Best Wild Swimming Spots Near Plymouth
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best wild swimming spots near Plymouth are Devil's Point Tidal Pool, Cadover Bridge, Magpie Bridge, Crazywell Pool, Cowsic Waterfall Pool, Polperro Chapel Pool, Sharrah Pool and Spitchwick Common.
Plymouth is blessed with saltwater on its doorstep and the wilds of Dartmoor a short drive north. Right in the city, the Devil's Point tidal pool at Firestone Bay draws cold-water swimmers year round.
Head onto the south-western moor and the River Plym runs shallow at Cadover Bridge, while the Walkham slips under Magpie Bridge near Horrabridge. Higher up you will find the dark water of Crazywell Pool near Burrator and the moorland falls of the Cowsic near Two Bridges.
Further east, the River Dart holds two of Devon's best-loved bathing places, the long clear water of Sharrah Pool and the river beach at Spitchwick Common. For something different, the tidal Chapel Pool at Polperro lies west along the Cornish coast.
Some are minutes from town, others a proper day out, but each is worth seeking. Pack warm layers, sturdy footwear and an eye on the tide or the weather.
Here are eight wild swimming spots to seek out near Plymouth.
Devil's Point Tidal Pool
Photo: N Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Devil's Point Tidal Pool Right on Plymouth's doorstep, the Devil's Point tidal pool sits at Firestone Bay, a saltwater swimming pool on the shore of Plymouth Sound. The tide washes in and out of it, and cold-water swimmers use it through the year, with views across to Mount Edgcumbe and Drake's Island.
Its exposed position means it takes a battering from the sea, and it was repaired and refreshed in 2024. You will find it below the Royal William Yard at Devil's Point, an easy stroll from the city centre.
Cadover Bridge
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Cadover Bridge A short drive north brings you to Cadover Bridge on the River Plym, where the open moor of south-western Dartmoor gives way to a wooded valley and the river runs shallow over gravel and granite. By the old road bridge the banks are grassy and gentle, with shallow pools that make it a favourite for families to paddle, picnic and swim on a warm day.
Below the bridge the Plym threads down through ancient oak wood toward the dramatic crag of the Dewerstone, popular with climbers, while above, the moor opens out with tors and prehistoric remains. There is a car park by the bridge and the water is cold and clear.
Magpie Bridge
Photo: N Chadwick via Geograph.org.uk
Magpie Bridge A little further onto west Dartmoor, Magpie Bridge is the local name for Bedford Bridge, which carries a road over the wooded River Walkham between Grenofen and Horrabridge. The nickname comes from the Magpie tea rooms that once stood on the corner here.
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 to the Drake's Trail cycle path and the nearby Gem Bridge, making this a well-liked spot for a riverside walk and a dip on a warm day.
Crazywell Pool
Photo: Guy Wareham via Geograph.org.uk
Crazywell Pool Higher on the open moor near Burrator, Crazywell Pool is a steep-sided pool of dark water beside the Devonport Leat. It fills a hollow left by old tin working, ringed by grass and rush, and wild swimmers use it today.
Local legend once held it bottomless, until it was pumped low one dry summer in the 1840s and found to be only around fifteen feet deep. Older tales even tell of a voice rising from the pool to name those who would die in the year to come, adding an eerie edge to a swim.
Cowsic Waterfall Pool
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Cowsic Waterfall Pool A drive up onto the high moor leads to the Cowsic, a small moorland river that runs down through open Dartmoor to meet the West Dart near Two Bridges. Along the way it slips over rock into a run of little falls and pools that wild swimmers seek out, and this is one of them.
It is an informal spot rather than a marked place, set among tussock and granite. The river runs cold and clear off the high ground, so this one is best saved for a warm day.
Polperro Chapel Pool
Photo: Jason Roberts via Geograph.org.uk
Polperro Chapel Pool For a change of scene, a drive west along the Cornish coast reaches Polperro Chapel Pool, a tidal bathing pool on the rocky shelf of Chapel Cliff just west of Polperro harbour. Every high tide fills and flushes it, and on a warm day the trapped water warms above the temperature of the sea.
Reaching it means walking up from the harbour onto the coast path, then down steep steps cut into the cliff to the rock ledge. It is submerged at high tide and swimmable for a couple of hours either side of low water, with no facilities and no handrails on the steep steps.
Sharrah Pool
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Sharrah Pool Back toward Dartmoor, Sharrah Pool is a long, deep, clear pool on the River Dart, where the river runs through a wooded gorge in the National Trust woods above New Bridge. Ranked among the best-known wild swimming spots in Devon, it is held between two cascades and lined with flat granite slabs good for sunbathing, its glassy water stretching out like a natural swimming pool, with a rope swing on the far bank.
Reaching it takes a walk of under an hour up the riverside path through the woods from the car park at New Bridge, and the water stays cold all year.
Spitchwick Common
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Spitchwick Common Last, and just upstream, Spitchwick Common, also called Deeper Marsh, is a much-loved river beach on the River Dart near Poundsgate, close to New Bridge. Grassy flats slope down to a rocky river 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 counts among the best-loved bathing places on the Dart, busy with families and picnickers on a hot day. Parking is at New Bridge nearby, making it a straightforward day out from Plymouth.
FAQs
Where can I wild swim close to Plymouth city centre?
The Devil's Point tidal pool at Firestone Bay is right in Plymouth, a saltwater pool on the shore of Plymouth Sound used by cold-water swimmers all year, just below the Royal William Yard and an easy walk from the centre.
Are there family-friendly swimming spots near Plymouth?
Yes. Cadover Bridge on the River Plym and Magpie Bridge on the Walkham both have shallow pools popular with families, and both lie a short drive north of Plymouth onto the edge of Dartmoor.
Do I need to check the tide or weather first?
You do. Sea pools like Devil's Point and Polperro Chapel Pool depend on the tide, while Dartmoor rivers near Plymouth run cold and can rise fast after rain, so always check conditions before setting out.
Conclusion
Few cities offer swimmers such variety as Plymouth, from a saltwater pool right in town to the wild rivers and moorland pools of Dartmoor and a tidal pool along the Cornish coast. Cool off close to home at Devil's Point, take the family to Cadover Bridge or Magpie Bridge, or head deeper for the clear water of Sharrah Pool and the dark depths of Crazywell.
Wherever you go, the moorland rivers run cold and can rise fast after rain, while the sea pools depend on the tide, so plan around conditions and never swim out of your depth. Bring warm layers, sturdy shoes and a towel, choose a settled day, and these are the wild swimming spots to seek out near Plymouth.
