Wild Swimming in Dartmoor: Pools, Tors and Hidden Rivers
Dartmoor is one of the last genuinely wild places in southern England. Covering around 954 square kilometres of upland moorland in Devon, it holds within its granite bones a remarkable network of rivers, waterfalls, and natural plunge pools that have drawn swimmers for generations. On a hot summer afternoon, the sight of Dartmoor’s peat-stained amber water tumbling into a deep, clear pool is one of the most inviting things the British outdoors has to offer. This guide covers where to swim, how to get there, what to expect, and how to do it safely.
Why Dartmoor Is Special for Wild Swimming
Most of England’s upland areas are either heavily managed grouse moors where public access is restricted, or farmland where rivers are fenced off and polluted by agricultural runoff. Dartmoor is different. It is a National Park, and crucially, the majority of the open moorland is subject to a right of access under the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 — a protection that predates the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 by fifteen years. This means that walkers, and by extension swimmers, have a long-established legal and cultural relationship with the land and water here.
The rivers that drain Dartmoor — the Dart, the Teign, the Tavy, the Meavy, the Erme, and others — begin as high-moorland streams cutting through blanket bog before descending into deeply wooded gorges on the moor’s edge. The water is extraordinarily clean by any standard. It originates as rainfall on high ground far from intensive agriculture, filtered through granite and peat before pooling in the rocky river beds. The slight amber colouration comes from dissolved peat tannins and is entirely natural — it carries no harmful bacteria and poses no health risk.
Water quality monitoring by the Environment Agency consistently rates Dartmoor’s rivers among the cleanest in the country. That said, conditions can change after heavy rainfall when flood water carries surface sediment and agricultural material downstream, so it is worth checking before you swim following prolonged wet weather.
The Best Wild Swimming Locations on Dartmoor
Spitchwick Common, River Dart
Spitchwick is the most well-known wild swimming spot on Dartmoor and arguably one of the most popular in England. Located near the village of Poundsgate in the South Hams, the pool sits on the River Dart at a bend where the water slows and deepens. A grassy common managed by the National Park Authority provides parking and a gentle bank for entry. The pool itself is substantial — roughly 20 to 30 metres across at its widest — and deep enough in the centre to jump from the granite boulders on the far bank.
The water here typically reaches 16–18°C in July and August, which is cold by pool standards but perfectly manageable for most swimmers. You can reach Spitchwick via the B3357 between Ashburton and Two Bridges; there is a small car park at New Bridge a short walk downstream, or you can park on the common itself when conditions allow. Arrive early on summer weekends — by midday the grassy banks fill quickly. Weekday mornings in late June or early September offer the same stunning setting with a fraction of the crowds.
Sharrah Pool, River Dart
For something less busy and more rewarding in terms of the approach, Sharrah Pool lies about a mile upstream from Spitchwick on the River Dart. The path follows the east bank of the river through ancient oak woodland, passing granite boulders draped in moss and fern before arriving at a long, quiet pool flanked by rock ledges. The woodland here forms part of the Dartmoor oak woods that have been managed since medieval times, and the combination of dappled light, clear water, and birdsong makes it one of the finest swimming spots in Devon.
Sharrah Pool is noticeably quieter than Spitchwick because the thirty-minute walk filters out casual visitors. The entry point requires a small scramble down a granite bank, so appropriate footwear matters. Water depths vary depending on the season, and the pool can run shallower in a dry summer, but there is almost always sufficient depth for a proper swim.
Becka Brook and Becky Falls
The Becka Brook flows east off the moor through Manaton and descends over a series of waterfalls before joining the Bovey River. While Becky Falls itself is a commercial attraction with an entry fee, the brook above and below the falls is accessible on foot via public footpaths and offers a series of smaller pools and cascades. These are better suited to paddling and brief cold dips than full-length swimming, but on a warm day after a long moorland walk, dropping into a pool on Becka Brook is deeply satisfying.
