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Cowsic Waterfall Pool

Wild Swimming Spot

Terrain:

Activities

Best Time To Visit

Woodland, Riverside, Valley

Swimming

Late October

Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk

Cold amber water rushes furiously over massive ancient granite shelves deep within a forgotten Dartmoor valley where adventurous outdoor swimmers escape the harsh, unrelenting winds of the exposed high moorland, immediately encountering a beautifully sheltered and cold sanctuary filled with old oak ...

10

Parking nearby

1

Food Spots nearby

0

Staycations nearby

Parking:

Food:

Staycations:

10 day parking

The Plume of Feathers – Princetown

Nearest Hidden Gem 1

Nearest Hidden Gem 2

Nearest Hidden Gem 3

FAQ's/Things to Know

Where is Cowsic Waterfall Pool?
Devon's rugged Dartmoor landscape contains these pools, hidden away inside a wooded valley. Walkers generally head past Beardown Bridge to track down the spot.

What type of place is Cowsic Waterfall Pool?
Cowsic Waterfall Pool is a wild swimming spot in the Dartmoor National Park in Devon.

When is the best time to visit Cowsic Waterfall Pool?
Late October offers a very crisp morning environment when the summer crowds thin out completely. Autumnal weather also turns the surrounding valley ferns a rich shade of brown.

What can you do at Cowsic Waterfall Pool?
Swimming through the deep, amber current provides a bracing shock to your nervous system. Adventurous explorers also love reading the nineteenth-century mythological inscriptions carved directly onto the nearby boulders.

How long should I spend at Cowsic Waterfall Pool?
Allowing roughly an hour provides plenty of time to enjoy a refreshing dip and dry off afterwards. Hikers often stay longer to combine their swim with a proper march across the open moorland.

Where do I park at Cowsic Waterfall Pool?
Vehicles can use the ten available day parking spaces provided near the trail. Full details are available on the UK Hidden Gems app.

Where can I eat near Cowsic Waterfall Pool?
The Plume of Feathers in Princetown represents the sole recorded spot to grab a hot meal nearby. Full details are available on the UK Hidden Gems app.

Where can I stay near Cowsic Waterfall Pool?
There are no staycation spots recorded immediately near Cowsic Waterfall Pool, check the UK Hidden Gems app for the nearest options.

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Last Updated:

02 July 2026

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