Bovey Tracey
The Gateway to Dartmoor
Tucked on the eastern edge of Dartmoor National Park, Bovey Tracey blends moorland scenery with a thriving arts scene, independent cafés, and centuries of history.
Whether you’re stopping for a cream tea, planning outdoor adventures, or hunting for local crafts, this “little town with a lot to offer” makes an ideal community to call home.
Brief History
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Domesday roots – Recorded as “Bovi” in 1086, the town later took the surname of its medieval lords, the de Tracey family.
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Wool & pottery – From the 17th century onward, Bovey’s fortunes grew on two trades: fine woollen cloth and the famous Bovey Pottery, which used local clay until the kilns fell silent in the 1950s.
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Civil‑War clash – In January 1646 Sir Thomas Fairfax’s Parliamentarian cavalry routed Royalist troops here, a skirmish commemorated by the granite “Fairfax Cross” on the A382.
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Arts revival – The old Devon Guild of Craftsmen (now MAKE Southwest) moved into the 19th‑century Riverside Mill in 1986, kick‑starting today’s creative hub.