The Peak District boundary runs inside Sheffield itself, so the moor starts more or less where the suburbs stop. Head west and the ground climbs quickly into gritstone country, where the water comes off the top peat-brown and cold, in becks and reservoir feeders. South-west takes you into the limestone dales instead, where the rivers run clearer and slower and the walking is gentler. The Hope Valley line threads straight through the middle of it from Sheffield station, so a swim out here does not have to mean a car, though the last stretch almost always means a walk.
Spots
5
Water
Rivers, waterfall pools and lakes
Nearest
12 miles
Short walk in
2 of 5
Season
June to September
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Every spot we’ve researched near Sheffield
Within 25 miles of the city centre, ordered by distance, nearest first.
Upper Derwent Valley, near Bamford, Peak District · on River Derwent
12 miles northwest of the city centre
River
Best for confident swimmers
A chain of clear, peat-stained pools on the infant River Derwent, where the young river tumbles over gritstone slabs into a deep plunge pool beside an old packhorse bridge. It is a reward at the far end of a long reservoir-side walk, ringed by moorland and woodland.
The one pool up here with real depth, about four metres in the middle, which is both what makes it worth the walk and what makes it worth respecting. There is current through the deep part and the water is cold all year. Kings Tree is the nearest parking, a mile away and open to cars on weekdays only; at weekends the valley road shuts and it is a long walk or a hired bike from Fairholmes.
The water
Rock slabs and shallow gravelly edges into a deep pool
Walk in
20 min walk (1.4 km)
Parking
Free at Kings Tree roadside (weekdays only); Fairholmes is pay and display
A chain of clear, peat-stained pools beneath small gritstone waterfalls, tucked into a quiet clough on the wild northern side of Kinder Scout. It is a walk-in reward: shallow dips and cool-off plunges among the heather, far from the crowds.
A dip rather than a swim, and worth the walk for exactly that. It is a mile of rough moor from the Snake Pass with no phone signal and nothing at the far end but the pools themselves, so pick a warm, settled day and carry what you need. Cold all year, and it comes up fast after rain.
Youlgreave, Bradford Dale · on River Bradford · Peak District National Park
17 miles southwest of the city centre
River
Good for a first dip
A stone-walled pool carved into the bed of the crystal-clear River Bradford sits in a quiet limestone valley below the village of Youlgreave, offering a cold, shallow dip among grassy meadows and little weirs. It is one of the Peak District's few river swimming spots and one of its gentlest, calm enough for families on a warm summer day.
Easy to reach by Peak District standards: fifteen minutes from Moor Lane, a stone ledge to climb in and out by, and a village with pubs, a cafe and toilets back up the hill. The water is cold all year and the estate's weirs can leave it low, so it is worth checking the dale looks full before you drive over.
The water
Stone ledge into a shallow carved pool
Walk in
15 min walk (1.2 km)
Parking
Moor Lane pay and display: 1.50 pounds up to one hour, 4.75 pounds all day, card only or RingGo (Location 51718); Blue Badge holders free. Roadside parking in the village is free but very limited.
Kinder Scout, above Hayfield · Peak District National Park
17 miles west of the city centre
Lake
Best for experienced swimmers
A small, dark, peat-stained moorland tarn high on the western shoulder of Kinder Scout just below Kinder Downfall, with wide views over Kinder Reservoir and the plateau. A legend-soaked novelty dip reached after a long moorland walk rather than a proper swim: shallow, boggy, tea-coloured water and a wild, exposed setting.
Come for the walk and the view, and treat the water as a bonus. It is well over an hour of open moor each way, with no shelter and no phone signal once you are up there, and a dry summer can reduce the whole thing to mud. One for strong walkers on a clear day. The 358 to Hayfield gets you close and still leaves several miles on foot.
The water
Shallow, boggy peat-bottomed edges, wade-in only
Walk in
90 min walk (4.5 km)
Parking
Pay and display, up to 4 pounds 75 pence all day, free before 10am, Blue Badge free
Near Flash, Axe Edge Moor, Peak District · on River Dane
24 miles southwest of the city centre
Waterfall pool
Best for casual swimmers
A chain of clear, peat-stained pools and small gritstone waterfalls on the young River Dane, right where three counties meet under an old packhorse bridge on open moorland. The water stays cold all year and the setting is wild and remote, reached only on foot.
Panniers Pool is the one directly under the bridge; there is a larger fall about fifty metres downstream, and a quieter, deeper pool just upstream that fewer people find. Reckon on half an hour on foot whichever way you come, with no facilities and no phone signal at the end of it. Shallow and uneven underfoot, so it is a paddle and a plunge rather than a swim, and the Dane comes up fast after rain.
The water
Shallow rocky pools below small waterfalls, wade-in over boulders
