Swimming Against The Crowds
It has been great to see Dartmouth come back to life after such a hard start to the year, the town has been busy but I hasten to add #notbournemouthbeach! We are lucky that our lovely town has wide streets alongside picturesque narrow alleys. Our beaches on the most part still have plenty of space on them, although parking on the most accessible beaches has been busy. So we decided this week to head inland to escape the crowds. The great thing about Devon is as wonderful as our coasts and rivers are, we are lucky to have one of the most amazing national parks on our doorstep. It is easy to have a rather bleak picture of Dartmoor if you don't know it, one thinks of the prison and miles of wide open spaces but visit on a sunny day and the landscape sings and the hidden valley woods become havens for the more adventurous. One of our favourite places is Wellsfoot Island on the River Dart - top tip don’t park at Newbridge but take the footpath down from Holne - much easier to park up there on busy days and after a short 20 minute walk, you are whisked down into the heart of ancient woodlands and the stunning upstream river Dart. Wellsfoot island offers a small sandy river bank next to a large pool of beautiful water to swim in. 5 mins down stream you can enjoy natural jaquzi as the water tumbles over smooth bolders, further upstream and the quieter and more secldued the swimming spots become. Having swam in the sea since June - we were amazed at how warm the river is August. Feeling peckish after a day in the river? Then take a short 20 min drive over the moors to The Rugglestone Inn outside of Widdicombe, there you can enjoy food in their lovely brook side garden and enjoy the end of the evening sun. Perfect!
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