Birks Bridge is an incredible wild swimming spot, with crystal clear emerald water that flows underneath a charming 18th century stone bridge. Normally I prefer the swimming spots in valleys, far away from roads and bridges, but I have to say Birks Bridge is something special.
The pool is long and deep and the gorge walls and small waterfall at one end give it a wild vibe, despite the location. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Birks Bridge.
Keep them wild
Before we get started it’s really important that we remember to keep these beautiful spots wild.
Please remember to take all rubbish with you and keep these places wild and pristine - as with anywhere in the outdoors. It’s important to leave them exactly as you found them so they will remain beautiful for generations to come.
Birks Bridge is increasingly popular and high visitor numbers do mean there is an increased chance of litter.
Litter tends to breed litter, so if you do spot any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it in the nearest bin, it will go a long way to keeping the area clean.
The walk to Birks Bridge
The stats
Distance: 260m each way
Elevation gain: Flat
Difficulty: Easy
From the parking area (details below) you’ll need to exit the car park and head right (south) along the road. Luckily it’s a quiet road and you’ll reach the bridge after just 200m.
You can look down into the pool from the bridge, which offers a lovely view, before heading down into the water.
You can access the pool from either side of the river, but the easiest way is by crossing over the bridge. If you don’t cross the bridge you’ll have to scramble down the rocky gorge wall, which can be slippery if wet.
To use the easier route, cross over the bridge and head left. After just 20m you’ll see the path starts to lead down into the water.
It can be a little muddy along the top, but not too bad. Head down the rocky path and it will lead you straight to the water’s edge. Although it is rocky and uneven, it’s not difficult by any means.
Getting into the pool requires negotiating a couple of big rocks in the water, but again it’s easy enough.
Swimming at Birks Bridge
The pool at Birks Bridge is incredible. When you first get down to the water’s edge it looks like it might be shallow, but that’s because it’s so clear.
It’s actually quite deep and even after dry spells, you should find a good swimmable section - although it’s even better if the water levels are a bit higher.
The colour is sensational, even when we’ve been and the pool is in full shadow (like in this guide) it still has a stunning emerald hue. In the sunshine it’s even better, but then you are much less likely to get the pool to yourself.
You can swim through the gorge and under the bridge itself. The first section is unobstructed and very relaxing, but watch for the two big boulders around this middle section, which you can easily bump into if you’re not careful.
After the boulders there is a little more unobstructed water before it gets rocky again towards the small waterfall. You can get right up to the waterfall, but you do have to watch for the rocks.
It’s a spectacular place to swim and the rock walls, bridge and little natural arch on the left side give it a unique feel.
The water is cold, but it’s not as cold as some pools in the Lakes, and if you do visit on a sunny day in summer, it will feel refreshing rather than freezing.
In the shade you’ll need to swim to keep warm, but there’s plenty of room for that. If you’re not used to cold water swimming, then go in slowly at first.
When you’re ready to leave you can scramble up the wall on the right (as it’s easier getting up than down) or use the easy path you came in on.
I have seen pictures of people jumping into the pool from the cliff on the right, but this can be risky as there are rocks below and the landing is said to be tricky. Never jump without depth checking as it can get very shallow here during dry spells. There are safer places to jump around the Lakes than this one.
The best time to visit Birks Bridge
Due to ease of access and how lovely it is, Birks Bridge does get busy. If you want a serene experience and you’re visiting in the warmer months, then you need to come early or late. The sun won’t be on the water, so it won’t be quite as warm or picturesque, but there’s nothing like a quiet dip here.
If you don’t mind crowds, then coming in the middle of the day when the sun has made it over the gorge walls will be when the water is at its prettiest in terms of colour.
Parking for Birks Bridge
The best place to park is at the Hardknott car park, which is operated by the Forestry Commission. The postcode is LA20 6EF.
The parking is by donation, cash only, and although it’s a decent size, could fill up quickly on sunny weekends and in school holidays. Please always park responsibly.
Getting to Birks Bridge
Birks Bridge is located in the Duddon Valley. Sadly, we couldn’t find any way of getting there via public transport, so the only way is to drive.
It takes around 1 hour to drive to from Ambleside, and 1.5 hours from Keswick or Cockermouth. The road from Eskdale will take you over the Hardknott Pass which is absolutely stunning, but extremely steep. A van got stuck there the day before we visited, so big vehicles may find this route difficult.
It’s also narrow and not somewhere you want to meet oncoming traffic - for this reason we do not recommend driving this way on weekends or in the school holidays.
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