Staverton offers a variety of reasons to visit, from riverside and nature reserve trails to church and engineering history. A particularly tangible feature is the boardwalk at Staverton Nature Reserve: it provides a scenic walking route between the Staverton riverside path and the playing fields.

Nature Trails and Wildlife

Staverton Nature Reserve includes a publicly accessible boardwalk area and a fenced inner area. This distinction gives you a clear guide for your visit: the public area is the boardwalk section, while the inner area is fenced. The reserve is also used by badgers, deer and four species of bat. The trail and the wildlife offer two different sides to the nature theme—a specific route and the species that use the area.

Walks at the Station

Staverton Station also offers riverside walks. It has toilets and has remained largely unchanged for 100 years. This sets it apart from the boardwalk: at the station, the riverside walks and the station building’s preserved condition are the main focus, whereas the boardwalk connects two named endpoints. These differences can help you choose a walk that suits your interests.

Church and Bridge

The present-day Church of St Paul de Leon dates back to a rebuilding ordered in 1314. The church has one of the eight rood lofts remaining in the county. Together, these offer two distinct historical aspects: the origins of the present church building and a striking feature of its architecture.

Staverton Bridge was built in 1413. Its north-western end lies in the parish of Staverton and is listed as a Grade I building. The dates 1314 and 1413 can be compared as two historical reference points: one marks the rebuilding of the church as ordered, the other the construction of the bridge. The bridge’s location is also precisely defined: it is its north-western end that lies in the parish.

Mills and Hydro-Electric History

Mills in Staverton are recorded from 1383 and 1586. A different engineering story is told by Staverton Leat and Hydro Station: it was officially commissioned in June 1930 to supply hydroelectric power to the Dartington Estate. In chronological terms, the mill dates precede the Hydro Station’s start of operations. These dates point to different historical themes and can serve as a guide if you are particularly interested in Staverton’s architectural and engineering history.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

If you would like to make a specific walk the focus of your trip, the boardwalk offers a named route with clear endpoints. For a stay with a greater interest in architecture, the rood loft and Staverton Bridge may be fitting historical highlights; the mill dates and the Hydro Station add an engineering perspective.

Discover more destinations: Broadclyst, Dawlish, South Molton, Beaworthy, Okehampton, Clyst Saint Mary, Ivybridge, Winkleigh

For the main travel overview: Devon.