9 wild swims in the South West

Daniel Start, author of the newly expanded Wild Guide South West, selects his favourite wild swims in the West Country.

Think of the South West in summer, and queues of traffic on the A30 and tiny lanes jammed with caravans may spring to mind. Yet, once you know where to look, you’ll find a region of extraordinary secluded beauty, its remote coastline indented with tiny coves, and its vast moorlands running with waterfalls and meandering rivers.

The best wild swims in the South West

Downton & The Moot, Wiltshire Avon

The Millennium Green is a community meadow with mown grass pathways leading to picnic tables by a river beach on a wide, open stretch of the Avon. This Avon is a delightful chalk stream with white shingle and abundant water-crowfoot. It rises on Salisbury Plain and is not to be confused with the Bristol/Bath Avon, which rises in the Cotswolds. A riverside path leads upstream to more dipping spots and, after ½ mile, The Moot, an 8-acre Georgian ornamental public garden built on the remains of a Norman motte-and-bailey castle. It features an amphitheatre, rope swings and good paddling on the mill stream. Limited parking is available on the corner of Moot Gardens/Avondyke SP5 3LW (50.9862, -1.7498). Alternatively, park upstream at The Moot itself and walk down (car park opposite Downton House, SP5 3JP). 5 minutes walk, 50.9845, -1.7526

Warleigh Weir, Somerset Avon

A long, curving weir with cascades, pools and ferryman steps below, and a long deep section above. There is a beautiful meadow island area and the old Claverton Pumping Station (open inside two days a month). This has always been an immensely popular swimming place and is now owned by the Warleigh Weir Project. Best reached on the canal cycle/ footpath from Bath or from Dundas Aqueduct or via Bus 264/265. Alternatively people park on the A36 verges and walk down Ferry Lane, 3 miles east of Bath on the A36. No access from Warleigh on the right bank! Take any litter you find home – it’s a big problem. 10 minutes walk, 51.3772, -2.3003

Stair Hole, Lulworth Cove, Dorset

On a hot, sunny day, Stair Hole is an idyllic azure grotto with small caves and tunnels leading out to the ocean. The tidal lagoon sits in a giant crater with zig-zag rock formations. The sea caves and arches lead out to the sea, and the sun creates underwater rays. There are good jumps at high tide, and a long swim takes you out into the ocean and along to the famous Durdle Door rock arch – the most iconic and popular point on the Dorset coast. Park in the huge Lulworth Cove car park, BH20 5RQ. Find the coast path behind the visitor centre/toilets and continue 100m. Cross the rope barrier and scramble carefully down the scree slope – it can be a bit slippery. 2 minutes walk, 50.6180, -2.2524

Tipton, River Otter, East Devon

Good pool and weir by an ancient mill in pastures at Fluxton Weir. Calm, deep water and a flume like a jacuzzi. Take the footpath at 50.7213, -3.2944 on Tipton Vale, EX11 1RW (car park behind bus stop 80m south). Follow the river upstream ½ mile to the weir, bridge and mill. To explore more: continue 1¼ mile upstream along the river to find a deep corner pool on the inside of a bend with a rope swing (50.7435, -3.2835) or quicker access to this from the south end of Ottery Saint Mary Millennium Green, off Mill Street, EX11 1YA). Or downstream, a mile south of Tipton St John, there is an easy river beach and paddling at Harpford Bridge, EX10 0NQ (50.7052, -3.2913). 10 minutes walk, 50.7267, -3.2891

Torrington Common, River Torridge, North Devon

A long stretch of quiet riverside meadow below the town, fast-flowing and stony but the setting for many of Tarka’s adventures. Access from Castle Street car park EX38 8HB, through the archway and down to the riverbank admiring the sweeping views. Downstream, Ladies Pool has a concrete platform, built in 1928 for the swimming women of Torrington. A second pool 200m along has a rope swing, and you can also swim below the weir beyond the road bridge. For closer access to the weir, park near the road bridge and Torridge Inn (EX38 8AW); for medieval Rothern Bridge, further downstream, park near Puffing Billy café (EX38 8JD), though this is a bit close to the sewage plant. Bring river shoes. 10 minutes walk, 50.9491, -4.1453

Horseshoe Falls, River Dart, Devon

One of the easiest and most beautiful of the many pools and chutes on the Dart. This horseshoe-shaped waterfall has a big pool below, great for jumps, and a large rock for sunbathing. Follow the path on the river’s right bank from Spitchwick Common, Newbridge car park (500m) or on a bucolic footpath down through fields from Holne (on the right as you enter Holne from Holne Bridge direction). 15 minutes walk, 50.5195,-3.8200. From here, a gorgeous 20 min walk upstream through ancient woods arrives at the legendary Bell Pool (50.5265, -3.8363). This deep hidden pool on an S-bend on the east side of Bell Island has an old iron ladder for scaling an outcrop and jumping back in. Another 300m brings you to Sharrah Pool (50.5301, -3.8396).

London Bridge Arch, Torquay, Devon

The Torquay coast is one of the best sea swimming areas in the South West due to its limestone cliffs and caves. The huge sea arch of London Bridge is popular and notorious with local youth who like to jump from the top or the many cliffs around it. However, the deep water is also accessible by a gentle slope and there are many ledges and rocks, perfect for snorkeling, coasteering and smaller jumps. Park at Beacon Quay car park (TQ1 2BG) and walk back up the hill, turning right into Imperial Hotel. Follow signs for the coast path as far as the steps left to the viewpoint; continue past and climb the low wall for access down and left to the large slab and the sea. 5 minutes walk, 50.4543, -3.5187

Kit Hill Quarry, East Cornwall

You can drive right up to the top of this hill for truly impressive views. There is a tower and various ruins on the hillside plus a disused quarry lake for a dip. Blocks of quarried stone surround the lake, including many pieces once destined for London bridges. Turn left off the A390, 2 miles northeast of Callington, PL17 8HR. Park at the first parking on the right, and 50m beyond, descend on the trackway on the right. After 300m, turn right for the tailings lookout or left into the old quarry. 15 minutes walk, 50.5220, -4.2950

Respryn Bridge, River Fowey, South Cornwall

Just below the great National Trust estate of Lanhydrock, the sparkling Fowey runs under ancient oaks and an old stone bridge. Downstream there are shingle beaches and a wooden footbridge leading to river islands and an old weir (50.4337, -4.6816). But upstream is perhaps the real gem: dappled light reflects on the river as it flows briskly through the woods. This is the less-visited section but has rope swings and deeper pools, particularly on the meanders. From the car park, head upstream on the right bank path ½ mile, or you might get lucky with much closer parking at the red gate on the right on the narrow, unsigned ‘7.5t’ sign lane, turn left just before the car park. Another 400m upstream is a secret, secluded river beach in woodland, perfect for a skinny dip. Keep on the right bank. There’s a pond too. Or it’s accessible just through the back gates of Bodmin Station car park (50.4461, -4.6668). 5 minutes walk, 50.4443, -4.6713

‘Wild Guide South West: Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire’ by Tania Pascoe and Daniel Start is published by Wild Things Publishing. Outdoor Swimmer readers can receive a 20% discount and free P&P with code OSMag24 at wildthingspublishing.com.