River Wharfe at Appletreewick
📍 AppletreewickNorth Yorkshire
Popular Wharfedale river swimming spot with a small rocky island, beside the Dales Way footpath.
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What’s free
Swimming and access on foot along the Dales Way public footpath.
About
Appletreewick is one of the best-known river swimming spots in the Yorkshire Dales. Below the village the River Wharfe has a pool with a small rocky island in the middle, and rapids a little upstream that people use for tubing. The Dales Way long-distance footpath follows the river here, so you can walk in along the bank from Appletreewick or from Burnsall downstream.
Safety: underwater rocks make diving and jumping dangerous at the main pool, so check depth before going in feet first. The Wharfe rises very fast after rain in the hills and the current strengthens quickly, so stay out when the river is high or brown. The water is cold even in summer and there are no lifeguards. Water quality is not tested here: avoid swimming after heavy rain. Never swim alone.
If you want to swim
River pool with a small rocky island beside the Dales Way; rapids upstream used for tubing. Underwater rocks: don't dive or jump. Not tested: avoid after heavy rain.
Before you get in:
- No lifeguards. Swim with someone else, stay within your depth and keep children close.
- Cold water shock can hit even in summer. Get in slowly, and get out if you start shivering.
- After heavy rain, don’t swim. Rivers rise and flow fast, and sewage overflows and farm run-off can make the water unsafe.
- Never jump or dive without checking the depth first: rocks and branches hide under the surface.
- Wear something bright, and take warm layers and a hot drink for afterwards.
Check before you go: official bathing water quality (designated spots, May to September), sewage overflows (Rivers Trust map) and the weather. In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Fire Service. Swimming is at your own risk.
Still free?
Checked by our editors on 21 Oct 2026.
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