Black Rock Falls is a fantastic family friendly wild swimming spot in Dartmoor. It’s incredibly picturesque, nestled between large boulders which perfectly frame the small pool. The cascades are the icing on the cake and gorgeous, even when the flow is very low, like it was on our visit.
It feels far wilder than the short easy walk would suggest, and it makes for the perfect summer evening’s adventure.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Black Rock Falls (aka Witch’s Pool).
The walk to Black Rock Falls
The stats
Distance: 0.6 miles (1.1km) each way
Elevation gain: 50m
Difficulty: Easy
Finding Black Rock Falls
From the left side of car park (details below), the walk heads over the grass and through the gate. From here you continue on a gravel path which quickly becomes a grassy track as you head through the moorland.
The track heads very gently downhill and after 750m you’ll see a small wooden bridge over the stream.
It’s a pretty spot, but you don’t cross here. Instead you head right, following the worn down grassy path.
From this point on, the walk becomes very scenic, with the river on once side and the bracken and distant hills on the other.
It’s just under 400m of easy and almost entirely flat walking before you reach the last few metres of track, which are a little rocky.
It’s still very easy and you’ll soon see the little bench seat which sits underneath the cliff and WWI memorial plaque.
The pool is a few steps below.
Swimming at Black Rock Falls (Witch’s Pool)
The pool at Black Rock Falls is small, but perfectly formed. It’s a wonderful spot with the cascades and large boulders making it feel very atmospheric.
I didn’t really know what to expect and it was just beautiful, especially with the surrounding tors and Widgery Cross all adding to the wild feel. You’d never think you’re less than a 15 minute walk from the road!
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting in July or August, you’ll also be treated to some lovely patches of heather and thistles, which make it all the more special.
When it comes to swimming, accessing the water is easy. There are a couple of rocks to climb over, but then you can walk straight in. The rocks around the outside of the pool are very grippy when dry.
Inside, the bottom of the pool is quite gravelly, rather than the usual slippery rocks you find in most swimming spots. This makes it quite easy to walk around, although you do get the odd jab!
The water is generally shallow, only reaching about chest height on me as I got close to the cascade. For this reason it’s more of a plunge pool (for adults) than it is a place you can actually swim, but it’s a great place to cool off.
It’s also one of the warmest pools in Dartmoor that I’ve swum in so far. If you’re not used to wild swimming in the UK you might still find it cold, but I was pleasantly surprised at how ‘warm’ it felt.
The best time to visit
Black Rock Falls is a fantastic spot, but it’s quite small and best appreciated when quiet. It is popular with locals, particularly on sunny days in summer, so if you want to get it to yourself you need to come early or late.
We visited on a hot day during the summer holidays, but arrived about 7pm. We didn’t see another soul, either on the walk, or at the pool for the entire time. This definitely made it all the more special.
Getting to Black Rock Falls
The gravel parking area for Black Rock Falls can be found at the end of the lane that heads east by the fabulous Dartmoor Inn in Lydford, postcode: EX20 4AY. It doesn’t have a name on Google Maps, but it’s the gravel road opposite School Road in Lydford.
It doesn’t look like a proper road and it’s quite narrow, but you only have to drive for a minute down the track before you come to a gate. Pass through the gate and then drive a minute down the stony road before you see the parking area.
It’s free to park and there is no time limit. Please note there are no facilities whatsoever at the car park or by the pool (including toilets).
Keep them wild
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
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