| River Tale | |
|---|---|
 River Tale near Cadhay | |
 Catchment map of the River Tale | |
  Location within Devon | |
| Location | |
| Country | England |
| County | Devon |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Broadhembury |
| Mouth | River Otter, Devon |
• location | Devon |
• coordinates | 50°45′22″N 3°17′17″W / 50.7562°N 3.2880°W |
| Length | 14.2 km (8.8 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | Fairmile |
| • average | 0.44 m3/s (16 cu ft/s) |
The River Tale is a small river that drains the southern slopes of the Blackdown Hills, in Devon, England. It is a tributary of the River Otter and 8.8 miles (14.2 km) in length.[1] Its name is derived from getæl (Old English) meaning "quick, active or swift"; however, the river is noted as being "sluggish".[2] One theory is that its name was transferred from Tala Water, a tributary of the nearby River Tamar.[2] The river is the site of ongoing efforts to reintroduce the water vole, which is thought to be extinct in Devon.[3]
- ^ National Rivers Authority - South West Region (1991). River Otter catchment river water quality classification. National Rivers Authority. p. 1.
- ^ a b Poulton-Smith, Anthony (2013). South Devon Place Names. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. p. 147. ISBN 9781848687240.
- ^ "Building a new 'home' for Ratty". BBC Devon. September 2004.