Swimming beneath the beautifully sculpted sandstone cliffs of Swallowship Pool is an experience not to be missed.
The deep green water is clean and clear and the surrounding woodland shields the pool from view of the walking track above, giving it a real air of seclusion. It’s such a special spot and easily rivals some of the more well known waterfall pools around the area.
Added to that, the walk to get there is through a stunning forest with giant Redwood trees that make you feel small in the best possible way.
The combination of the forest and pool makes for one of the best short walks in Northumberland.
The walk to Swallowship Pool
The stats
Distance: 1 mile (1.6km) each way
Elevation gain: 80m
Difficulty: Easy, with one minor rough section
Trailhead: Layby on B6306 (south of Hexham)
Summary: The vast majority of the walk to Swallowship Pool is along a wide gravel path. A large potion of the walk is flat, followed by a gradual descent and one very short steeper section.
The final few metres down to the pool is on a rougher track, with rocks and tree roots, but it’s not slippery when dry and takes just a minute to get down.
Starting the trail: through the spectacular forest
From the lay-by (full parking details below) the trail begins on the opposite side of the road and heads straight onto a wide gravel track. It’s signposted ‘Swallowship’.
This is the last signpost for the pool you will see! You start by following the flat gravel road through the woods and after just 200m you’ll see your first Redwood trees.
The forest is spectacular and offers almost complete shade if you’re walking on a warm day.
At the 575m mark you will reach a signpost and head right, it’s signposted ‘Park Wood’. You’ll now be walking on a much narrower path and come to a T-junction 175m later (750m into the walk).
Head left here and you’ll continue through beautiful woodland on a wide but less manicured path. After approximately 250m the path will begin gently descending.
Roughly 250m later, or 1.25km into the walk, you will see a fence. Just before the fence you need to bear left, into denser forest along a narrower track.
Finding Swallowship Pool
You’ll cross a couple of little stepping stones and then come to a fork in the path 150m later.
Take the lower path which will become a bit steeper and rougher as you descend, though it’s not slippery when dry.
Roughly 100m later (1.5km into the trail) you will see a very minor creek crossing, it was actually dry on our visit. Cross the little stones to reach the right side of the riverbank.
There are a few steps of very narrow dirt track to get across before the path widens again.
This is totally fine when dry, but could feel a touch unnerving if wet and muddy. Keep following the track for 150m and then you will see a trail branching off to the left (1.65km into the walk).
The final 50m is a rougher path with some rocks and tree roots, but it’s a very short section and it isn’t a scramble, it’s just uneven. You will then arrive at the little beach in front of Swallowship Pool.
Wild swimming at Swallowship Pool
Swallowship Pool is an absolute beauty and quite unlike anywhere else we’ve swum in England. The rugged sandstone wall is grand and the pool below, a shimmering green from all the surrounding trees and foliage.
It’s a spectacular place for a swim and my favourite swimming spot in Northumberland so far. It was so serene and we couldn’t believe that despite visiting in August no one else came along for the duration of our visit.
Entering the pool is very easy as you can step straight off the little beach area into shallow water. The pool then gets deep enough to swim very quickly.
I was rarely out of my depth, but it was more than deep enough for a proper swim. It does get a little rocky close to the wall, but it still leaves you a really good amount of space to swim through the middle.
The water was much warmer than I was expecting, which is to say it was cool and refreshing but not cold. It’s a swimming hole I will remember for a very long time.
When you’re ready to leave the pool you simply retrace your steps back to the ‘car park’.
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.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the area, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
Parking for Swallowship Pool
The closest car park, well lay-by, to Swallowship Pool is off the side of the B6306, postcode NE46 1TW, you can see it here on Google maps. It’s opposite the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses and roughly 10 minutes drive outside the town of Hexham.
There is room for several cars to pull fully off the road here and parking was easy even in August when we visited.
There are no toilets at the lay-by or anywhere else along the trail.
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