Although I have generally gone off the term ‘wild’ swimming, Llyn Cau, on the ascent up Cadair Idris, might actually be exactly what is on offer. On a recent trip to Cymru, four of us marched up the 350m ascent through the cloud and drizzle to reach the lake. There was so much overhanging mist…
Category: Cold water swimming
Swimming in the Dyfi
Much has been written about the state of Britain’s rivers and seas. Campaigners such as Surfers Against Sewage and Fergal Sharkey, among many others, have applied constant pressure on privatised water companies who value profit over conservation. On a recent trip to Wales we were given some local knowledge about a great swimming spot on…
Rediscovering a local gem: Ilkley Lido
Although it’s only a few miles down the road, I had been avoiding Ilkley Lido for a few years. I had the impression that it wasn’t particularly suited to lap swimming and was quite crowded. The pandemic also meant that the pool was closed for a substantial period. This year has been different and I…
You’re darn right! GO SWIMMING
Kinder Swim Trespass 2023 My dog Ed and I made the journey over the Pennines on a grey Sunday on 23 April for the Kinder Swim Trespass. We trekked up from the village of Hayfields following groups of hikers and swimmers gripping ‘Go Swimming’ signs. The location of the trespass is not accidental and has…
Winter water swimming in Liverpool
Liverpool may not be the first place that comes to mind for winter water swimming, but there are several swim locations around the city docks. On a recent visit I booked a Sunday morning swim for £5 via Liverpool Water Sports only then to mistakenly walk past the correct dock and encounter an entire different…
Parliament Hill Lido: The Big One
With the current restrictions on travel, the chances to visit unseen pools has been few and far between. Recently though, I had the pleasure to swim at Parliament Hill Lido in London. It is really a special place. The late summer heat brought out lots of swimmers plunging into still very chilly 18 degrees water…
No Swimming! Is This The Answer?
With depressing regularity, tragic deaths of swimmers continue to be reported during the summer months. These tend to be young people swimming in cold water in rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Recently in the Yorkshire area, three such drownings have been reported involving swimmers aged 13, 15 and 16. I have noted that in the spot…
Winter Water Swimming
The tradition of swimmers dressed in a wide spectrum of regalia from Santa suits to nun habits wading into cold oceans, lakes and rivers shows no sign of abating here in the UK. In my hometown of Otley, West Yorkshire, the local newspaper (see link) estimated that nearly 100 swimmers, including me, braved the waters…
An Anthropology of Swimming 