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Mountain biking trails

Hound Tor, Hunter's Tor and the River Bovey ⁠— Dartmoor National Park

Routes

Mountain biking trails

Hound Tor, Hunter's Tor and the River Bovey ⁠— Dartmoor National Park

Hard

3.6

(9)

riders

Hound Tor, Hunter's Tor and the River Bovey ⁠— Dartmoor National Park

04:20

40.9km

1,120m

Mountain biking

Embark on a challenging mountain biking adventure around Hound Tor, Hunter's Tor, and the River Bovey in Dartmoor National Park. This difficult 25.4-mile (40.9 km) route demands advanced riding skills, featuring technical singletrack, rocky descents, and steep climbs that accumulate 3674 feet (1120 metres) of elevation gain. You can expect to complete this demanding ride in about 4 hours and 19 minutes, navigating through diverse landscapes from vast moorland to steep wooded valleys, with magnificent views from the granite tors.

Be prepared for highly technical and sometimes hazardous terrain, as sections of this route are rated STS S3-S6. You will encounter tight, loose, and wet surfaces, including a

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Tips

Includes segments that may be dangerous

Parts of this route comprise highly technical, difficult, or hazardous terrain. Specialist equipment and prior experience is required.

After 29.9 km for 184 m

After 30.3 km for 211 m

After 39.0 km for 257 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

1.16 km

Jay's Grave Bridleway

Highlight (Segment) • Historical Site

Jay's Grave is named for the grave of a girl who committed suicide at the eastern end of the trail. Mysterious flowers are still laid there, although no-one claims responsibility. Some believe the grave is haunted as a result.

From a mountain biking perspective the trail is an ancient sunken road which has been rendered straightforward by sanitisation, but at least it's a (rare in these parts) trail which doesn't head sharply up or down!

Tip by

7.62 km

Bennett's Cross

Highlight • Monument

The small granite sacred monument that the hiker encounters at this spot has been located here for several centuries. The familiar cruciform shape is difficult to recognize because the typical side arms of the longitudinal beam are largely missing, and only a few fragments of this monument are present.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

19.5 km

North Bovey Byway

Highlight (Segment) • Forest

A little undulating with some little rocky slab parts, this wide doubletrack byway is a glorious trail from the quaint thatched village of North Bovey heading east past fields and wooded banks.

Enjoy in late autumn as we did for the most vibrant display of colours.

Tip by

22.5 km

Hunter's Tor

Highlight • Historical Site

Often overlooked, Hunter's Tor is a great vantage point with splendid views. There are the remains of an Iron Age fort nearby too.

Tip by

22.6 km

Nutcracker Trail

Highlight (Segment) • MTB Park

A startlingly rocky trail which is a real test of technical riding. It's named nutcracker on the map, but many a rider has wondered if whoever named the area in the first place, hundreds of years ago, was an amazingly prescient mountain biker!

Tip by

29.5 km

Water Cleave Descent and Old Clee Bridge

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Steep and technical: tight, rocky, loose and often wet. A truly awesome MTB descent.

It's highly recommended to link this with the other Lustleigh trails for a shortish route. You could also add in with further east Dartmoor trails over towards Hound Tor and Bowerman's Nose for a longer ride.

From the Kestor Inn (Water/Manaton) ride down the hill, then immediately left. Shortly you'll turn left again, and then in a while find the bridleway. Now begins the decent (and Highlight). Go straight at the crossroads then a sharp left at the junction a little while later (which often looks like a stream). After that just follow the track down to the bridge over the River Bovey.

Tip by

33.8 km

Hisley Bridge

Highlight • Forest

This beautiful moss covered river crossing is a medieval packhorse bridge. It crosses the River Bovey and there are benches nearby where you can stop and watch the world go by. Some say it is the prettiest bridge in Dartmoor.

Tip by

37.4 km

Black Hill Gravel Track

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Fun gravel section in either direction. Great on a MTB or a gravel bike.

Tip by

40.9 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

21.8 km

10.3 km

6.73 km

1.92 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

21.8 km

6.58 km

3.82 km

3.61 km

2.53 km

1.91 km

644 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (490 m)

Lowest point (80 m)

Weather

Saturday 18 July

21°C

12°C

36 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 12.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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This route was planned by komoot.

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Hound Tor, Hunter's Tor and the River Bovey ⁠— Dartmoor National Park

Jay's Grave Bridleway

Bennett's Cross

North Bovey Byway

Hunter's Tor

Nutcracker Trail

Water Cleave Descent and Old Clee Bridge

Hisley Bridge

Black Hill Gravel Track

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