Dartmoor has lots of secrets, but the fact it has some of the best wild swimming spots in the UK must be one of its biggest. Better known for misty moor walks and literary history, it’s definitely not the first place you’d think of when it comes to taking a dip. You won’t find signposts or trail markers, but follow our directions and you’ll discover Dartmoor really is wild swimming paradise.
With crystal clear rivers, mystical moor top lakes, waterfall pools, abandoned quarries and even a spot which will have you feeling like you’ve just strayed into the Jungle Book, it really does have it all.
Here are some of the best wild swimming spots in Dartmoor.
The best wild swimming spots in Dartmoor
1. Sharrah Pool
Walk length: 4.2 miles (6.8km) return
Difficulty: Easy, but not flat
When it comes to wild swimming in Dartmoor, Sharrah Pool is hard to beat. The water is crystal clear and shines a brilliant emerald in the afternoon sunshine.
The rock walls and cascades give the scene a wild vibe and there is a huge amount of space to swim long leisurely laps - it’s bigger than an olympic swimming pool, and oh so much more picturesque.
The walk to get there might be one of the longer options on this list, but it’s an easy well-maintained path and worth every last step.
When it comes to accessing the water, that’s easy too and all the details on Sharrah Pool, plus a hidden swimming spot beyond, are in this post.
2. Tavy Cleave
Walk length: 3.1 miles (5km) return
Difficulty: Easy, but can get muddy
Tavy Cleave is a gorgeous cascade pool set on wild open moors, under the gaze of several dramatic tors. When it comes to scenery, this is quintessential Dartmoor at its best.
Inbetween dipping in and out of the pool, there’s plenty of room to spread out on the rock platforms with a picnic
The downside to Tavy Cleave is that it’s not very deep and there are plenty of rocks in the water. This means this is a better spot for wild dipping than it is wild swimming. However, the glorious scenery more than makes up for the lack of laps.
The walk to reach the pool is easy, but it does have one significant boggy section, which can be navigated round using rocks as stepping stones. Getting into the water once you’re there is easy.
All the details on how to find Tavy Cleave are in this post.
3. Foggintor Quarry
Walk length: 1.7 miles (2.8km) return
Difficulty: Easy
Many of the abandoned quarries around Dartmoor are now closed to the public, but that’s not the case at Foggintor. This one has a sign about entering at your own risk, but otherwise you’re good to go.
The quarry has a desolate beauty, with craggy walls and a mirror like reflection on a calm day.
It’s incredibly quiet and peaceful, some might think it’s so quiet as to be a little eerie, but personally i found it a wonderful place to take a dip.
It’s easy to enter the water, but be mindful it’s extremely deep and there are both warm and cold pockets of water.
There are plenty of little newts and also plants in the water, so it’s not as pristine as some of the other spots on this list, but if you’re looking for something different and you’re an experienced swimmer, then it’s definitely a memorable spot.
The walk to reach the quarry is very easy and pretty much entirely flat, you can find all the details here.
4. Cullever Steps
Walk length: 1 mile (1.6km) return
Difficulty: Easy
Cullever Steps is a gorgeous little swimming hole located on a picturesque patch of moorland. It might be out on the moors, but it hides in plain sight and still manages to feel perfectly secluded.
It’s such a pretty spot, with clear water, small cascades and room for a proper swim, despite the fact it’s not overly deep. It makes for a lovely sunrise or sunset swim.
It’s very easy to reach and on a good path. Accessing the water isn’t difficult, but does involve walking over a couple of very slippery rocks, so ease yourself in gently.
All of the details on finding Cullever Steps (including details on the nearby firing range) are in this post.
5. Black Rock Falls
Walk length: 1.2 miles (2.2km) return
Difficulty: Easy
Black Rock Falls, aka Witch’s Pool, is a wonderful little swimming hole nestled beneath some huge boulders, which give it lots of atmosphere.
The small cascade adds a peaceful air and it’s a great place to simply laze around in the water. And on that note, this is one for relaxing rather than swimming because the water is pretty shallow.
It’s a really good family friendly option, not just because of the shallow water, but also because the bottom of the pool is gravel and therefore you don’t need to negotiate slippery rocks.
The walk to get there is easy and the latter half is very pretty. You have to climb over a couple of grippy (when dry) rocks to get into the water and then it’s time to bliss out in the sunshine.
All of the details on how to find Black Rock Falls are here.
6. Hembury Woods
Walk length: 1 mile (1.6km) return
Difficulty: Easy
If you’re looking for a long leisurely swim surrounded by nothing but dense woodland, then this is your spot.
There are so many places to access the water that you’re almost guaranteed to get a huge amount of space to yourself - in fact we didn’t see another soul here despite visiting on a hot day in August. It’s so quiet and tranquil - unless you happen to have a thing for rope swings and want to add a touch more adventure to your visit.
