Tavy Cleave: A magical spot for a swim on Dartmoor

By Stephanie Darkes

I took my first wild swim on Dartmoor this year, and it was magical.

Tucked away on wild moorland, beneath the watchful gaze of dramatic tors, Tavy Cleave is the kind of place that makes you feel alive. Relaxing in the cool, clear water to the sound of the waterfall, I took in the Dartmoor countryside stretching as far as the eye could see.

This trip isn’t just for wild swimming enthusiasts. Its a lovely walk and a great picnic spot.

The Walk to Tavy Cleave

The Stats:

  • Distance: 3.1 miles (5km) return
  • Elevation gain: 70m
  • Difficulty: Easy

Getting to Tavy Cleave is part of the experience. The walk is generally easy, featuring minimal hills and a good path for most of the route. There is one short section of rocky terrain and a boggy patch to navigate, but the rocks can easily traverse these.

Although the route isn’t signposted, it’s relatively straightforward to follow.

Starting Point

Start at Lane End car park near Willsworthy. From here, head east up the gravel road. After about 400m of flat, easy walking, you’ll pass a farm on your right. Take the grassy path leading gently uphill on your left – you’re heading for the leat less than 250m away through the gate. Don’t cross the leat – the terrain on the other side hard going and difficult to navigate.

From this point, a narrow gravel path runs alongside the leat, treating you to increasingly beautiful views. The trail remains flat and leisurely; before long, you’ll pass beneath picturesque tors.

The First Swimming Hole

About 1.6km into the trail, you can take a short detour to another swimming hole just before the pump house. Turn off the main path and follow the grassy/rocky terrain downhill and to the right. After 80m, you’ll come to a large pool.

This spot looks perfect for a dip (we didn’t dip on this day), though not quite as spectacular as the main pool. Being off the main track, it’s often quiet, making it ideal for a quiet swim away from the crowds.

Continuing to Tavy Cleave

On the main trail, you’ll spot a small pump house ahead. The track to Tavy Cleave (now 700m away) continues around the side of this structure, and the terrain becomes a bit rockier from this point.

For the first 50m, we found it easiest to stick close to the water. You can pick your way along the rocks before heading uphill slightly, away from the creek and onto a dirt track.

Follow this defined dirt track until you reach a boggy section. At this point, head back down to the rocks and hop across through the muddy area before rejoining the dirt track once you’re clear of the bog.

The rocky and boggy sections only last a few hundred metres, so while the path isn’t as good as the rest of the walk, it’s manageable. We visited during a wet spell and I wish I had my walking shoes instead of my trainers! You may need to rock-hop for longer if there’s been recent rainfall.

The final few hundred metres to Tavy Cleave are on a good track with just a few rocky patches, and the scenery is absolutely stunning.

The Main Swimming Spot at Tavy Cleave

Approximately 2.6km into the walk (slightly less if you skip the first pool), you’ll arrive at Tavy Cleave itself.

The pool is gorgeous, surrounded by towering tors that give you that wonderful feeling of being dwarfed by nature. Cascades and rock shelves make it especially picturesque and surprisingly large.

One thing to note about swimming here – the vast majority of the pool is very shallow. It’s more of a plunge pool than somewhere for a proper swim. There’s only one small section where you can do a few strokes, but this pool is somewhere to relax in the water rather than get your exercise in. There is also a small plunge pool the sit in.

The water was freezing (it was April), but the walk makes for a good warm up.

Accessing the water is straightforward – simply walk down a couple of grippy rocks (when dry) and straight into the pool. There is a shallow rock shelf to navigate carefully, as it can be slippery, but once you’re over this, you’ll be in deeper water (though adults will never be out of their depth).

We managed a lovely sunbathe on the grass after.

When to Visit

Tavy Cleave can get busy on warm, sunny weekends and during school holidays. While there’s plenty of room to spread out and people don’t tend to stay in the water long, if you’re seeking a solitary dip, aim to arrive early or late during peak season.

After heavy rainfall, water levels can rise, potentially making the pool unsuitable for swimming. The upside is that the cascades will be in full flow, creating some spectacular photo opportunities.

Practical Information

Parking: The free car park for Tavy Cleave is called “Lane End Car Park” and is on Google Maps. It’s a gravel area and not particularly large. There are no facilities whatsoever in the car park, including toilets.

Military Range: There is a firing range near Tavy Cleave, but access isn’t restricted when it’s not in operation. You can check when firing is taking place online, and flags will be displayed when the range is active. During our visit, there was no firing scheduled for the entire six-week period we checked, so it’s unlikely to disrupt your trip unless you’re particularly unlucky.

Keep It Wild

Please remember to take all your rubbish with you and help keep these special places wild and pristine. We must leave them exactly as we find them so they remain beautiful for generations to come.

Have you visited Tavy Cleave, or do you have another favourite wild swimming spot in Dartmoor? Let me know in the comments below!

Tags: , ,