Wild Swimming in Dartmoor: Pools, Tors and Hidden Rivers
Dartmoor is one of the last truly wild places in southern England. Sprawling across 368 square miles of Devon, its blanket bogs, granite tors, ancient oak woods and fast-running rivers have drawn walkers, artists and naturalists for centuries. But in recent years, a quieter kind of visitor has been arriving — one carrying a dry robe and a towel, picking their way along riverbanks to find the perfect pool. Wild swimming on Dartmoor is not a trend so much as a homecoming. People have been bathing in these rivers for as long as there have been people on the moor.
This guide covers the best swimming locations on and around Dartmoor, the practical information you need to swim safely, and the etiquette that keeps these places accessible and unspoilt for everyone who follows.
Why Dartmoor is Special for Open Water Swimming
Most of England’s wild swimming takes place in lakes and reservoirs, where the water is relatively still and conditions are predictable. Dartmoor offers something different: fast, peat-stained rivers that tumble off the high moor through granite gorges, forming deep plunge pools, broad shallow slides and waterfall basins that have been carved over thousands of years. The water is extraordinarily clean by national standards, fed by rain that falls on unindustrialised upland and filtered through granite bedrock and sphagnum moss.
The characteristic amber or dark-brown colouring of Dartmoor water is not a sign of pollution. It comes from dissolved tannins leached from the peat moorland above. The water is typically very soft, low in minerals, and refreshingly cold — usually between 8°C and 16°C depending on the season and the altitude of the pool. That cold is part of the appeal. Regular cold water immersion has been associated with improvements in mood, sleep, circulation and stress response, and there is a growing body of research from institutions including the University of Portsmouth supporting these effects.
Dartmoor also benefits from genuine public access. The Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 grants the public a statutory right of access on foot across all registered common land on the moor, which covers a substantial proportion of the National Park. This, combined with longstanding informal tolerance of riverside access, means that swimming in many of Dartmoor’s rivers is genuinely lawful and uncomplicated — though it is always worth checking the specific situation at each location.
The Best Swimming Spots on Dartmoor
Spitchwick and the River Dart
Spitchwick Common, near the village of Poundsgate in the South Hams, is arguably the most famous wild swimming location in Devon. The River Dart here runs wide and relatively shallow over smooth granite slabs before deepening into a series of pools ideal for swimming. The common itself is open access land, and the grassy banks provide natural changing areas and picnic spots. On a warm summer weekend it can feel busy, but arrive early on a weekday morning and you may have the whole stretch to yourself.
The water at Spitchwick is generally calmer than further upriver, making it suitable for less experienced open water swimmers. There is a natural rock slide where the river narrows, and several deeper pools downstream. The Dart Valley Trail runs nearby, so it is easy to combine a swim with a longer walk through the Dart Gorge. Parking is available in the car park at New Bridge, roughly a fifteen-minute walk upstream along the riverbank.
Sharrah Pool
A short walk south of Spitchwick, Sharrah Pool is a deeper, more dramatic spot where the Dart runs through a narrow granite gorge. To reach it, follow the footpath from New Bridge southward through sessile oak woodland — the walk takes around twenty-five to thirty minutes along a well-worn but sometimes steep path. The pool itself is sheltered, with rock ledges at various heights and a deep central channel. It is a favourite spot for jumping, though swimmers should always check depth carefully before leaping from any height.
Sharrah Pool is generally less crowded than Spitchwick, and the woodland approach gives it a more secretive atmosphere. The gorge can feel cool even on warm days, so a wetsuit may be more comfortable here outside of July and August.
Becky Falls and the Bovey Valley
The Bovey Valley, running along the eastern edge of Dartmoor near Manaton and Lustleigh, contains some of the finest ancient oak woodland in Britain. The river here is smaller than the Dart but no less beautiful, running between mossy boulders and through fern-draped gullies. Becky Falls itself is a tourist attraction with an entry fee, but the valley beyond offers quieter access to the river at various points along the woodland path managed by the Woodland Trust.
Swimming here is best in the broader pools below and above the main fall. The water level varies significantly with rainfall, and after heavy moorland rain the river can rise quickly and become unsuitable for swimming. In dry late-summer conditions, some pools may be quite shallow. The valley rewards patience — walking upstream will reveal progressively quieter and more isolated bathing spots.
