The deepest river gorge in the South West, with spectacular 30m waterfall
With a little help from the ranger team everyone can get creative with the hand tools.
The gorge is an amazing place to visit at any time of the year. The wildlife, river, plants and trees provide a stunning show each and every day.
There are a range of walks available to suit different abilities and time scales.
The full gorge walk takes around two hours to complete and is a challenging circular walk with narrow slippery paths and steep drops. This walk operates on a one-way system due to the nature of the paths. On this walk you can see the 30m Whitelady Waterfall and go into the Devil’s Cauldron pothole on a platform suspended over the water. Allow extra time to stop and refuel at one of the two tea-rooms.
The Devil’s Cauldron can be reached on a shorter circular walk that takes around 45 minutes. The walk is also part of the one-way system as the paths are narrow and slippery in places, especially after heavy rain when the Cauldron is most spectacular.
The Whitelady Waterfall can also be reached on various shorter routes, ask at visitor reception for guidance on the best walk for you. Please allow around an hour for these walks. The waterfall can also be reached by tramper, although we only allow our vehicle down, please book in advance by phone or email.
Ask the friendly visitor reception team about the other walks and add-ons including the track along the old railway line to the bird hide, which is also suitable for the tramper. The walk to Tucker’s Pool which follows the river further up-stream from the Devil’s Cauldron to a tranquil pool, is a good place to rest and watch for wildlife. Dippers and wagtails can be seen flying low over the river, while woodland birds can be spotted darting about in the trees.
The flora in the gorge changes with the seasons. Wildflowers such as wild garlic and bluebells abound in spring, filling the gorge with colour and scent. Summer is dominated by the green leaves of the Oak woodland which encloses the gorge making it feel more magical. In autumn the Oak leaves turn to golden brown before falling and colourful fungi can pop up in unexpected places. In winter look out for views that are hidden in summer by the leaves, and on a frosty morning mists can veil the waterfall.
The gorge is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, flora and fauna. Please respect the habitats in the gorge by taking only photographs and leaving only footprints.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £10.40 | £9.40 |
| Child | £5.20 | £4.70 |
| Family | £26.00 | £23.50 |
| Family one adult | £15.60 | £14.10 |
|
Group Adult
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £8.80 |
|
Group Child
Minimum group size 15
|
N/A | £4.40 |
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid donations must be supported by a valid Gift Aid declaration and a Gift Aid declaration can only cover donations made by an individual for him/herself or for him/herself and members of his/her family.
Reduced rate during the winter
