Poundsgate, England, United Kingdom

River Dart at Spitchwick

A wide bend of the River Dart beside the grassy common just above New Bridge, where Dartmoor families have come to paddle, picnic and swim for generations. In 2023 the estate that owns the banks put up signs asking swimmers to refrain, to protect them, so check the signage and tread lightly. The river can run high after rain; paddlers read the level from the rock ledge by the bridge.

Directions

Photo: Herbythyme · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 81/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 13°C, wind 9 km/h, UV 0. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Low, settled river levels after a dry spell; paddlers use a rock ledge by New Bridge known as the Slab as a level gauge.
Getting in: Dartmoor National Park Authority says you can swim in Dartmoor's rivers if you get in from points that are not private land and respect other river users and wildlife. At Spitchwick the Spitchwick Estate put up signs in 2023 asking people not to swim, to protect the banks and aquatic wildlife; the estate has said this is a request rather than a ban.
Parking & transport: Car park beside New Bridge on the Ashburton to Two Bridges road; the narrow medieval bridge restricts the size of vehicles on this road.
Water quality: Not a designated bathing water, so the Environment Agency does not monitor it for bathing; the nearest designated sites are far downstream on the Dart estuary.
Who swims here: A long-standing local favourite; after the 2023 signs, access campaigners including Right to Roam and Friends of the Dart held a protest swim here.
Watch for: Higher, faster flows after rain
Busy with kayakers and canoeists: New Bridge is a recognised access point, with whitewater above (Upper Dart) and below (the Loop)
Fragile riverbanks prone to erosion