River Meavy

The River Meavy is a river in the southwest part of Dartmoor in Devon in south-west England. It runs entirely in the national park and connects Burrator Reservoir to the River Plym.

River Meavy
View down the River Meavy towards Sharpitor and Leather Tor
Catchment and course of the River Meavy
Location within Devon
Location
Country	England
Counties	Devon
Physical characteristics
Source	Meavy Head
Mouth	River Plym
• location	Devon
• coordinates	50.4546°N 4.0681°W / 50.4546; -4.0681
Length	15.9 km (9.9 mi)
Basin size	42.2 km2 (16.3 sq mi)

Course

The river is 15.9 kilometres (9.9 mi) long, and flows in a generally south-westerly direction throughout its course.^[1] It rises at Meavy Head, close to Princetown, and flows across Walkhampton Common, through Norsworthy and adjacent plantations, and into Burrator Reservoir. It leaves the reservoir at the main dam, and flows past the village of Meavy before joining the River Plym at the upper end of Bickleigh Vale. The entirety of the river is inside Dartmoor National Park.^[2]

Most of the valley surrounding the river's southern section is wooded, and has been described as a semi-neutral ancient woodland.^[3] The north section, beyond Burrator Reservoir, is less covered as it is towards the centre of Dartmoor and features several rock tors near the river.^[4]

History

The river is believed to named after an Old English word, meaning "lively stream". The village of Meavy is in turn named after the river.^[5]

Drake's Leat was a watercourse constructed in the 16th century to transport drinking water from the River Meavy towards Plymouth. Burrator Lodge was built in 1896 for the reservoir owner. It is now a Grade II listed building. In 2015, the property was put on the market.^[6]

Leisure

The river is popular for canoeing south of Burrator Reservoir, and is considered an easier course than the upper sections of the River Plym, which are some of the most challenging in Dartmoor. Despite the presence of the dam at Burrator, there is generally a sufficient flow of water.^[7]

References

1. "Meavy". Catchment Data Explorer. Environment Agency. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
2. Plymouth and Launceston (Landranger Maps) (D1 ed.), Ordnance Survey, 2009, ISBN 978-0-319-23146-3
3. Buckland Monachorum (PDF) (Report). Devon County Council. February 2010. p. 6. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
4. "Walk No. 68. Yelverton and Clearbrook" (PDF). Devon County Council. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
5. Mills, David (2010). A Dictionary of British Place-Names. Oxford University Press. p. 322. ISBN 978-0-199-60908-6.
6. "Iconic Plymouth house sits on the banks of Burrator Reservoir". Plymouth Herald. 4 November 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
7. British Canoe Union (2003). English White Water: The British Canoe Union Guidebook. Pesda Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-0-953-19567-1.