Thurlstone Arch. Photo Sophie Pierce
Swincombe Meet. Photo Dan Bolt
Shilley Pool. Photo Matt Newbury
troops for training exercises prior to D Day. The soldiers even apparently carried sand to the pool to turn it into a beach for themselves and the locals. We also included coastal walks to some wonderful
real beaches, many of which have their own tales of smugglers and pirates, adventurers and explorers. One of our favourites follows a route from Beesands to the ruined village of Hallsands. It’s also an unexpectedly musical route. You’ll pass the Cricket Inn where a young Keith Richards and Mick Jagger played their first ever gig, while on holiday. After a breath-taking clifftop stroll, you drop down to North Hallsands, where Blur’s Damon Albarn (who has a holiday home nearby) was inspired to write the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach. It’s fun and fascinating to swim to the lost village, while non swimmers can view the remains from a viewing platform above. There are various coastal walks stretching from
Plymouth right up the coast to Torbay and beyond, with some real treats in the South Hams. We’ve included a fascinating walk in the book from between the seaside towns of Teignmouth and Dawlish, following what must be one of the most spectacular railway lines in the UK. The walk takes you from Teignmouth Pier where stuntmen once used to
Dates for the keen and competitive outdoor swimmers:
Saturday 2 July – Bantham Swoosh – 6 km, River Avon. Saturday 3 September - Dart 10k - Totnes to Dittisham
For more info check -
www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com and -
www.wildswimming.co.uk
Foggintor Quarry. Photo Matt Newbury
Te book include several swim walks along the River Dart
entertain the crowds. The most famous was one- legged Peg Leg Pete, who would thrill onlookers by setting himself alight and diving from the pier into the water below. The route features two potential swims at the Parson and Clerk rocks (another spot with a fascinating legend) and Coryton Cove at Dawlish, before catching the train back to Teignmouth. The book includes several swim walks along the River Dart and if you do fancy trying wild swimming for the first time, the walk from New Bridge up to beautiful Shilley Pool passes several great spots. In the summer the river tends to be shallower and calmer, perfect for dipping your toes in the wonderful peaty water. Sandy shallow beaches are also safe places to swim with friends if you are a bit unsure. We’ve also included
Ivybridge Pools. Photo Matt Newbury
a magnificent walk from Bantham (with views across Bigbury Bay
to Burgh Island) and along the clifftops to Thurlstone, with its sandy beach and superb natural arch. As with many of the walks, we’ve also included refreshment stops along the way. We are immensely proud of the book and hope it
encourages people to get out and about exploring this glorious part of the country and discovering some of its remarkable history and incredible stories. Perhaps we will bump into you along the way…
Wild Swimming Walks: Dartmoor and South Devon by Sophie Pierce and Matt Newbury (£14.99, Wild Things Publishing) is available from all good bookshops. For 30% off and free P+P visit
www.wildthingspublishing.com and enter ‘Devon’ as your coupon code.
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