Discover the East Dart River: a perfect summer evening spot for swimmers

Have you been wild swimming? Lucy Johnson (@40swims on Instagram) a cold water swimmer based in Buckfastleigh shares her favourite moorland swim spots.

Bellever is a favourite spot for a sunny summer evening, located on the East Dart River on the edge of Bellever Forest.

Parking is available in the Forestry Commission pay and display car park and the river is a short relatively flat walk away.

I particularly like this spot as the river is often slow here and with a young family you can paddle but you also have the option for more of a swim if you walk back along the path towards the forest you will find some deeper sections for a more substantial dip!

This is also a great spot for a picnic on the flat banks as there are lots of boulders to dine on with access to nearby bins and toilets back at the carpark, so it is easy to take moor care and leave no trace!

Last time I visited this spot a couple of weeks ago, I enjoyed dipping under the bridge and watching the sun go down – although I would say my top tip is to apply some mosquito repellent!

Also wear a pair of river shoes if you have them as these are key for paddling or swimming here.

As I mentioned last month health and safety never has a day off so educating yourself on cold water shock and wearing a wetsuit if you need to, are key considerations. If you can swim with others and have a warm up plan in mind for after as even in the warm summer months the body temperature drops considerably after being in cold water.

Warm layers, and a hot drink are staple in my year round plan to get warm after swimming.

Next month I will tell you about one of my favourite swim spots a little further off the beaten track.