Canonteign Falls and the Teign Valley
The River Teign drains the northern and eastern parts of Dartmoor, running from its source high on the moor near Teignhead Farm down through Chagford and the Teign Gorge before reaching the coast at Teignmouth. The middle section of the river, accessible from Fingle Bridge near Drewsteignton, offers excellent swimming in a deeply wooded valley. The walk along the Teign Valley from Fingle Bridge is one of the great short walks on Dartmoor, and the river pools here are deep, clear and wonderfully isolated once you move beyond the most accessible sections near the bridge.
Higher up the valley, near Chagford and the village of Gidleigh, the river is faster and more technical, better suited to experienced swimmers comfortable with moving water. The area around Dogmarsh Bridge near Chagford has long been a local swimming spot, with a reasonable pool and grassy bank access.
Wistman’s Wood and the West Dart
Wistman’s Wood, the famous ancient dwarf oak woodland near Two Bridges, sits above the West Dart River on the high moor. The river here is not a conventional swimming destination — it is fast, shallow in many places, and the pools tend to be small — but for experienced moorland walkers it offers wild, remote bathing in genuinely unspoilt surroundings. The approach from Two Bridges car park is straightforward, roughly two miles return, and the river can be accessed at several points along the way.
Swimming here is best approached as part of a wider moorland day rather than as the primary objective. Water temperatures on the high moor are consistently lower than in the valleys, and conditions can change with startling speed as weather moves across the open moor.
Safety on Dartmoor’s Rivers
Wild swimming carries genuine risks, and Dartmoor’s rivers present a specific set of hazards that differ from lake or lido swimming. Understanding these risks is not a reason to stay at home — it is the foundation of swimming confidently and safely.
Cold Water Shock and Acclimatisation
The most serious immediate risk in cold open water is cold water shock, an involuntary gasping reflex triggered by sudden immersion in cold water. In temperatures below 15°C — which covers most of Dartmoor’s river swimming outside of July and August — entering the water quickly and fully submerging can provoke hyperventilation, panic and, in worst cases, inhalation of water. The response is to enter slowly, allowing your body to adjust. Wade in gradually, splash water on your face and neck before submerging, and take controlled breaths. Most swimmers find their breathing normalises within sixty to ninety seconds of immersion.
After cold water shock, the next risk is the cold incapacitation of limbs. Extended swimming in very cold water progressively reduces muscular coordination in the arms and legs. Most recreational swimmers should aim to exit the water before they feel genuinely cold rather than waiting until they are uncomfortable. In water below 10°C, twenty minutes is a reasonable maximum for most people without a wetsuit.
Spate Conditions and River Levels
Dartmoor rivers respond to rainfall with extraordinary speed. A river that was a pleasant paddling stream in the morning can be a brown, surging torrent by early afternoon following heavy rain on the high moor. Always check the weather forecast before setting out, not just for the valley where you plan to swim but for the entire catchment upstream. The Environment Agency’s Flood Information Service provides real-time river level data for gauging stations across Devon, including on the Dart and Teign, and is worth checking the morning of any swim.
If a river is running coloured (a more opaque, milky brown rather than the clear amber of normal conditions), significantly higher than usual, or louder than expected, do not swim. Fast-flowing moorland rivers can contain submerged obstacles, generate powerful hydraulics at weirs and narrowings, and carry swimmers into gorge sections where self-rescue becomes impossible.
Weirs and Underwater Hazards
Several of Dartmoor’s rivers have historic weirs, leat intakes and mill structures that create dangerous recirculating hydraulics. Weirs in particular can trap swimmers in a recirculating current that is almost impossible to escape unaided, even for strong swimmers. These structures are not always visible from the bank. If you can see a weir or hear the characteristic constant roar of a hydraulic feature, stay well upstream.
Submerged rocks and tree branches are a constant hazard in moorland rivers, particularly after high water. Always check the depth of a pool thoroughly before jumping or diving, even at spots you have visited before. Rocks move in spate conditions, and the pool that was deep enough to jump into last summer may have silted up or changed substantially.
