One of the most famous rivers running through Dartmoor is the River Plym, from which Plymouth takes its name. Its source is high on Dartmoor and it runs for about 20 miles, joining the sea at Plymouth Sound. Cadover Bridge, situated in the south western corner of Dartmoor and straddling the River Plym, is one of the most popular locations on the moor and Plymothians flock there on a warm summer’s day for a walk and a picnic.

Another large river on Dartmoor is the Meavy. Locals know the river as the “Mewy”, from “mew” meaning seagull. It runs south-west past the village of Meavy, where the popular Royal Oak Inn is located. The inn is named after the large and ancient oak tree on the green opposite. Legend has it that King Charles I hid in the split of this massive 800-year-old tree when hiding from the Roundheads.

Plymouth has another strong connection to the king and, in particular, the Roundheads, as two of them were imprisoned on Drake’s Island in the 17^th century. Robert Lilburne died there in 1665 having been sentenced to life for his part in the regicide of King Charles I. John Lambert, a Roundhead general, also died on Drake’s Island in 1683. Drake’s Island, located in Plymouth Sound, was formerly known as St Nicholas’ Island, and was used for several centuries as a fortified defence post.

The River Dart gives its name to Dartmoor and its rapid and strong currents are popular with Plymouth kayakers and canoeists. This watercourse actually starts as two separate tributaries, the East Dart and West Dart, which merge at Dartmeet, another established beauty spot much appreciated by Plymothians. The Dart is also frequented by Plymouth anglers fishing for salmon.

One river that many people would not associate with Dartmoor is the Avon. This well-known English river cuts right across Dartmoor on its way to Bigbury Bay, one of the most popular beaches for Plymouth citizens. The Avon Dam was built in the mid 1950s to provide water for Totnes and South Hams and the resultant reservoir hides a secret – the remains of an ancient settlement which is only revealed in times of severe drought when the level of the lake drops significantly.

The Erme valley is one of the most scenic on Dartmoor. The River Erme pours into the sea at Mothecombe, a lovely beach visited by many Plymouth residents every summer. Mothecombe has its own claim to fame – it was the location for the opening shots in the film International Velvet starring Tatum O’Neal, although it’s unlikely you’ll find this playing at Plymouth’s Vue cinema today. The Erme flows through a deep gorge within which is Piles Copse, one of only three woodland areas of ancient oak trees.

The Teign is another river which has its source on Dartmoor, near Cranmere Pool. Its name is used is several local towns and villages, most notably Kingsteignton, which, until it was re-designated as a town in 2009, was the largest village in England, and Teignmouth, where the river reaches the English Channel. The river passes by such interesting places as the aptly-named Piddledown Common, Rectory Wood, which is a reminder of the prominent position the church held in the area, and Castle Drogo, a Grade I listed building owned by the National Trust.

Tavistock, Mary Tavy and Peter Tavy all take their names from the River Tavy, which itself is a tributary of the Tamar, the river which marks the border between Devon and Cornwall, as well as delineating Plymouth’s western boundary. The Tavy is a favourite with canoeists and kayakers as it drops steeply through a succession of small rapids and waterfalls near Ger Tor.

Another type of watercourse commonly found on Dartmoor is a leat. Leats are manmade channels, usually linking rivers or tributaries together, created to bring water to the site of new industries and to provide water for communities. Before reservoirs were established on Dartmoor, leats were the chief means of getting water to Plymouth.

Drake’s Leat was commissioned in 1590 and was so-called because it was supported by Sir Francis Drake during his term in office as Mayor of Plymouth. The leat took around 4 months to construct and opened in April 1591. Despite being provided by Plymouth council as a means to supply fresh water to the residents of Plymouth, the leat fell short of its main aims. Instead, it made a significant sum of money for Drake himself who had shrewdly invested in several mills along the leat. Eventually, the population of Plymouth outgrew the supply of water that Drake Leat could provide and alternative solutions were found.

Devonport Leat is another example, running for over 17 miles. It was opened in 1793 to replace Drake’s Leat which regularly ran dry in the summer months and froze over in winter. The West Dart River is one of three rivers that feed into it, the other two being the Blackbrook and the Cowsic. In some parts of the leat, notably around Stanlake Plantation, hundreds of trout can be found, much to the delight of Plymouth fishermen.

Water on Dartmoor is not always running freely. There are several manmade lakes or reservoirs, the most well-known being Burrator Reservoir. Burrator was opened in 1898 to supply Plymouth residents with water and is still Plymouth’s most important source of water today. Burrator attracts many visitors and a gentle stroll around the lake is a favourite activity for Plymothians after their Sunday lunch. The lake is surrounded by dense coniferous forests and there are some spectacular tors nearby, including Leather Tor, Sheeps Tor, and Down Tor.

Crazy Well Pool, also known as Classonwell or Classiwell Pool, is a more mysterious waterhole. Originally tin mine workings, it filled with water after the mine fell into disuse. There are numerous legends associated with the pool, the most notorious being that it can predict the next person to die in the parish of Walkhampton. The prediction comes either in the form of a wailing voice calling from the pool or from a reflection in the pool on Midsummer’s Eve. Some also believe the pool to be bottomless. It is certainly over 500 feet deep in parts – locals once joined all the Walkhampton Church bell ropes together and were unable to reach the bottom!