The river has two main source streams, both rising within a mile of each other, either side of the B3212 road between Moretonhampstead and Postbridge, before joining at Jurston.

It joins the River Teign on the boundary between the parishes of Teigngrace and Kingsteignton, about a mile south of the village of Chudleigh Knighton.

To the South, the watershed is with the River Lemon and runs from Hemsworthy Gate to Haytor Rocks, past Brimley and to the North of Stover Country Park.

There are two main tributaries, one being the Becka Brook, rising near Hound Tor, flowing through Becky Falls, and joining the Bovey just below Trendlebere Down.

The river gives its name to the Bovey Formation, a geological sedimentary basin which is the major source in England for ball clay.