Visiting Canonteign Falls: Things to do with kids in Dartmoor
Canonteign Falls is the highest waterfall in Dartmoor National Park which was why seeing a waterfall was a must do activity for us when visiting Dartmoor with kids. There are a fair few waterfalls in Dartmoor but after some research it seemed that Canonteign falls would be the most family friendly waterfall in Dartmoor and we were so pleased we visited. The views from the top of Canonteign Falls most certainly didn’t disappoint. Although it’s a man-made waterfall it has a a great story behind it and it’s impressive 75metre drop makes it the highest manmade waterfall in England. Canonteign Falls is a great waterfall to visit with kids in Devon as it’s family friendly with a short walk to get to the top with plenty of fun things to look at along the way.
Here are the answers to questions you might have if you’re considering visiting the waterfall. Canonteign Falls is a great family day out in Dartmoor.
Is Canonteign Falls suitable for buggies and babies?
Unfortunately Canonteign Falls isn’t accessible for wheelchairs or buggies. There are baby carriers available for hire and you could see a small falls at the bottom without climbing up the full way, but the full waterfall isn’t accessible with a buggy or a wheelchair.
Is Canonteign Falls suitable for young children?
Canonteign Falls is a great mini walking challenge for kids. Our youngest was 4 when we visited and he scrambled up the walk with no problem. I think most 2 and 3 year olds could manage with some assistance if they were confident walkers but it would be a struggle for anyone younger. The walk starts off as a slope and then progresses to uneven steps, these are without a handrail as the rustic handrails are just to mark the route and not to be used for assisting you! There are plenty of places to stop along the way for a little rest if you need it.
What should you wear to walk up Canonteign Falls?
It was a fairly dry day when we visited but it had been raining on the days preceding. We wore wellies and hiking boots for the walk. On a dry day you’d be fine to walk to Canonteign Falls in trainers but wellies meant that the kids could paddle a little bit on the way in the smaller waterfalls, so I do think wellies are wise if you have young children who’ll want to go in the waterfall.
Walking to Canonteign Falls takes about an hour on the way up and half that to walk back down! There is plenty to keep little kids occupied on the walk to the falls – there are mini waterfalls along the route and further up there are beautiful tree fairies to spot! They add to the magical nature of the walk. There is even a dinosaur sculpture called Terence that looks in keeping with his natural surroundings. You can purchase an additional nature trail for kids but we found it didn’t hold our kids attention and was fairly basic. They were happy enough with exploring the falls.
When you reach the top of the falls, if it’s fine weather the views are beautiful over Devon. The kids loved spotting people walking up the falls like little ants on the path where we’d been previously!
Things to do at Canonteign Falls
There are lots of fun playgrounds for kids to enjoy in Canonteign Falls. As well as the main waterfall itself, there are 7 smaller waterfalls to admire on your walk around. When you reach the bottom of the falls there is an assault course with a great zipwire and a separate small playground with a wooden galleon playframe by the entrance. Our kids had great fun timing themselves completing the assault course. Also in the Children’s Play Area are two large trampolines, swings and a climbing frame with a slide providing hours of fun for little ones. The play areas are a brilliant addition to Canonteign – you can easily spend half a day or longer exploring the waterfalls and playgrounds.
There are plenty of places for a picnic or there is a pretty cafe onsite selling a variety of hot and cold foods including cream teas – a Devon speciality!
There are two further easy walks around the lakes beyond the bee garden and the Green Ship. They take around 40 minutes and offer pretty views of the lakes and the waterwheel from the 1800s. You can also view the Green Ship Sculpture. Our kids loved the story behind the Green ship sculpture based on Quentin Blake’s book.
When is the best time to visit Canonteign Falls?
Canonteign Falls is usually open from March. It’s an attraction that closes in the `Winter as the weather makes it difficult to climb to see the falls. The summer is obviously busy but heading out in the early morning or the late afternoon will avoid the crowds. That said, we visited Canonteign Falls in August, late morning in 2021 and we saw other families but it wasn’t overcrowded at all.
Are dogs allowed at Canonteign Falls?
Dogs are allowed at Canonteign falls. After they’ve been on their walk, you can visit the dog-friendly cafe They stock doggy treats and even doggy ice cream!
See here for opening times and prices.
If you’re looking for more family friendly things to do in Dartmoor……
Try visiting Dartmoor Alpacas for a unique animal experience. Read our review of walking with the alpacas in Dartmoor.
