Wild Swimming in the Peak District
Have you vistied this natural wild swimming pool in the Peak District?
The Peak District is home to so many beautiful wild swimming spots, most of which are hidden from view — and swimmers and locals alike prefer to keep them that way. There’s a bit of an unwritten rule in the wild swimming community to not share swim spots, but as this one is particularly well-known and one not to be missed, we wanted to create a guide to show you how to find the pool and the best times to visit.
Wild Swimming in The River Bradford, Youlgreave
This wild swimming pool is located in the river Bradford in Bradford Dale, just below Youlgreave. It was originally built for farmers to clean their sheep before sheering. But don’t worry, the pool isn’t used for farming anymore and the water is crystal clear. The stone surrounded pool is part of the river, and is approximately 70cm deep, but varies depending on rainfall. It’s just about deep enough to swim up and down.
This place does get VERY crowded on sunny days and doesn’t have the infrastructure to support it. So if you’re planning on visit, consider taking public transport or tagging it on to the end of a long walk so you can park elsewhere. There are so many beautiful walks in this area of the Peak District, and what better way to round off a day outdoors than a refreshing dip in a natural pool?
Youlgreave Wild Swimming Pool
Parking
Youlgreave is about 10 minutes from Bakewell and 20 minutes from Matlock. Parking here is extremely limited, so if you can visit via public transport that’s your best option — both for you and the locals. There’s a bus (the 172) that goes from Bakewell to Matlock via Youlgreave.
Parking in Youlgreave is limited so please keep this in mind and be mindful of locals needing parking and access too.
How to find the pool
The pool is just a short (5-7 min) walk down from the hill on the Main street in Youlgreave. The best route is via Brookleton, just off Hollywell Lane. At the end of Brookleton there is a small gate and path that leads down the hill to the swimming area.
