Stover & Wray Valley Trails cycle route overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐
The Stover Trail links Newton Abbott with Bovey Tracey, mostly traffic-free, or on very quiet lanes. The Wray Valley Trail links Bovey Tracey with Moreton Hampstead, again either traffic-free, or on normally very quiet lanes. It therefore makes sense to do a single route guide that covers both trails. Significant sections of both trails are built on disused railways.
Do note that, though the Stover Trail to Bovey Tracey is quite flat, the Wray Valley Trail from Bovey Tracey to Moretonhampstead is fairly hilly. Near the village of Lustleigh it’s not uncommon to see people walking their bikes. The total route distance is 14 miles each way.
Surface on the Stover & Wray Valley Trails
The surface varies significantly. Setting off from Newton Abbott is mainly on tar, but even that varies. The first traffic-free segment of the Stover Trail has rough tar, and ground slips made it uneven. Later, the route alternates between self-compacting gravel, or tar.
Refreshments
There are various refreshment options in Newton Abbott. As you leave Newton Abbott, the route passes by the MT Tums café, and there’s a tea room a little further, on the old canal.
In Bovey Tracey there are a number of cafés, and there is a pub and some cafés in Moretonhampstead.
Sadly, the café at Dartmoor Bike Hire has closed.
Bikes
Most standard bikes will be fine on this route. Up to Bovey Tracey, trikes and cargo bikes can use the route, too. In Bovey Tracey the route goes through a park and most trikes or cargo bikes will get stuck.
However, it is possible to ride around the park on the roads, and rejoin the route that way.
Toilets
There are toilets at Newton Abbott train station, then again in Bovey Tracey, and finally, also in Moretonhampstead.
Points of Interest
Shortly after leaving Newton Abbott, the Stover Trail goes right past the remains of a granite tramway, which used to run all the way to Haytor, on Dartmoor.
Routes in Devon
- Dart Valley Cycleway
- Exmouth to Budleigh Salterton
- The Exe Estuary cycle route to Exmouth
- Nun’s Cross Trail cycle route
- Princetown Railway traffic-free cycle route
- Saltram Loop traffic-free cycle route
- DayCycle – Tarka Trail
- The Granite Way
- DayCycle – A Redlake adventure
- DayCycle – Grand Western Canal – a stunning, flat & traffic-free 15 mile route
- DayCycle – Stover Trail & Wray Valley Trail
- DayCycle – Dawlish to Exeter St Davids
- DayCycle – Drake’s Trail
Barriers
There are no A-frame barriers along this route. There are however bollards in some places, and in Bovey Tracey there is a stone gateway that is very narrow.
Cycle Hire
You can hire bikes from Dartmoor Bike Hire, in Moretonhampstead, but do call first.
Ratings
Safety: ⭐⭐⭐
Hilliness: ⭐⭐
Refreshment stops: ⭐⭐
Barriers: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Surface: ⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐
Paying the rent
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Weather forecast for the Stover & Wray Trails
What the Stover & Wray Trails look like
Getting to the Stover & Wray Trails
The route as shown on the map below starts at Newton Abbott station, so you can easily get to the start car-free, by taking your bike on the train. As ever, read my Bikes On Trains guide for useful and helpful tips for taking your bike on the train.
If driving, you have the option of parking near the MT Tums café, park on the north side of the bridge over the A38, park in Bovey Tracey, or in Moretonhampstead.
More Routes
To find more routes, click this link.
DayCycle
DayCycle routes are routes that can can easily be cycled by most people in a day, or part of a day. Do have a look at all the other DayCycle routes available on WillCycle. Many contain detailed route guides, as well as embedded maps (like the one below).