| 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°27′17″N4°04′05″W / 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) |
TheRiver Meavy is a river in the southwest part ofDartmoor inDevon in south-west England. It runs entirely in the national park and connectsBurrator Reservoir to theRiver Plym.
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 toPrincetown, and flows across Walkhampton Common, through Norsworthy and adjacent plantations, and intoBurrator Reservoir. It leaves the reservoir at the main dam, and flows past the village ofMeavy before joining theRiver Plym at the upper end ofBickleigh 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 rocktors near the river.[4]
The river is believed to named after anOld 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 transportdrinking water from the River Meavy towardsPlymouth.Burrator Lodge was built in 1896 for the reservoir owner. It is now a Grade IIlisted building. In 2015, the property was put on the market.[6]
The river is popular forcanoeing 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]