BEST WILD SWIMMING PLACES IN DEVON
Wild swimming can be a surprising salve to modern life and lockdown compared to a traditional swimming pool. Wild swimming spots are not about comfort or room temperature but about exhilaration and feeling alive. To climb riverbanks and rocks, then plunge into crisp, cool water gives many an adrenaline buzz and feeling of adventure!
Why not amp up your daily exercise with a cold water dip? It’s rewilding at its best. A chance to re-engage with nature, and ourselves. But where to go? There’s nowhere better than the wild moors of Exmoor or the North Devon coastline. We’ve got some ideas to get you started. . .
BROADSANDS, COMBE MARTIN
Tucked into secluded wooded cliffs, this might be Devon’s most beautiful cove. It is locally known for its turquoise clear waters, which entices you on the steep 200-step descent to the two shingle beaches below. You’ll find a series of secret caves and an old island lookout to explore. But few people—thanks to the climb.
The shingle shelves into deep water, which the protective hold of the headland keeps sheltered from the waves out to sea. Made for idle floating and gentle lengths.
1½ miles west of Combe Martin on A399, 4 miles from Ilfracombe.
WATERSMEET, EXMOOR
Watersmeet is a forested glen of ancient, furrowed oaks and sprightly ferns, through which the water rushes like smoke over smooth rock.
Bring the whole family, including your four-legged friend, to splash around in the crystal clear outdoor pools, or follow the river for 1.5km to Long Pool. This is a 50m long ravine, where the inky depths of water are shielded by granite sides, over which ferns have crept. It’s a secluded spot with abundant wildlife surrounding it, making it a great sport for wild swimming. So serene that you may hear the splash of a salmon or see an iridescent flash of a dragonfly. Watersmeet is 2km south of Lynmouth on the A39. Long Pool is 1.5km up from Watersmeet before Rockford, on the western side – cross at the footbridge.
WOODY BAY, EXMOOR
Hidden among the wild cliffs and peaks of Exmoor’s coast you’ll find a mermaid’s lido. At the far end of Woody’s Bay, a remote shingle beach, the softly undulating rocks dip into a natural tidal pool. During the summer months, you can enjoy a relaxing and peaceful swim in one of the best swimming spots in Devon.
Clamber across the rocks, watch the sky swim along the surface of the water, or starfish in it, trailing your arms and drinking in the blue and wisp-white above.
An epic pool, you can float without a care, and with no one there.
THE RIVER BARLE, EXMOOR
The largest river on Exmoor National Park, the Barle is a mighty vein of coursing water and a rich habitat year round for salmon, otters, kingfisher, and a rare river jelly lichen – perfect for young children to watch in awe. This makes it an SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and, as you may expect, the water is crystal clear.
The Barle flows from the heights of Simonsbath high on the Somerset moors to the River Exe in Devon. Along it, you will find many easy-access spots for a quick dip, river swim, or bathe in its amber-glow (a product of the mosaic of smooth stones which form the riverbed).
Underneath Cow’s Castle, an iron age settlement near Simonsbath, there is a calm and open section of river – well worth for a peaceful swim.
WOOLACOMBE BEACH, WOOLACOMBE
If you’ve never been, situated in an idyllic location, Woolacombe Beach is an award-winning beach and is one of the best swimming spots in North Devon. A three-mile stretch of golden sand and deep blue sea, backed by green hills, large rocks and high cliffs, that is magnificent to see.
It’s no surprise that this year TripAdvisor named it as one of the top 20 beaches in the world. Woolacombe has seamlessly rocked a dual identity, one part laidback surfing village, with a buzz to be found in the dusk waves, and the other a rural hideaway, with miles of quiet coast path and endless blue horizons. A gentle swim in these crystal clear shallows, play in the waves, and discover quiet inlets around the rocks, Woolacombe Beach is a beautiful place to enjoy nature.
Swim in the crystal clear shallows, play in the waves, or discover quiet inlets around the rocks. Afterwards wrap up in a towel robe like the surfers do, or even better enjoy a post-swim rasul using vegan-friendly Natural Spa Factory products.The rasul dates back hundreds of years to an ancient Arabic bathing ritual. It hasn’t changed much since then: an old and powerful trinity of mineral-rich mud, steam, and heat warm the cockles and cleanse mind and body, before a scrub to gently exfoliate the skin. Available at The Alchemist Spa, a stone’s throw from the sea.
After a day of wild swimming in the best swimming spots in North Devon, the Woolacombe Bay Hotel is located just off Woolacombe Beach, accommodating guests for a luxurious stay. The hotel is not only suited for individuals who love to stay next to the seaside but also accommodates families and is a dog-friendly hotel too. Woolacombe Bay Hotel has a vast range of top-quality facilities to keep guests entertained throughout the day and evening. From an in-house cinema, luxury spa and onsite dining with a view, guests staying at the Woolacombe Bay Hotel feel truly relaxed.