River Dart Hideaway x Level Water

The view from River Dart Hideaway

Sometimes a partnership just makes sense the moment you meet. That was the case when we first connected with Tilly and the team at River Dart Hideaway - a shared love for nature, the river, and giving people space to feel calm, strong and free. As soon as we stepped onto their land - nestled in calm just above the River Dart - we felt it.

This wasn’t just a beautiful spot. It was a place full of intention, built to bring people closer to the natural world.

And, as it turned out, closer to each other too.

“We really liked all of you when we met you,” they told us. “And we loved what you were doing. So we wanted to support it.”

But what started as a shared love of the water quickly became something deeper - something personal.

Tilly, the River Dart Hideaway’s co-founder, told us about her son, who is autistic.

“He’s only nine,” she said, “but the water is where he feels strongest. It’s his favourite place to be.”

For a child facing big challenges, swimming brought something powerful: confidence, independence, joy. And that’s exactly why Level Water exists - to help other children with disabilities experience that same shift.

“So when we saw what you were doing, it just meant a huge amount to be able to give that back to other kids.”

That personal connection has made this partnership truly special. But the impact has been tangible too. As a direct result of working together, we’ve been able to expand our disability swimming lessons in the local area - opening new projects in places like Dartmouth, and reaching more children who need us.

It’s also changed the way our community fundraises. River Dart Hideaway have generously gifted us two luxury weekend stays - and when that’s your prize, swimmers sign up early, fundraise hard, and dream about evenings under the stars, just beyond the Dart estuary.

And if you’ve ever stayed there, you’ll understand why.

Nature, Peace, and a Little Bit of Magic

River Dart Hideaway is more than just accommodation. It’s a space built with heart - high-quality, low-impact cabins designed to sit lightly in the landscape, with just birdsong, trees, and river breeze all around you. It’s peaceful. It’s personal. And it’s joyful.

We loved seeing the Hideaway in action - kids playing, grown-ups cooking, and groups of friends heading down to the river with paddleboards, boats, and swim hats.

As their team put it: “We’re a family business. We love nature. We love the water. And we want to share that joy with other people.”

For Level Water, this partnership is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do - and of the power that nature holds. Power to heal. Power to build confidence. Power to connect people, even in unexpected ways.

“I asked my son how swimming makes him feel,” Tilly says. “And he said: 'It makes me feel powerful.’”

And honestly - we couldn’t say it better than that.