner Wood and the reservoirs at Tottiford, Trenchford and Kennick are all close by too.
In town, House of Marbles is a favourite with families, Make South West showcases local arts and crafts in the old mill, and the traffic-free Stover Trail links Bovey Tracey with Newton Abbot for family bike rides.
Bovey even has its own whisky distillery. Dartmoor Whisky Distillery is based in the Grade II listed Old Town Hall and was Devon’s first single malt whisky distillery, with tastings on Saturdays.
Schools and transport links
Bovey Tracey Academy on Abbey Road is the town’s primary school, and there are more village primaries nearby, including Hennock Community Primary and St Catherine’s CofE Primary in Heathfield. South Dartmoor Community College in Ashburton is the local secondary, and Newton Abbot’s schools are within easy reach.
Getting around:
- Road: Bovey sits just off the A38 Devon Expressway, so Exeter, Plymouth and Torbay are all easy to get to.
- Rail: Newton Abbot station is around six miles away, with direct Great Western Railway trains to London Paddington, Exeter and Plymouth.
- Bus: the Stagecoach 39 runs regularly between Bovey Tracey, Exeter, Chudleigh and Newton Abbot.
The Bovey Tracey property market
You may have heard that the market is quiet at the moment. Our figures say otherwise. In the last three months, our Bovey Tracey team has agreed more than £10 million of sales, achieving an average of 97.4% of asking price, and carried out 338 viewings.
The buyers are out there. What we need is more homes for them to buy.
Rightmove’s sold price data shows homes in Bovey Tracey sold for an overall average of £394,968 over the last year, with detached homes making up most of the sales:
| Property type | Average sold price (last 12 months) |
| Terraced | £276,438 |
| Semi-detached | £334,417 |
| Detached | £546,438 |
Why sell with Complete?
Putting a property on the market and actually selling it are two different things. We list and sell more properties than any other agent in Bovey Tracey and the surrounding area, and proportionately we reduce fewer asking prices than any other agent in our market.
That comes from getting the advice right from day one: an accurate valuation, a clear strategy, great presentation and marketing, and an experienced local team who know how to turn viewings into offers and offers into completed sales. We don’t measure success by how many homes we list. We measure it by how many people we get moved.
If you own a home in Bovey Tracey, Chudleigh, Liverton, Lustleigh, Haytor or the villages around them, there may already be a buyer waiting for a property like yours.
Thinking of moving to Bovey Tracey?
Whether you’re buying, selling or just curious about what your home is worth, our Bovey Tracey team would be happy to help. Pop in for a chat or book a free, no-obligation valuation here.
Complete, Emlyn House, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AD
Call 01626 832 300 or email bovey@completeproperty.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
Is Bovey Tracey a good place to live?
Bovey Tracey has a close-knit community, an independent high street and Dartmoor on the doorstep, with the A38 putting Exeter and Plymouth within easy reach.
Does Bovey Tracey have a train station?
No, the nearest station is Newton Abbot, around six miles away, with direct trains to London Paddington. Regular buses link the two towns.
What is the average house price in Bovey Tracey?
Rightmove reports an overall average sold price of £394,968 over the last year, with terraced homes averaging £276,438 and detached homes £546,438.
Is now a good time to sell in Bovey Tracey?
Buyer demand is strong. In the last three months, our local team agreed more than £10 million of sales at an average of 97.4% of asking price. Get in touch for a free valuation.