Nestled on the edge of Dartmoor, the impressive landscape of Lydford Gorge offers an opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonders of nature. Winding walking trails take you through temperate rainforest with cascading waterfalls and fascinating rock formations carved out by the River Lyd.
The habitat of the gorge is known as ‘temperate rainforest’ which is characterised by high rainfall and humidity and a low annual variation in temperature. These conditions create the perfect conditions for moisture-loving lichens and bryophytes (mosses and liverworts). They are the base of a rich and diverse ecosystem supporting large numbers of insects and the birds and mammals that feed on them.
Most surviving fragments of temperate rainforest in Britain occur on steep-sided slopes above rivers and lakes which have avoided clearance and intensive grazing pressure. So it's important to continue to look after and improve these special places for the future.
0.8 mile / 1.3 km
This circular one-way route, which takes around 45 minutes, is the best way to explore the deepest part of the gorge known as the ravine. Here the river plunges and tumbles through narrow gaps and into deep potholes. The rock faces are covered with life and constantly drip with water. The paths can be steep, narrow and slippery in places.
Now the trees have developed their full canopy the gorge becomes darker, filled with deep green light, and even more magical. Lush growth coveres nearly every surface and it feels like you're walking through a rainforest from a prehistoric land. Although you might not see dinosaurs, there's still plenty of wildlife to look out for.
These birds can often be seen flitting up and down the river, or bobbing and balancing on rocks in the water, ready to leap into the air to catch an insect. They are more colourful thank their name suggests with a lemon-yellow belly under a grey head, back and wings with some black and white markings. They nest near the water in hollows and crevices lined with moss and twigs.
Summer is the best time to look out for butterflies, moths, dragonflies, and damselflies.
In the orchard meadow keep your eyes peeled for chimney sweeper moths, which are day-flying and all black with just small white tips to the wings. Or perhaps you might spot a keeled skimmer dragonfly zipping about between the long grass.
In the woodland you'll find it hard to miss a speckled wood. These common butterflies feed on honeydew produced by aphids in the tree tops, and are rarely seen feeding on flowers.
Along the riverbank take a moment to delight in the beautiful demoiselle damselflies as they flit around. The males are a brilliant metallic blue and easy to spot. The females have golden wings and a shiny green body so can be harder to see. Another river specialist to look out for is the golden-ringed dragonfly, which has a black body with yellow rings along the length of the abdomen.
We ask visitors not to swim, however tempting, as it's not safe. If something were to go wrong the area is very inaccessible. Please avoid disturbing the wildlife and special habitats of the gorge and don't go in.
Find out when Lydford Gorge is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
Discover how to have a dog-friendly visit to Lydford Gorge, including where to walk, what to be aware of and what facilities are available for your four-legged friend
Discover where to eat when visiting Lydford Gorge, how to find the tea-room, what’s on the menu and what treats you’ll find in the second-hand bookshop.
This summer find a prehistoric world full of crashing water and lush green growth with plenty of outdoor fun and adventure for all the family at Lydford Gorge.
A Tramper can be hired to access Whitelady Waterfall and the bird hide in the gorge, thanks to Countryside Mobility South West.
At Lydford Gorge in Devon we've closed a section of the gorge walking trail, which has become unsafe due to the effects of a changing climate, to help us protect the rare temperate rainforest it contains.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks – find out how we manage the risks at our places and find helpful links to the NHS here.
Plan a visit to one of the special countryside places in our care and discover the benefits of being in the great outdoors. Pack your walking boots and get ready to explore woodlands, valleys and rivers.
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