Lydford Gorge
Lydford Gorge
4.5
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- Christine PBristol, United Kingdom23 contributionsSpectacular walkOut of season so the White Lady Falls walk was accessible with free entrance and parking. The bad weather meant the waterfall was spectacular with the excess of rainwater. A steep stepped decline down to the falls and a zigzag rise return to the car park, you have a choice of decent. The dogs and us loved it.Visited November 2022Written 3 December 2022
- TheMerrys2017Plymouth, United Kingdom94 contributionsGreat start to the Easter breakAs members of the National Trust we were looking for local locations to take the kids (5 and 4) to start the Easter break, many NT places are doing Easter trails for an additional £3 per child so we headed off to Lydford Gorge. We were not disappointed, the kids loved the trail and the chocolate egg! The walks were also brilliant and easy for the kids, both the waterfall and the Devils cauldron are fantastic natural wonders and well worth a visit, overall a great day outVisited April 2023Travelled with familyWritten 2 April 2023
- David L25 contributionsWaterfall beautiful. Cauldron awesome. Try and see both. Excellent visit.Excellent morning visit to both Whitelady waterfall and the Devil’s Cauldron. Path between the two was not open, but could park at each of the 2 NT car parks and take the path to see each main feature. Waterfall path has a longer descent but easier to negotiate. The Devil’s Cauldron path gets tighter with trickier parts - nothing drastic but glad we left our active dog out of this one. Two amazing sights in quite different ways… the waterfall impressive and beautiful to appreciate, while the cauldron is at the centre of a very dramatic and awesome narrow passage and series of whirlpools through the gorge with the pounding of rushing water heightening the senses. We were a bit limited for time, but managed to not feel rushed with about 45 minutes to an hour at each site. The pathways in general take in the wooded surroundings and riverside serenity so would be lovely to explore at length if time no object. When your 13:year old too cool for school son expresses how impressed he is at the end then I call that a solid win ! I recall the tearoom as being very good at the cauldron car park but no time to stop there on this occasion… ah well.Visited April 2023Written 6 April 2023
- David G5 contributionsDartmoor VisitPart of a wider visit to National Trust locations near Dartmoor. WInter weather had damaged the track between two locations but we still managed two excellent walks to see the Devil's Cauldron and the Waterfall. Staff very helpful and a good way to spend a couple of hours.Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 April 2023
- JaneLeicestershire, United Kingdom30 contributionsSpectacular waterfalls , great day out .We spent a wonderful day visiting both sites at Lydford Gorge . The falls are spectacular and the riverside walk very pretty and peaceful . Staff at both sites were very helpful friendly and welcoming with lots of advice and information easily available and a map provided . Take a camera for the waterfalls and binoculars to enjoy the many bird species in the woodland and walking shoes to negotiate the paths to Devils Cauldron. Worth visiting the birdhide .Visited April 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 20 April 2023
- monkeyfeet15546 contributionsBest walk everWe had a great visit to the Gorge. One of the best walks we've been on. It's not for the faint hearted and you definitely need a good pair of walking boots. Lots of wonderful woodland, waterfalls, and plenty of birds to see. It took us 3 1/2 hours to walk the whole circular route from the Devils Couldron car park. The Pixie Glen section of the trail has narrow paths with high drops above fast-flowing water and uneven, bare rock surfaces which can be slippery even when dry. The Whitelady Waterfall is definitely worth seeing and if you can't walk the whole route, you can park at the waterfall entrance and then its just a mile to see the falls.Visited May 2023Written 21 May 2023
- James A715 contributionsBeautiful walkA beautiful lovely circular walk. Can be quite steep and a little slippery. Takes a couple of hours we took close to 3 as we stopped all the time to look at the rain forest and all the beautiful scenery. Was well worth going. Staff were very nice and knowledgeable very friendly. Had a sandwich after all very pleasant. Would recommend 100%Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 June 2023
- ChapbillsmithSalisbury, United Kingdom116 contributionsThe Gorgeous Lydford GorgeLydford Gorge is a must visit. There are 2 entrances and 2 car parks. The Waterfall Car Park/ Entrance is the smaller one (there is a tea room, and loos) and is best if you want to visit the waterfall, do the waterfall or railway trails. Both trails are great and atke about 45-60 minutes each. The Main entrance/ Car park is larger and has resfreshments, loos. The easiest trail is the Devil's Cauldron (A swirling pothole) trail. about 45 minutes but ist is challenging with steep opaths and can be slippery. You need good footwear and we took sticks, too. This venue would be busy in peak season and approach roads are very narrow.Visited June 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 30 June 2023
- Christine KBarnsley, United Kingdom819 contributionsAmazing placeA rare non rainy day on our stay in Devon snd we decided to visit this place again, along with seemingly half the population of the west country. We love this place although the walking is a little strenuous in places. The White Lady waterfall is lively, and a new bridge has been installed since our last visit. The area around the waterfall was full of people having a paddle and long photoshoots so we carried on to the tea room. We had just sat down outside with our order when the heavens opened, exactly the same as our last visit, so we quickly ran inside. Although most of the routeis one way, it's amazing how many people don't follow instructions or dont listen, and goodness knows what would happen if they met someone going the correct way on one of the very narrow ledges. Thankfully there are handrails where the ledges are narrowest. We went on to the Devils cauldron which is amazing, but again people stand looking over at the narrowest part, rather than where there is room for people to pass.Visited July 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 July 2023
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4.5
1,132 reviews
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42
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11
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chuckle
Burrington, UK13 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Beautiful visit, with waterfalls etc. Could not access all due to closure and slippery paths. Can walk down on path or steps . Steps challenging and next time keep to path. Could not walk to Devils Cauldron due to closure perhaps next time. White Lady fall beautiful and impressive. Lovely picnic. Despite being National Trust members all free to public at this time of year.
