Anna and I set off from New Bridge following the Dart upstream, in constant admiration at the intensity of the oranges and golds of the leaves, set against the dramatic river rushing below. We arrived at Holne Cliff, opposite Wellsfoot Island, where the river opens out into a particularly dark, oval pool. Wild swimming guru Rob Fryer has a powerful description of the boulders on the bottom of this pool; he says they're like 'tightly swaddled babies'. Anna and I made our way in by wading in along a ledge and under a fallen tree, before launching out into the cold yet beautifully soft water. There was a strong current to swim against to get across to the calmer side by the beach on the island, but the effort of swimming against it helped us acclimatise. Lily, Anna's dog, seemed very excited and we discovered she'd found a sheep's skull with a spectacular set of horns. Anna took it home to add to her growing collection of Dartmoor bones.
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