Best Wild Swimming Spots in Devon in Summer
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best wild swimming spots in Devon in Summer are Staverton Weir, Salmon Leaps, Cadover Bridge, Shilley Pool, Spitchwick Common, Sharrah Pool and Magpie Bridge.
When summer settles over Devon, there are few better ways to cool off than slipping into a moorland river. Most of the county's finest wild swimming lies on and around Dartmoor, where peaty water tumbles off the high ground into deep pools, gorges and gentle river beaches.
On the River Dart you will find some of the best of it, from Staverton Weir near Totnes in the south to the busy river beach at Spitchwick Common and the long, glassy stretch of Sharrah Pool in the National Trust woods above New Bridge. Over on the eastern moor, the Salmon Leaps sit in the wooded Teign gorge below Castle Drogo, while Shilley Pool offers a shallow moorland dip near Throwleigh.
To the west and south-west, Cadover Bridge on the River Plym and Magpie Bridge on the Walkham make easy, family-friendly spots where moor, river and wood all meet. Wherever you head, the water runs cold even in July, so ease in gently.
Here are seven wild swimming spots to seek out in Devon this summer.
Staverton Weir
Photo: Christine Johnstone via Geograph.org.uk
Swim at Staverton Weir on the River Dart Just a few miles up the River Dart from Totnes, this weir sits beside the village of Staverton in south Devon. Rather than the weir face, swimmers head for the deeper, calmer pool above it, on a quiet wooded stretch where meadows line the bank.
The medieval Staverton Bridge stands close by, and the South Devon heritage steam railway runs alongside the Dart here, with a station in the village itself. You will find parking near the bridge, and the water stays cold and clear, so it is worth easing in gently even on a warm summer afternoon.
Salmon Leaps
Photo: Lewis Clarke via Geograph.org.uk
Discover the Salmon Leaps in the Teign gorge Set in the wooded Teign gorge below Castle Drogo, on the edge of Dartmoor between Chagford and Fingle Bridge, this weir carries a stepped fish pass that helps salmon and sea trout climb the Teign to spawn. Reach it on foot along the riverside path through National Trust woodland, where a long river pool stretches above the weir and old stone plunge pools sit beside the cascade.
The gorge around it is steep, quiet and thickly wooded. It makes a lovely reward at the end of the walk, though the moor-fed Teign runs cold, so take your time slipping in.
Cadover Bridge
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Paddle and swim at Cadover Bridge on the Plym On the south-western edge of Dartmoor, where open moor gives way to a wooded valley, the River Plym runs shallow over gravel and granite at Cadover Bridge. Grassy, gentle banks and shallow pools by the old road bridge make it a favourite for families to paddle, picnic and swim on a warm day.
Below, the Plym threads through ancient oak wood toward the Dewerstone, a great crag loved by climbers, while above the moor opens out with tors and prehistoric remains. There is a car park by the bridge.
The water comes cold and clear straight off the moor.
Shilley Pool
Photo: Guy Wareham via Geograph.org.uk
Take a dip at Shilley Pool near Throwleigh Tucked among open moor on the Blackaton Brook near Throwleigh, on the north-eastern edge of Dartmoor, Shilley Pool is a small, shallow moorland pool. It suits a gentle paddle or dip and is shallow enough for children, with a natural rock slide worn into the stream and little cascades a short way upstream.
Getting there means a walk of about a mile from the road, mostly uphill on the way out and over ground that can turn boggy, so decent footwear helps. There are no facilities, which is part of the charm: it is a quiet, peaceful corner of Devon's high moor.
Spitchwick Common
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Relax at Spitchwick Common on the River Dart Also known as Deeper Marsh, Spitchwick Common is a much-loved river beach on the Dart, on the edge of Dartmoor near Poundsgate and close to New Bridge. Grassy flats run down to a rocky shore, with shallow water for paddling by the bank and a deeper pool beneath a wooded cliff on the far side.
The peaty, tea-coloured moorland water is clean, and this ranks among the best-loved bathing places on the whole river, so it fills up with families and picnickers on a hot day. Parking sits close by at New Bridge.
Arrive early in summer to beat the crowds.
Sharrah Pool
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Explore Sharrah Pool in the Dart woods One of Devon's best-known wild swimming spots, Sharrah Pool lies where the Dart runs through a wooded gorge on the edge of Dartmoor, in the National Trust woods above New Bridge. Held between two cascades and edged with flat granite slabs made for sunbathing, its glassy water stretches out like a long natural swimming pool, with a rope swing on the far bank.
Reaching it takes a walk of under an hour up the riverside path from the car park at New Bridge. The water stays cold right through the year, so ease in slowly even in the height of summer.
Magpie Bridge
Photo: N Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Walk and swim at Magpie Bridge on the Walkham Magpie Bridge is the local name for Bedford Bridge, which carries a road over the wooded River Walkham in west Dartmoor, between Grenofen and Horrabridge. The nickname comes from the Magpie tea rooms that once stood on the corner.
Below the bridge the river runs clear and peaty over boulders beneath the trees, with shallow pools used for river swimming. A free car park by the bridge links up with the Drake's Trail cycle path and the nearby Gem Bridge, making it an easy pick for a riverside walk followed by a dip.
Like all the moor's rivers, the Walkham runs cold, so take it gently.
FAQs
When is the best time to go wild swimming in Devon?
Summer, from June to September, is the most comfortable time to swim in Devon's rivers, when warm days take the edge off the cold Dartmoor water. Even then the moor-fed rivers stay chilly, so ease in slowly and never swim alone.
Are these Dartmoor swimming spots suitable for children?
Several are. Shilley Pool near Throwleigh and Cadover Bridge on the River Plym both have shallow water and gentle banks that suit families, while Spitchwick Common on the Dart has shallow paddling close to the shore.
Do I need to pay for parking at these Devon wild swimming spots?
It varies. Magpie Bridge on the River Walkham has a free car park, and there is parking by the bridge at Cadover Bridge and Staverton Weir, though charges can apply at National Trust sites such as New Bridge on Dartmoor.
Conclusion
Devon's rivers give you real variety across a single summer. You could spend a lazy afternoon paddling with children at Shilley Pool or Cadover Bridge, laze on the granite slabs beside Sharrah Pool, or picnic on the grassy flats at Spitchwick Common as the Dart slides by.
Whichever you choose, remember that this is moor-fed water: it stays cold even on the hottest days, so enter slowly, and check the flow after heavy rain before you swim. Take your litter home, respect the quieter spots that have no facilities, and give way to families and wildlife alike.
From the wooded Teign gorge to the peaty pools of the Walkham and Plym, these are the wild swimming spots to seek out in Devon this summer.
