Dartmoor’s best wild swimming spots featured in new South West guide

A new guidebook highlighting wild swimming locations across the South West has been published, featuring a number of spots in and around Dartmoor National Park.

Swimming Wild in South West England by Siân Anna Lewis showcases more than 50 outdoor swimming locations, including beaches, rivers, lakes and tidal pools across the region.

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The book includes sites from across the West Country, with a focus on natural swimming areas such as rivers and hidden pools. 

Dartmoor and the River Avon are among the areas featured.

Lewis, an award-winning travel and outdoors journalist, said: “For me, swimming under an open sky is one of the best ways to experience nature, and the West Country is a goldmine.

“From the coastal regions, to the River Avon and Dartmoor National Park there are silent pools and pristine waters hidden around every corner, and with this book, you won’t need to search for them.”

The guide is aimed at a wide range of swimmers, from beginners to those with more experience. 

It includes practical information on how to access each location, as well as advice on safety, tides, currents and potential hazards.

Alongside natural sites, the book also features a selection of managed outdoor swimming venues. 

These locations offer facilities such as lifeguards and water quality testing, and are included as an option for those new to open water swimming.

Lewis said the region offers a wide variety of environments for swimmers.

“From hidden plunge pools on Dartmoor and secret skinny dips on the Devon coast to Dorset’s rocky coves, this region offers some of the most diverse wild waters in Britain,” she said.

The book also includes photography and mapping to help readers locate each site, along with suggestions for places to visit nearby.

Swimming Wild in South West England is due to be published on 7 May.