To find the swimming spot we went to, you need to park along Hembury Cockhill Road (there’s a marked car parking area on Google Maps, postcode TQ11 0EL) and follow the obvious dirt path through the woods.
Follow the sign for the river and keep heading towards the sound of the water (it’s slightly downhill on the way). You’ll soon reach a part of the trail (by the water) where there’s a detour in place.
Follow it up and then down the stairs and you’ll quickly see a series of places you can enter the water.
We carried on for a few minutes until we reached the section of river with the rope swing. Accessing the water is easy, but a little muddy in places.
7. Tuckers Pool
Walk length: 1 mile mile (1.6km) return
Difficulty: Hard and precarious
Tuckers Pool is the stuff dreams are made of, like something straight out of your jungle book fantasies! The most perfect crystal clear, yet emerald green water, surrounded by tree and moss covered cliff walls that give it a wonderfully wild and secluded vibe.
In honesty, it’s the sort of place I didn’t know existed in England. However, it’s not easy to get to, and the water is ice cold.
I’d say it’s up there with the glacial pools of New Zealand temperature-wise, and definitely not somewhere you want to be taking your first wild swim!
The path to reach the pool is narrow and precarious in places - it might be short, but you need to be comfortable with a rough off track hike.
You also need good conditions - absolutely no rain - because the path could be slippery and a slip here would be very bad news.
We nearly didn’t include it here for these reasons, but given there are many walks in England involving some pretty serious scrambling we decided it was probably ok to mention for those that are used to gnarly tracks (I’m not comparing it to hardcore scrambling, but it does have a precarious section).
Here are all the details.
8. Shilley Pool
Walk length: 1 mile (1.6km) return
Difficulty: Easy
Shilley Pool is a fabulous spot for kids. Big kids might like to visit at sunset when it quietens down and you can relax in the water and watch as the sun slowly sets behind the cliff.
The pool is tiny and quite shallow, but it’s a lovely spot and even has a natural waterslide, which we saw a couple of kids and their dog having a whale of a time on.
It’s an easy walk to reach the pool, although it’s mainly uphill on the way, and does have a couple of muddy sections (usually easy to navigate around).
Note that if you can continue up the cliffside to the cascades - aka the ‘slide’ - then you will encounter some boggy ground.
Be warned that even during a pretty dry summer I stuck my entire boot through the bog without even noticing it had got muddy.
All the details on how to find Shilley Pool are here.
9. Crazywell Pool
Walk length: 2.6 miles (4.2 km) return
Difficulty: Easy, but not flat
Steeped in myth and legend, Crazywell Pool is not one for the superstitious. The pool sits high on the moors, but is hidden away from view until you are almost on top of it.
Before arriving, I thought it would be small, more like a mountain tarn, but it’s actually bigger than an olympic pool and perfect for swimming long lengths.
It’s very deep, in fact there are myths related to it’s depth, and many used to think it was bottomless! Despite this, the water was warmer than I was expecting and accessing the pool is extremely easy.
There are no rocks to negotiate, but some might not like that the bottom is sort of squelchy!
The walk is on a well maintained path and though there’s a fair bit of uphill on the way, it’s pretty gradual. You’re also likely to spot many Dartmoor ponies along the way!
All the details on finding the pool are here.
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come. If you see any litter please carry it out with you, litter often breeds litter, so this will go a long way to keeping these areas pristine.
Wild swimming safety
All the spots on this list are wild and have no safety measures in place. Know your own limits. There are shallow spots on this list suitable for anyone, but others are very deep. Expect the water to be cold and go in bit by bit if you’re not used to cold water swimming. Know that pockets of very cold water can appear from nowhere, especially in abandoned quarries - and on that note, quarry swimming comes with greater risk as you can’t be sure what’s in the water (in terms of old machinery etc).
Don’t swim if water has become discoloured, as this can indicate flooding and can present dangerous currents.
None of the spots on our list are signposted so carry directions with you and check our individual guides for details on firing ranges which are present around some of the spots (you can see when they are in use so there’s no danger).
Where to stay in Dartmoor
Dartmoor is a surprisingly large national park and it can take time to get between the various spots. Staying in the park will feel like you’ve truly escaped civilisation and the outside world, but it can be a long way from amenities such as supermarkets.
Places like Okehampton and Ashburton offer a good mix of not being too far from the top attractions, whilst still having amenities nearby.
Tawburn House Boutique B&B
Few places get rave reviews like Tawburn House B&B, this cozy bed and breakfast is in the park and a short hop from Okehampton and 15 minutes from the beautiful village of Chagford. The modern and stylish rooms are the perfect place to rest up after a day exploring, or even better, go for the hot tub on site! It also includes a full English/Irish breakfast, which is wildly popular.
Check the latest prices & availability here:
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