River Lyd

River Lyd is a river in West Devon, England, running along the western edge of Dartmoor National Park. It is best known around the village of Lydford, where it has carved Lydford Gorge, a wooded ravine looked after by the National Trust. It is not the same river as the River Lyd in Gloucestershire, which joins the Severn at Lydney.

What is there to see along the River Lyd?

The star attraction is Lydford Gorge, in National Trust care since 1947. The river runs deep inside a rocky cleft, with steep slopes covered in dense woodland. The site is protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is an example of temperate rainforest, a rare habitat: damp, mossy and full of ferns.

Two features draw most visitors:

• White Lady Waterfall, at the southern end of the gorge, drops roughly 30 m and is often called one of the tallest in South West England. Its name comes from a local legend of a ghostly woman.
• Devil's Cauldron, at the northern end, where the river squeezes through a very narrow stretch of the gorge in a tumble of chutes, potholes and whirlpools. A viewing platform looks down into the deepest part.

How do you explore the gorge?

There are two main routes. The Devil's Cauldron loop takes about 45 minutes. The waterfall route takes roughly an hour as a circuit. Walking the whole gorge covers a few miles and can take around two hours. Paths are narrow, uneven and slippery, running right beside fast water, so wear sturdy shoes with good grip. Pushchairs are not suitable.

What is the history?

The nearby village of Lydford was one of the fortified boroughs Alfred the Great set up to defend Wessex, and the gorge served as a natural barrier. In the 17th century it sheltered the Gubbins family, outlaws who raided Dartmoor farms for sheep. By the early 19th century travellers came to admire its scenery as a home-grown alternative to the Grand Tour. The gorge itself formed through river capture, where erosion gradually breaks down the rock between two watercourses until they merge.

When should you visit?

The gorge is open through the year, but opening times for individual trails change with the season and some paths close in winter. Check the National Trust website for the current schedule before you set out. Non-members pay an entry fee. The waterfall looks its best after rain, though the paths are then at their slipperiest.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Devon River Lyd the same as the one in Gloucestershire? No. They are separate rivers. This one flows through Dartmoor and West Devon, the other joins the Severn at Lydney.

How long is the walk to White Lady Waterfall? About an hour as a circuit. Allow around 45 minutes for the Devil's Cauldron loop.

Do you have to pay to enter? Yes, non-members of the National Trust pay an entry fee. The current price is on the Trust's website.

Is the gorge suitable for young children? The paths are uneven and run above deep water, so children need close supervision and pushchairs should stay behind. Older children usually manage fine.