Lydford Gorge is a very special place in Devon. The woodlands are classified as temperate rainforest with conditions perfect for rare plants, lichens and fungi, birds and mammals.

It had been raining heavily the day before my visit so everything was very wet and the River Lyd in full flow.

I knew we were near the big waterfall due to the sound of gushing water. Whitelady waterfall is near 30 metres high, a huge spout of water gushing down into the gorge.

My human took a video clip of me and the waterfall – she held me tightly with one hand and filmed with the other!

After spending a while watching the waterfall we continued walking the gorge.

I stopped briefly on the bridge to look at the river, but it was quite a wobbly bridge so didn’t hang around.

Quite a lot of the Gorge walk is along wet rocks above the water. There are railings to hold onto for safety.

I sat for a while and watched the gushing river powerfully making its way downstream.

At one point I had to go through a tunnel, where I continued to hold on tight to the safety rail.

The water rushed along downstream swirling into the basins it has created in the rock over thousands of years. I kept well away from edge, it looked as though it could gobble me up if I fell in!

Further upstream there is a very deep bit of gorge where the water swirls and rushes even more ferociously. The humans didn’t take me that far up the gorge, I think Karen was a bit concerned that she might slip and drop me.

Along the way there were many little waterfalls making there way down to the river. I rather liked sitting next to this one, which wasn’t good for my already wet bottom.

Do visit Lydford Gorge if you are in or passing through Devon, it really is a wonderful place. It is best to check the website before going as if the weather is very wet and the water goes over the paths the National Trust close the site for health and safety reasons. You have to be reasonably fit to walk the whole 4 miles, but there are shorter options. I was carried along in a bear carrier for most of it!

For more information see https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/lydford-gorge?awc=3795_1691157111_b0e8752cc63831a5eba96159d76bc5b5&campid=Affiliates_Central_Mem_AWIN_Standard&aff=85386

Horace the Alresford Bear 4/8/2023