I enjoy swimming. I really enjoy swimming outdoors. Don’t get me wrong, wild swimming in the temperate climate of the Northern hemisphere can get really cold though and can be dangerous if unprepared. Wild swimming is exhilarating and another means of connecting with the outdoors and nature. I tend to think of two distinct types of wild swimming: coastal and inland. I adore swimming at the beach and have enjoyed swimming at over thirty different beaches around the UK. Sadly in more recent years, the coastal water pollution, highlighted by many campaign and eco groups, has left a sour taste in my mouth. The other difficulty for me, is that it is hard to find beaches where dogs can be off the lead in order to join in with a paddle and the nearest beach to me is a couple of hours away.
So the resources I gather here will predominantly focus on inland (fresh water/non-tidal) swimming. There are cons to this to be bear in mind. We don’t have decent freedom to roam laws in England and many swimming spots can actually be privately owned and swimming prohibited – reservoirs are a good example – so there are legal considerations albeit trespassing is a civil (not criminal) offense though. Also, the inland spots aren’t ‘touristy’ like beaches so don’t expect cafes or even car parks nearby.
Resources
Here is my collections of resources on wild swimming.
Map of Outdoor Swimming
This is a list in my Google Map so I can’t embed it here at the moment. It doesn’t just have wild swimming spots but also managed lakes and outdoor pools (lidos). I have also included a few good beaches.