The River Plym, Plym Steps
In the southern quarter of the moor, the River Plym rises near Erme Head and flows south through Trowlesworthy Warren before reaching the Plym Steps area — a series of natural stepping stones, small falls, and pools accessible from the Cadover Bridge car park off the B3212. The pools here are shallower than those on the Dart and better suited to younger swimmers or those new to open water. The moorland setting is classic: tors visible on the skyline, prehistoric field systems on the valley sides, and grazing Dartmoor ponies wandering past indifferently.
Crazywell Pool
Crazywell Pool is unlike any other swimming spot on Dartmoor. It is not a river pool but a flooded medieval tin mine, sitting on open moorland above Burrator Reservoir near Princetown. The pool is roughly circular, dark, and considerably deep — local estimates put it at over 30 metres in the centre, though this is difficult to verify. The water is very cold even in summer, significantly colder than the rivers, and the depth means there is no gradual entry. Swimmers wade in from the boggy margin and the bottom drops away almost immediately.
This is a location that demands respect and should not be attempted alone. The surrounding moorland offers no shelter, the pool can be difficult to locate in mist, and the water temperature will be notably lower than river locations even on a warm day. That said, for experienced open water swimmers, Crazywell Pool is a genuinely extraordinary place — remote, atmospheric, and completely unlike anywhere else in the south of England.
Sandy Hole Pass, East Dart River
North of Postbridge on the high moor, the East Dart River flows through Sandy Hole Pass — a wide, sandy-bottomed stretch of river where the water shallows over granite and gravel before deepening into longer pools. This area is particularly good for families because the entry is gradual, the current is gentle in dry weather, and there is space to spread out. The high moorland setting gives an impression of genuine wilderness that the more accessible southern sites cannot quite match. Park at Postbridge and walk north along the river bank for around a mile.
Understanding Dartmoor’s Rivers: Conditions and Seasonal Variation
Dartmoor’s rivers are not static. They respond dramatically to rainfall, and a river that was knee-deep and placid on one day can run thigh-deep with a strong current 48 hours later after rain on the high moor. Understanding this variability is fundamental to swimming here safely.
The best conditions are typically found in late June, July, and August following a dry spell of at least three to five days. River levels will be lower, water temperatures higher, and visibility better. September and early October can also offer excellent swimming — water temperatures remain relatively high from the summer, and the crowds have largely gone — but rainfall becomes less predictable.
The River Dart in particular responds rapidly to rainfall because its catchment area is large and the gradient steep. Spitchwick and Sharrah Pool can change character completely overnight. Before visiting, check the Environment Agency’s river level monitoring service at check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk, where you can track gauge readings on the Dart and its tributaries in real time. A steady or falling gauge reading after recent rain is a far better sign than a rising one.
Safety on Dartmoor Waters
Cold Water and Cold Water Shock
Even at the height of summer, Dartmoor’s rivers rarely exceed 18°C and are often considerably colder after rain or in shaded locations. Cold water shock — the involuntary gasp reflex triggered by sudden cold water immersion — is one of the leading causes of open water drowning in the UK. It can cause hyperventilation, panic, and cardiac stress even in strong swimmers, and it is completely involuntary.
The solution is straightforward: enter the water slowly. Wade in from the shallows, splash water on your face and neck, and allow your body to acclimatise before submerging fully. Do not jump into unknown water, and never jump in if you cannot see the bottom or gauge the depth from the bank. Give yourself two to three minutes to adjust before attempting any serious swimming. The Outdoor Swimming Society and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) both publish detailed guidance on cold water acclimatisation that is worth reading before your first open water swim.
Currents and River Features
Dartmoor rivers contain features that are not immediately obvious to swimmers unfamiliar with moving water. Hydraulics — recirculating currents formed below waterfalls and weirs — can trap swimmers and are extremely dangerous. Even small drops of half a metre can create a hydraulic in the right conditions. If you see a foamy, churning section at the base of a waterfall, do not enter that area.
Submerged rocks and ledges are common in granite rivers. Water that appears smooth on the surface may be running over sharp rock a metre below. When entering any pool, lower yourself in feet first until you can feel the bottom and confirm the depth before committing to a full swim.
Visibility and Navigation on the Moor
Dartmoor is notorious for rapid changes in