Written 28 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trek796903
2 contributions
Jun 2023 • Solo
Beautiful, dog friendly walk. Very peaceful and lovely scenery. Very few people around the day we went.
Written 26 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bagsmore
Bolton, UK152 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We visited Lydford Gorge while on holiday, camping in Cornwall, the day was damp with 40mph winds forcast in Cornwall. With this in mind we headed North and East to Lydford Gorge where we found the weather to be damp, but less windy.
Perhaps it was the damp, but the gorge was pretty much deserted with few people exploring the area to our surprise.
The area did not disappoint. The walk alongside the river is at times moderately challenging we managed it easily with our 5 and 2 year old (2yr old in a backpack bag).
The scenery is stunning, the waterfalls beautiful and powerful.
The cafe was the usual NT fayre and usual NT prices - you know what you're getting. If it is not your thing, there is always the Castle Pub at Lydford a short walk off the trail.
Just a word note - the trail is one way a sensible decision as its narrow in places.
Perhaps it was the damp, but the gorge was pretty much deserted with few people exploring the area to our surprise.
The area did not disappoint. The walk alongside the river is at times moderately challenging we managed it easily with our 5 and 2 year old (2yr old in a backpack bag).
The scenery is stunning, the waterfalls beautiful and powerful.
The cafe was the usual NT fayre and usual NT prices - you know what you're getting. If it is not your thing, there is always the Castle Pub at Lydford a short walk off the trail.
Just a word note - the trail is one way a sensible decision as its narrow in places.
Written 29 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KrisWB
Swanage, UK7 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Lydford Gorge is without one of the most unique and beautiful spots to visit when visiting the North of Dartmoor.
You must visit.
That said it's disappointing that they haven't thought of those travelling to the Gorge via Public transport. With the river walk closed for repairs (totally understandable), unless you have a car, you can't get from Devils Cauldron to the waterfall. It's a 2 minute drive, but unlike the walk from Lydford to the DC, the road has no pavements and blind turns. Unsuitable for walking. There is no mention of this on the website (in hindsight we should have asked), but at a time other locations award those that dont drive, but opt for public transport (free entry etc), a shuttle service during the river walk closure would have been a super addition. That or a mention of no access to the Waterfall unless you drive.. before you pay for entry would have been great.
You must visit.
That said it's disappointing that they haven't thought of those travelling to the Gorge via Public transport. With the river walk closed for repairs (totally understandable), unless you have a car, you can't get from Devils Cauldron to the waterfall. It's a 2 minute drive, but unlike the walk from Lydford to the DC, the road has no pavements and blind turns. Unsuitable for walking. There is no mention of this on the website (in hindsight we should have asked), but at a time other locations award those that dont drive, but opt for public transport (free entry etc), a shuttle service during the river walk closure would have been a super addition. That or a mention of no access to the Waterfall unless you drive.. before you pay for entry would have been great.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
an0n1977
Farnborough, UK13 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
The waterfall is lovely but be warned the walk is steep, narrow and slippery in places. Sadly the landslide meant we could only do one half of the walk to Devils Cauldron, the DC is a phenomenal site to see if you are brave enough to walk down to it! The pool at the end of the DC walk is not really worth the effort. The cafe at DC is a nice place to take a breather before heading back. To walk the waterfall and DC takes about 3 hours.
Written 15 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flyer732712
1 contribution
Sep 2023 • Family
This is a beautiful walk but make no mistake take the safety advice very seriously. The power of the water is undeniable and extremely dangerous. It's absolutely an amazing place and I loved it. It's crystal clear waters and thundering swirling mass of powerful water are a sight to see. I was a little scared at the devil's cauldron as there is a small section with no barriers though there is a very sturdy handrail but I am glad I ventured to the platform where the full force of the cauldron can be seen. The staff at both sites were amazingly friendly and well informed. Safety is priority and the day after a closure due to storm Agnes they were checking both sites prior to allowing us entry. Part of the site is closed due to a previous landslide but we all thoroughly enjoyed our walks. I have a dog but would not take her here especially the walk to devil's cauldron where dogs are not allowed past a certain point. Enjoy and be amazed by the power of nature.
