You would never know that just below the open grassland lies what feels like a secret fairy grotto! The waterfall itself might be small, but it’s incredibly atmospheric with mossy walls and dense foliage. It’s a delightful spot to sit shaded from the elements and take a paddle in the cool water at the foot of the falls.
It’s an easy walk to get there, but it’s not signposted so we’re sharing exact directions in this post, as well as details on how to extend the walk.
Venford Falls
The stats
Distance: 1.4km return (0.9miles)
Elevation gain: 50m
Difficulty: Easy
Finding Venford Falls
Venford Falls lies along Venford Brook, which is a small stream that flows north from Venford Reservoir. The falls are not signposted but these co-ordinates will get you there - 50.5303174, -3.8517132 (or click here to view on Google Maps).
The walk begins at the reservoir car park (the one on the northern side of the reservoir, and the western side of Venford Brook). From here, you’ll need to take the trail heading away from the road, parallel to the fence around the waterworks.
The trail heads out into open grassland for the first 350m (0.2 miles).
It’s fairly flat and a nice easy stroll although it’s definitely fully exposed to the elements which included the ferocious winds that we found around much of Dartmoor!
After 350m (0.2 miles) you’ll need to take the path on the right which begins heading slightly downhill. After another 100m (330 ft) you’ll need to turn right again and you’ll be heading towards the forest which you’ll reach 60m (200 ft) later.
The right turn to the forest
Just before entering the forest
The descent is not too bad at first, but does becomes steeper and rockier the closer you get to the water. There’s one short patch that is a little slippery and would get quite muddy when wet. It takes less than a couple of minutes to cross this bit though, so don’t let it put you off!
As you head under the cover of the forest you’ll be nicely sheltered and it’s like entering a completely different world. The trees are dripping in moss and everything is so incredibly green that it almost looks like a photo where the saturation has been turned up!
After walking along the sloping path for 200m (650 ft) you’ll pass the top of the falls and then have a few steps down a dirt track to the base of the falls. It’s easy to get down if the path is dry, but if wet this last bit could be quite muddy.
Venford Falls
Venford Falls is gorgeous, the waterfall itself might be small, but it’s incredibly picturesque. There’s not an inch of space on the walls which has not been coated by thick moss and the craggy rocks all add to the fairytale like atmosphere.
It’s a wonderfully tranquil spot and a lovely place to linger, listening to the sound of the running waterfall and resident birdlife. The pool at the base of the falls is too shallow for swimming, but it’s perfect for a paddle.
Just be careful if wading in a little way because the rocks are really slippery - it’s better to go barefoot and walk in-between the rocks.
Extending the walk to White Wood
If you love the mossy trees around Venford Falls, then you can continue the walk on a little way to reach another even more beautiful patch of woodland. We walked for roughly the same distance again - 1.5km/1.1 miles (return) to visit the wood
If you’re visiting in May this is a must as the forest floor is blanked in a sea of vibrant bluebells.
To reach the wood head back up to the main track and continue straight. You’re looking for a turning on the right, but it can be easy to miss so the coordinates are: 50.5303429, -3.8541208.
It’s flat at first and then heads downhill steeply on a zig zag track towards the forest. It’s not long before you’re walking above the river through a mass of lichen covered trees which have real Lord of the Rings vibes.
It’s absolutely beautiful and the bluebells definitely added a touch of magic.
You can continue through the forest along a dirt path that’s in great condition, but it only lasts for a few hundred metres before it peters out and the trail becomes rocky.
We turned at this point but you could continue further if you don’t mind the lack of formed trail. If not, you can just head back up the steep path to meet the main trail back to the car park.
Getting to Venford Falls
The quickest way to reach the falls is to park at the car park on the northern side of the reservoir. If you’re coming from the direction of Widecombe in the Moor/Ashburton, it’s the second car park you’ll see - it’s just past the road over the reservoir.
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