Many of Devon's most famous rivers rise on the high moors and flow down to the coast. On their way, they cut numerous stunning wooded valley and cleaves* on the fringes of Dartmoor National Park. Lustleigh Cleave, in the east of the Park between the pretty village of Manaton and Lustleigh is a stunning section in one of these valleys. It's a joy.
The Bovey Valley runs between Foxworthy Bridge and Drakeford Bridge. Cut by the River Bovey, steep-sided woods rise from the valley floor. On the north east side of the river, the landscape is particularly big and impressive. This is Lustleigh Cleave. It's generally accepted to mean the valley from above Foxworthy down to Hisley Wood.
We've positioned Lustleigh Cleave on Google maps so zoom in on the 'Satellite' setting to see its location. The cleave is clearly marked on the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL28 'Dartmoor' map.
A broad ridge runs along the top of the cleave. Hunter's Tor (Lustleigh Cleave/East Dartmoor) is at the north west end of the ridge. Sharpitor and Nut Crackers are to the south east. The River Bovey runs along the valley floor at the bottom of the cleave. You can cross the water at Foxworthy Bridge, Horsham Steps and Clam Bridge. Whilst there are numerous paths within the cleave, we'd suggest you stick to the main ones marked on the abovementioned Ordnance Survey map.
The views from Harton Chest (Lustleigh Cleave) and Hunter's Tor (Lustleigh Cleave/East Dartmoor) are amazing. To the east are Teignmouth and the Devon coast. To the south you'll see Haytor Rocks and Hound Tor (East Dartmoor). To the west and north west are the high moors with the dome of Cosdon Hill (Cawsand Hill) dominating the skyline.
Lustleigh Cleave, Hunter's Tor and Bovey Valley Woodlands Circular Walk.
Lustleigh Cleave to Hunter's Tor Circular Walk.
Lustleigh Cleave River Bovey Circular Walk.
Lustleigh Cleave Foxworthy via Horsham Steps Circular Walk.
Manaton to Heaven's Gate via Hisley Bridge Circular Walk.
Try also Manaton Rocks Walk for its views of Lustleigh Cleave.