Written 28 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew H
Leamington Spa, UK1,231 contributions
Sep 2023 • Solo
You certainly need to be fit (and have a head for heights) to explore the gorge but the spectacular sights are worth visiting it for: though given the nature of the terrain, the National Trust do need to close sections on safety grounds during & after wet weather.
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bouncingboffin
Cambridge, UK3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I used to live locally and remember the fun of walking the wet, wood plank to the edge of the Devil's Cauldron, right into the spray and roar of the water. At some point the Health & Safety brigade cut away the fun and now there's a small gantry to look at the Cauldron from a distance - shame - oh well.
On our visit, there had been a landslide sometime earlier in the year so the walk was heavily curtailed and split into two halves that required a car journey between them to see the Devil's Cauldron at one end and the White Lady Waterfall at the other. We stopped for tea and cakes and generally had a pleasant experience. Hopefully, the steep banks on the sides of the gorge can be repaired and the full circular walk open again. Definitely wear footwear designed for walking on wet rock and mud, there are some very slippery sections...
On our visit, there had been a landslide sometime earlier in the year so the walk was heavily curtailed and split into two halves that required a car journey between them to see the Devil's Cauldron at one end and the White Lady Waterfall at the other. We stopped for tea and cakes and generally had a pleasant experience. Hopefully, the steep banks on the sides of the gorge can be repaired and the full circular walk open again. Definitely wear footwear designed for walking on wet rock and mud, there are some very slippery sections...
Written 22 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heidi Crowley
12 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Stunning place highly recommend.
Staff very friendly and knowledgeable.
Do wear good study footwear.
Staff very friendly and knowledgeable.
Do wear good study footwear.
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Randomgirl63
Southall, UK9 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
Outstanding natural beauty spot. National Trust staff were welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable, particularly Chris and his colleague, Sue. We have spent a wonderful day here.
Written 27 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grassroder
21 contributions
Is any of this walk wheelchair friendly or electric wheelchair friendly please?
Jannerbloke
Plymouth, UK12,533 contributions
I’d say parts of it would be tricky but if you look at the NT site or the handbook or give them a ring you should get an immediate and reliable answer.
Gillkb
Newton Tony, UK60 contributions
Is it only possible to see the gorge and waterfall via going in with the National Trust?
I'm not being tight, just with the National Trust site here being shut under Covid, wondering is we can still get to see the main attraction.
Sadlington
Brighton, UK62 contributions
When we went in December the ticket office was closed but there is an honesty box where you can pay to see the waterfall. I think NT outside spaces are open now under CV19 guidance but best to check with the NT.
The gorge walk was closed at that time we visited due to the weather but the Waterfall walk was open. It’s an incredible place.
Sharon66Romford
Romford, UK67 contributions
I have forgotten my walking boots but have trainers and converse’s. Would that footwear be appropriate for the walks? Thank you.
Duffys030875
Runcorn, UK61 contributions
the gorge is ok if it has been a dry few days but the slate is very slippery so please be very careful if wearing trainers
trickyspurs66
London, UK7 contributions
Is it ok to dangle my feet in river wearing flip flops or will I lose toes to the piranhas
Helen G
Maidstone, UK48 contributions
We never spotted piranhas! People were paddling in the shallows at the bottom of the waterfall.
Sharon T
Brixham, UK46 contributions
I have a poor sense of balance but am reasonably fit. I am fine on narrow gradients so long as I have something to hold on to. Do all the more tricky parts have handrails eg Devil's Cauldron?
blenhoff
Pigeon Forge, TN75 contributions
Yes there are handrails where needed
Kiamearns98
1 contribution
Can you swim in the lake?
PebblesBob
Westward Ho!, UK55 contributions
Just a river running through it which I doubt you are allowed to swim in
When are the bluebells at their best along the river and the footpaths?
Mike8207
Melksham, UK143 contributions
Best time for Bluebells is probably about now really. Plenty of footpaths to explore. I would recommend taking wellies as it can be quite soft underfoot.
Can you visit the tea shop without paying to go in the gorge
annem2705
49 contributions
hi. Went today. the tea room at waterfall end can be accessed without paying.
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Claim your listingLYDFORD GORGE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Lydford Gorge
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- (0.36 mi) 5* Swallow Barn, Lydford, Dartmoor - 2 acre garden overlooking Dartmoor
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- Restaurants near Lydford Gorge:
- (0.26 mi) The Castle Inn Restaurant
- (0.27 mi) Castle Inn
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